INSIDE DSISD

Dripping Springs High School has announced the 2024 Homecoming Court including the king and queen nominees and the underclass dukes and duchesses.

Seniors nominated for Homecoming queen are Kylie Acosta, Ava Azua, Emily Molleur, Mia Pleasant and Eloise Roffers. King nominees are Ryan Fehler, Jamison Malcom, Jackson Mills, Cooper Rummel and Eben Sebastian.

The freshman duke and duchess are Idea Green and Brooklyn Reiling, the sophomore honorees are Gray Magby and Talia Alvarado, and the junior duke and duchess are Axel Skinner and Alexa Nimocks.

The Homecoming king and queen will be announced during halftime of the Dripping Springs High School football game against Austin High on Friday, Oct. 4 at Tiger Stadium. Prior to the game, the underclass dukes and duchesses will be recognized at 7:05 p.m. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

A Homecoming parade will be held around Dripping Springs High School on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 6:00 p.m. followed by a community pep rally at Tiger Stadium. A carnival, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the G lot (north of Tiger Stadium), will conclude the night’s festivities. Community members attending the parade may park in any of the DSHS lots. Please arrive before 5:50 p.m. as the DSHS campus will be closed to traffic until after the parade has concluded.

The Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees approved long-time DSISD counselor Retta Ary as the new Director of Counseling & Health Services at the Sept. 23 meeting.

“We are thrilled to promote Retta Ary to Director of Counseling & Health Services,” said Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Innovation Dr. Karen Kidd. “Retta’s ability to form strong relationships with staff and students and her experience shaping the counseling program here at DSISD made her a frontrunner for this position. Her dedication to this district and community is unmatched and we are excited to see how she will continue to build our counseling and health services departments.”

As the Director of Counseling & Health Services, Ary will oversee the planning and implementation of a district-wide comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program, and provide leadership, coordination, and support for the district’s health services program, with emphasis on providing counseling support to schools and fostering physical and mental health and wellness so that students can reach optimum achievement.

Now in her 12th year in DSISD, Ary has served as the Coordinator of Counseling Services since 2023 after spending 10 years as the Lead Counselor for Dripping Springs High School. In her current role, Ary has spearheaded the implementation of the Effective Advising Framework, which supports the development of an individualized student planning system in the areas of college/career, social and personal, academic and financial literacy. Ary also mentors 24 DSISD counselors, plans and presents district counseling professional development, coordinates the McKinney-Vento program and serves on the Crisis Support Team.

Prior to arriving in Dripping Springs, Ary served six years as a counselor for Dawson High School in Pearland. She received a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of Alabama and a Masters of Education in School Counseling from the University of West Alabama.

In DSISD, we believe that every day counts. We want to emphasize the critical role that consistent school attendance plays in students’ academic success. Every day spent in the classroom is an opportunity for growth, learning, and connection. For the 2024-25 school year, DSISD has set an attendance goal of 96%. This goal ensures that students maximize their learning opportunities and stay on track to achieve their full potential.

DSISD Attendance-Taking Times

Elementary: 8:45 a.m.

Middle School: 9:45 a.m.

High School: 10:50 a.m.

Here are the top three reasons why coming to school every day is so important:

Academic Achievement

Consistent attendance is directly linked to academic success. Students attending school regularly are more likely to stay on track with their learning, participate in classroom activities, and perform well on assignments. Missing even a few days can create gaps in their learning, making it harder for them to catch up and keep pace with their peers.

Building Lifelong Habits

Regular attendance helps students develop important life skills, such as responsibility, time management, and perseverance. Students who understand the value of showing up daily are more likely to carry this mindset into college, careers, and other aspects of their lives.

Social & Emotional Growth

School is not just a place for academic learning—it’s also where students build friendships, learn social skills, and develop emotionally. Daily attendance allows students to engage fully in the school community, form meaningful connections with their peers and teachers, and participate in activities that contribute to their overall well-being.

To help our Tigers realize their full potential, DSISD can partner with you regarding various resources your family might need. We are committed to working with you to address any challenges impacting attendance, ensuring every Tiger has the support they need to succeed. Remember, every day counts in DSISD. Let’s make each one count for our students’ futures!

The Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees adopted the 2024 tax rate at the Sept. 23 meeting by a vote of 7-0. The newly adopted rate of $1.1052 per $100 of certified property value is a reduction from the $1.1075 rate in 2023.

The total tax rate of $1.1052 consists of two parts: $0.7552 for Maintenance and Operations and $0.35 for Interest and Sinking. The Maintenance and Operations (M&O) portion covers district operating costs, such as salaries and benefits, utility bills, and supplies, and is subject to recapture. The Interest and Sinking (I&S) rate generates revenue that can only be used to pay off voter-approved debt.

Property tax bills are a product of the tax rate and the property value. Therefore, a property owners’ tax bill could increase even though the tax rate has decreased.

In June, the DSISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $100.4 General Fund budget, less recapture, including 84 percent for payroll for more than 1,100 district employees. The remaining 16 percent of the budget will be used towards classroom supplies, utilities, professional development, transportation, safety and travel.

Dripping Springs ISD is seeking community input on the name of the district’s sixth elementary school, which is scheduled to open for the 2025-26 school year.

A community survey is available through Friday, October 11 for stakeholders to share their suggestions for the name of the school. The results of the survey will be used by the Elementary #6 Name Recommendation Committee to prepare its recommendation for the DSISD Board of Trustees to consider at its January 27, 2025 meeting.

Currently, all eight DSISD schools are named after existing natural springs in the area. Board policy states that 1) District facilities may be named for local residential areas, local geographic features, or local, state, or national landmarks; and 2) District facilities shall not be named for persons, living or deceased.

Elementary #6 is under construction off Mira Vista Drive in the Headwaters neighborhood. The campus will accommodate 850 students in grades PK-5 and relieve overcrowding at Dripping Springs Elementary and Walnut Springs Elementary. Attendance zoning is underway and is expected to be approved at the December 16, 2024 board meeting.

Follow along with updates on Elementary #6 at dsisdtx.us/elementary6.