Reflecting on the 2021–2022 school year

After another year of tumultuous COVID-19 policies, the 2021–2022 school year has come to a close.

Dripping Springs ISD Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz reflected on her first year in the district as one of success and excitement for the future. At the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce luncheon last month, she discussed district numbers, growth and projected growth, funding, vision and mission. She also highlighted the district’s focus on creating “life-long learners” by providing a number of career and technical education programs.

This year, DSISD opened two new elementary school campuses — one for relocated Walnut Springs Elementary and the other for brand-new Cypress Springs Elementary. This brought its total number of campuses to eight: one high school, two middle schools and five elementary schools.

Throughout the past year, Morris-Kuentz toured each of the local campuses and facilities with fellow administrators and staff.

“It’s great to witness learning that is exciting. Every student was engaged,” she said of her visit to Rooster Springs Elementary.

Across its campuses, DSISD serves over 8,000 students and employs over 1,000 faculty, staff and administrators. That number is only expected to increase, according to Morris-Kuentz.

“This year, our student enrollment increased by 10%,” she explained. “Next year, we are projected to see another increase, with hopes of surpassing 10,000 students by 2025.”

DSISD is expected to grow six to eight percent each year for the next 10 years, according to data collected by Population and Survey Analysts, a Texas demographic firm.

The Long-Range Facility Planning Committee — a fifty-person advisory committee to the DSISD Board of Trustees — was reconvened in November 2019 to develop long-range facility recommendations for the district. In February, they announced a list of recommendations for the district, including a second high school, a sixth elementary school and a modified or renovated Tiger Stadium.

The district and its campuses are currently funded by a $1.3103 per $100 tax rate, with $0.9603 going to salaries, supplies, utilities, insurance and equipment. The remaining $0.35 is used for construction, bonds, land and renovations, according to Morris-Kuentz.

This rate is lower than in years previous, dropping $0.0229 from last year and $0.108 from the previous year.

While the district is keeping an eye on its numbers, planning for future growth and maintaining its finances, the quality of education in the district has by no means fallen to the wayside, said Morris-Kuentz.

“Our vision as a district is to inspire and equip students to be lifelong learners and positive contributors to the world,” she said. “Our mission is to partner with students, parents and the community to provide a personalized and exceptional education for every student.”

The district does this, she explained, by providing ten different career and technical education programs, including engineering, real estate and law and public service. Through these programs, students can also receive over a dozen real-world certifications.

For more on DSISD, visit dsisdtx.us.