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Countdown to Spring Break!
Fami-Lee, First I'm sending out a call for the Nominations Committee - they still need interested parties for the 2025-2026 Vice President of Communications. This role might feel big but the right person can make it their own and also assemble a team to support them! If you are remotely interested, please contact me so we can discuss!
This is a very short and yet still very important week for Lee. It marks the end of the 3rd 9 weeks and the 4th grade program! The week after break will feature a CAC meeting, PTA meeting and Lee Live! Then April brings with it STAAR testing and a whole new slew of events to look forward to!
For now, don't forget to order your Lee Yearbook and begin editing your custom pages! You get 2 FREE custom pages in your yearbook which will ONLY print in your personal copy of the yearbook. Tis means you can add any photos that you want! And if you run out of space adding more custom pages is extremely affordable. Remember pre-orders will be delivered BEFORE the last day of school so the students can sign each other's books!!
Get your Yearbook TODAY!!
24-25’ Yearbooks are on sale now!!
Custom pages are not due at time of order. You can go back and complete that step later.
Each book order includes 2 customized pages for your individual yearbook.
If you have any questions please reach out to Selena at historian@russellleepta.org
If you take photos at any Lee event that you think might look great in the yearbook, please send them to us at: photos@russellleepta.org
Don't Miss Out! Summer Camp Sign-Up Extended – First Come, First Serve!
We’re excited to extend registration for our summer camps, and there are still spots available! Registration is now on a first-come, first-served basis, not through a lottery. If a camp is missing from the Google form, it’s already full. If your student was enrolled in one of those camps, you’ll get a confirmation starting Friday. The only camp with a lottery is Session 1 Explore Austin.
Funds from these camps help teachers earn extra income, with the rest supporting Lee. Thanks for your support!
Sign up here for Session 1 (6/2-6/6): bit.ly/RRCampSession1
Sign up here for Session 2 (6/9-6/13): bit.ly/RRCampSession2
More information & club descriptions can be found on Konstella here.
Advocacy Update
By Kelly Griswold, Lee Advocacy Chair
AISD Explores Budget Cuts
AISD Board of Trustees had a voting meeting on 2/27 - you can find a recap of the full meeting here. The budget deficit reduction was a central topic - Superintendent Matias Segura did not mince words as he discussed the impact on our schools - "These would make it hard to protect the quality of education in AISD”.
The below lists are not active proposals at this point - but have been presented to the trustees on the work administrators are doing as they begin to consider what cuts they will
actually propose to the board in the future.
Elementary essential areas
Minimum staffing at elementary
Having secondary teachers teach 7 of 8 periods instead of the 6-of-8 they do now
Full list on page 7 here
You can see the full budget situation presentation here and the full budget workshop presentation here - this presentation attaches dollar amounts to some potential ways the district could reach its financial target (again, none of these are active proposals).
As a reminder the district must reduce its deficit from $110 million to $78 million before the end of the 2024-25 year due to a drop in property values and federal funding that are fueling a larger-than-anticipated budget deficit.
Make a public comment on HB3
Next Tuesday, March 11, the House Public Ed committee will be hearing public testimony on HB3, the house voucher bill. I’m encouraging all of you to submit a public comment here. This becomes a part of the public record, and any Texas resident with an email address (even kids) can submit a comment.
This bill is the largest and most expensive private school voucher bill ever proposed in the Texas House - read more about it here.
If you’re available to make it in person, the details of the hearing are below. You don’t have to testify if you show up.
8 am, Reagan Building, Room JHR 140
Testimony is limited to 2 minutes
ACPTA will host a Public Education Lounge starting at 8am in Room E2.024.
HB2
The House Public Education Committee heard testimony from HB2 this week. This bill proposes a $220 increase to the basic student allotment - the dollar amount per student; public education advocacy groups say that number needs to be closer to $1400.
What actions can people still take? You can help make a significant difference by 1) reaching out to your reps and 2) sharing this information with your family and friends who live in Texas and asking that they reach out to their reps.
As a reminder - the basic student allotment (money districts get for each student enrolled have not increased since 2019. The legislature has continued to add mandates to public schools - such as requiring security officers at every campus, with no additional funding to support those mandates.
Want to see a rundown of education bills currently in the Texas House and Senate? Check out our Advocacy Page.
If you’re looking for more than the weekly update and some more in-depth information, join our Konstella group.
Email me with any questions: advocacy@russellleepta.org.
Did you know we have an Advocacy group on Konstella?
From your mobile device click on Messages and scroll all the way to the bottom until you see "Join Committees"
Click on Join Committees to see available committees at Lee.
Next select "Lee Advocacy" and then click on Sign up. This will give you access to more Advocacy information and updates from the Lee Advocacy Chair, Kelly Griswold.
