Bezos’ company helping boost CTE programs
HUTTO — Jeff Bezos’ space exploration company Blue Origin is counting down to help the Hutto Independent School District take flight with technical programs.
Negotiations with Blue Origin, which earlier this month announced it would be building in Hutto, included a partnership with the district benefiting teachers and students, said Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles during a school board meeting Oct. 22.
“There are a lot of moving parts in the world today and I think one of the things we can all agree about is that what will make it better is space hippos,” Boles said. “I’m pretty excited that Hutto and Blue Origin are going to partner with this, and I get to watch how this board develops the Hippo Space Force.”
The hippo is the mascot of the school district.
Bezos, a billionaire high-tech entrepreneur, is founder of Blue Origin, Amazon and owns The Washington Post.
Also during the school board session, trustees discussed improving campus safety and considered designs for a new elementary school.
Boles said the county negotiated with Blue Origin on behalf of the district since the ISD is legally limited in those types of development conversations.
According to the commissioner, the aerospace company is specifically interested in partnering with the district’s career and technical education program. He said Blue Origin would like to serve as an industry anchor, assist in developing CTE programs and advise on credentials and technical skills.
The partnership will include donating, lending and funding or facilitating access to equipment for instructional material. There also will be learning opportunities for educators and support of teacher-recognition programs.
Blue Origin officially announced Oct. 8 it would be building its new Constellation Park aerospace manufacturing campus in Hutto after months of local speculation. The facility is expected to be one of the largest developments in the county, with an investment topping $500 million and the expected creation of 2,000 jobs.
District strengthens intruder safety Trustees during the session addressed campus safety concerns and updates after a campus- intruder detection audit Sept. 16 by the Texas Education Agency found a problem with a courtyard door leading to a weight room.
The locking mechanism had not been upgraded where the door could be propped open or left unlocked, and it did not automatically lock after authorized use.
The lock has since been replaced, the board learned. Teachers and staff will also require training on proper door-locking protocols.
A Hutto High School official said door audits are conducted weekly.
New elementary to focus on CTE Architects from VLK presented preliminary drawings of Hutto Elementary School No. 9 to the board. The school sits on 17.3 acres within the Flora Master-Planned Community outside of Hutto on CR 394.
The facility has room for 847 students and will be completed in spring 2029.
The architects are designing the campus to fit into the visual aspects of the Flora community, with metal panels and natural stone, the firm said.
The school will have spaces for outdoor learning, including courtyards for student interaction. The two-story facility will include a community room, a fitness room, exploration labs for CTE programs and a media center.
The school will also provide learning experiences to a wide range of professional and technical fields.
The design work will continue through May, with construction bidding beginning in June, officials said.
“
I get to watch how this board develops the Hippo Space Force.”
— Commissioner Russ Boles
