An
overnight fire at Casis Elementary in West Austin on October 21 damaged two classrooms before
burning itself out. If the blaze, caused by an overhead projector, hadn’t
managed itself, God only knows how long it would have been before someone
noticed the joint was on fire, for Casis is one of about 25 AISD schools
without a fire alarm.
At the risk of sounding like an apologist for this unfortunate and dangerous
situation, it should be noted that this information has not been hidden from
the public — and there is a plan to correct it. In 1993, a performance review
of AISD by Texas State Comptroller John Sharp revealed that out of 96 AISD
campuses, 26 had manual fire alarm systems, eight had partial systems, and 30
had none. As Austin’s fire code evolved over the years, new or renovated
schools had to come into compliance with new, stricter standards, but older
schools did not. According to the performance review, the estimated cost of
installing automatic fire and intrusion protection in all schools was almost
$1.5 million.
But interestingly enough, the Sharp report did not recommend that AISD make
this expenditure. Why not? Two possible reasons: First, Sharp’s performance
reviews make the best political brickbats when savings are emphasized,
and second, AISD officials had long planned to include fire alarms in a package
for school bonds, but it took over three years after the performance review to
develop and pass the bonds. Fire protection is a part of renovations at every
campus in AISD.
Also in the Delayed Outrage Dept. is the matter of recent breaches in school
safety and security. We’re up to two attempted sexual assaults and three
stabbings so far this year. Funny you should ask if AISD officials had ever
thought about heading off trouble like this. They held a series of Safe Schools
Community Forums in Spring 1995, which were met by a big ho-hum from the public
— fewer than 25 parents showed up. The safe schools initiative was then rolled
into the district’s Comprehensive Planning process (and perhaps that’s a good
place for it). Maybe it’s human nature not to worry much about a problem before
it happens. And just as human to allege that others weren’t prepared when it
does happen.
n
At its regular meeting on Monday, the AISD Board of Trustees debated allowing
campuses to impose a policy for student uniforms, but did not vote on the
matter. During citizens’ communications, two speakers appeared on this issue —
young Chris Kumbera and his mom, D.M. Cassity. Their points of view broke down
rather predictably. “I don’t see why wearing uniforms will help us educate our
students,” the child said. “I think for one time, you guys have come up with a
decent idea,” said his mother, as the boy looked on and shook his head. “It
gets rid of the class issue between students.”
Though the new state education code seems to permit schools to actually
require uniforms, AISD Superintendent Jim Fox said he strongly believes the
policy should be voluntary at every campus, adding that he thinks that portion
of the law won’t hold up in court. With the exception of trustee Tom Agnor (and
Liz Hartman, who was absent from the meeting), every member weighed in on the
matter. Geoff Rips, Travis Heights resident and admitted representative of the
contingent of “aging hippies,” jocularly noted that he’d taken several phone
calls from Ted Whatley’s Tarrytown district on this question. Rips wondered if
uniforms would actually just gloss over the problem — and interfere with kids’
ability to learn to deal with the world.
Whatley, former headmaster of St. Mark’s, a Dallas private school, said he
thinks uniforms are “a pretty good idea,” though AISD staff has “oversold” the
notion that research exists to prove that uniforms reduce discipline problems
and promote a team spirit. Indeed, as schools in Texas, California, Oregon,
South Carolina, Florida, and Pennsylvania (to name a few) try on school
uniforms, the evidence of its efficacy remains mostly anecdotal — but it may
be enough to support such a policy, anyway. And what are the plusses?
Discipline problems are reduced. Younger children, especially, often embrace
wearing polo shirts printed with the school name, and parents are relieved of
the financial burden of keeping up with brand names.
In other business, the board approved enhanced high school graduation plans
for the Class of 2001, hired new principals for Crockett High and Palm
Elementary, approved classroom addition designs for Bedichek Middle School and
Langford and Linder Elementaries; awarded contracts for additions at Cook,
Wooldridge, Boone, and Kocurek Elementaries; and gave the nod to get started on
developing two new elementary schools on land AISD currently owns in Northeast
and Southwest Austin.
This article appears in November 1 • 1996 and November 1 • 1996 (Cover).