HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — Hutto Independent School District is entering its second week of school. The explosion of growth in the district has it trying to keep up. That growth also means change for both students and families, including a new campus this school year.
“There’s a lot of outdoor spaces so kids can do a lot of things outdoors,” Hutto ISD Superintendent Jeni Neatherlin explained while giving a tour of the new Lee Martinez Elementary school.
“It has room for 800 kids to accommodate our growth, and [the school] has a lot of opportunity for kids to interact and collaborate and teachers to engage students,” Neatherlin added.
Right around the corner, the district’s second high school is being built.
“Knowing that we get to shape the future of tomorrow here today and that we just have to keep up with the growth and all of the industry that’s coming to Central Texas,” she said.
While the growth has been substantial, there’s one constant that remains the same.
“We are making sure that every campus has access to opportunity,” Neatherlin said. “That is one that Hutto ISD, even though they were doing this long before I came in here … the school board did a great job of making sure that each campus had the opportunity to learn in the same type of spaces.”
One of her favorite parts of the new campus happens to also be a favorite spot for many kids.
“The cafeteria opens up into the gym, and so you have your stage, and the cafeteria and the gym, and it’s all in one big flush area,” she said.
There’s also the innovation corridor.
“We want to be the innovators for tomorrow. And we want our kids to get that opportunity as well. So we’re really excited about that chance to take our school, and all of our schools, and make sure they are leading for the future,” Neatherlin said.
The construction of the new schools is happening because of voter-approved bonds in 2023. The second high school is expected to be completed by summer 2027.