PTA Exec Board Recruitment 2025-2026
This is your chance to make a big impact on Lee. We're recruiting for the 2025-2026 PTA Executive Board. You can put yourself forward for any position but the highest need is for those that are about to be vacated.
Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest so far! We still need interested parties for one key position (VP Communications) so please reach out today!
President
Vice President
VP of Communications ⭐️
VP of Fundraising
VP of Educational Enrichment
Secretary
Historian
Parliamentarian
Send any questions to Kristy Orr, Lee Parliamentarian at parliamentarian@russellleepta.org.
Have a question about responsibilities of open positions? email Kristy or any current board member. https://www.russellleepta.org/ptaboard
⭐️ VP of Communications ⭐️ This role works to streamline communication, improve technology use, and assist the PTA in supporting students, parents, and staff with clear, timely and concise communication. Weekly communication as well as answer questions or steer communication to proper executive board member from the community.
Other ways to volunteer
Fami-Lee, as we're through half of the academic year, we're making a call for your support. Several Lee PTA and School initiatives need your continued support.
Please consider offering an hour or more of your time to help make things a little easier for our teachers and students this semester:
Lunch Recess
Volunteer to give our students extra Lunch Recess on Fun Fridays! Review Lunch Recess volunteer guidelines before your shift. Submit background check. Questions? selenamelancon@gmail.com Siblings/younger children may not accompany the Lunch Recess Volunteer Volunteer for Lunch Recess here.
COPY CATS
Would you like to help teachers directly by making copies and doing other tasks in the workroom? The commitment is 1hr/week. No experience necessary. Please email copycats@russellleepta.org if you are interested.
Lost & Found
Stop by campus once a week to sort, label, and organize L&F items and send a quick snapshot to me for posting... email president@russellleepta.org
Morning Traffic Monitor Volunteers
This is a 30 minute commitment that can be fun and easy with 2 or more people working together! VOLUNTEER HERE| Questions, email caitlin.sileo@austinisd.org
Lee Olympics Chair
Coordinate with the Lee PE Coaches to ensure we have a great event. email president@russellleepta.org
Roadie Work Day
Join the biannual event that takes on small projects throughout the campus to make minor repairs, beautify the grounds, and build/install new furnishings/shelves, etc. sign up here
Lee Live Tickets
Lee Live is happening Saturday, March 29th from 6-10PM and we need you there. BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW
Your $50 ticket to Lee Live not only covers an open bar, full dinner (plus dessert!) and a private concert -- it gives back to Lee. Come hungry and leave with a full heart. Just by joining the fun, you’ll have helped us raise crucial funds for our small (but mighty!) elementary school.
We need your help! Please DONATE to the silent or live auction. Know someone with an Airbnb? Holding onto season tickets? Been meaning to sift through your old record collection? Ask your employer or favorite shop owner for a gift card! You’ll be surprised to learn how eager local companies are to help us raise funds and know that no donation is too small. Please email leelive@russellleepta.org to donate or talk through ideas.
In need of childcare? Ms. Day has you covered. We shared all of the details you’ll need in the Lee Live newsletter where you’ll find the form you need to sign up. Hurry! Only 30 spots available.
Call for photos
Reminder to send photos of any Lee event to photos@russellleepta.org for use in the Yearbook and/or Roadrunner Rundown. Thank you to everyone who has sent photos so far!
Lee Calendar
3/13 - 4th Grade Showcase
3/14 - NO SCHOOL
3/17 - 3/21 - SPRING BREAK - NO SCHOOL
3/24 - 3/28 - AISD Pride Week
3/25 - CAC Meeting
3/28 - PTA Meeting
3/29 - Lee Live - tickets
3/31 - NO SCHOOL
4/5 - Roadie Work Day! - sign up here
coming up in April... STAAR testing dates:
Tue 4/8: 5th/6th ELA
Thur 4/10: 3rd/4th ELA
Fri 4/11: ELA Make-Ups
Wed 4/16: 5th Science
Thur 4/17: 5th Science Make-Ups
Tue 4/22: 5th/6th Math
Thur 4/24: 3rd/4th Math
Fri 4/25: 5th Math Make-Ups
Vertical Team News: Summer Camp ! MCCallum
Come join us for 4 days of fun and dancing at our annual Kiddie Clinic Dance Camp sponsored by the McCallum Blue Brigade drill team!
The 2025 Kiddie Clinic Dance Camp is open for registration! Price is $150 per registrant. Please register and pay for each registrant separately.
July 28 - 31 from 1:00 – 5:00pm in the McCallum High School Cafeteria.
5600 Sunshine Dr Austin TX 78756
For Dance Camp questions contact Blue Brigade Director Nancy Honeycutt Searle at nancy.honeycutt@austinisd.org.
Thanks for reading this week's Roadrunner Rundown! Have something to add? Share your comments or feature suggestions with Clarissa at communications@russellleepta.org or online here.
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