In a much shorter and more convivial than expected AISD Board of Trustees meeting, the repurposing proposal for Pearce Middle School was passed 9-0 on Monday night.

The plan goes straight to Education Commissioner Robert Scott, and district staff hope to get his decision (preferably approval) Tuesday or Wednesday. If it gets the go-ahead, the district will then be scrambling to get everything in-place by the start of the school year. If Scott says no, then Pearce is likely to stay closed through the next academic year.

There are, as might be expected, a lot of fingers crossed in AISD tonight. As Board President Mark Williams put it, “We just need [Scott] to accept this.”

This article appears in July 31 • 2009.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.