ACC Empire

The election results weren't the only big news for Austin Community College this past week – expansion plans seem to be rolling along. On June 8, the board of trustees certified petitions from residents of San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, Elgin ISD, and McDade ISD seeking annexation into ACC's taxing district. If voters in those school districts approve annexation in November, students there would become eligible for cheaper in-district tuition and ACC would be inclined to build facilities in those areas. The expansion news was followed by the dual announcements that ACC President Stephen Kinslow will retire in June 2011 and that the college has entered into a contract to buy 87 acres in Bastrop, another school district that will vote on annexation in November (North Hays CISD also will vote). And on Tuesday, ACC officially put out a call for architects to design possible campuses in Bastrop, Elgin, Kyle/Buda, and San Marcos.