Austin at Large: Equity Is Everybody’s Business

We the people of Austin own the future of our schools

"...diverse, mixed-income, urban school district, and not keep letting AISD flail as it's asked to transcend the existential challenges..."

Dec. 27, 2019 News Column by Mike Clark-Madison

Pull the Plug

"...of those who have worked on budget solutions and enrollment issues for years. Like all endings, people will be..."

Dec. 19, 2019 Postmarks

2019's Big Stories Shaping Austin's Path Into a New Decade

Never a slow news day

"...in the justice system. – Michael King [page] Sept. 5: AISD Releases "School Changes" Scenarios, Including Plans to Close 12..."

Dec. 20, 2019 News Feature by the News Staff

AISD Equity Report Hits Home Hard

Was the School Changes process doomed from its inception from an equity perspective?

"...Analysis of Process, Principles & Practices." The report by AISD Equity Officer Dr. Stephanie Hawley was controversially not made..."

Dec. 13, 2019 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

AISD Board Votes to Close Four Austin Elementary Schools

Despite public outcry, Brooke, Pease, Sims, and Metz all to shutter

"...a response to fiscal challenges and ongoing declines in enrollment. Under the plan approved by trustees, current Brooke students..."

Nov. 19, 2019 News Post by Austin Sanders

AISD Trustees Share First Thoughts on "School Changes"

So far, board's holding firm (more or less)

"...a general rightsizing of the district's operations, citing projected enrollment declines in the years ahead. (Despite those projections, the..."

Oct. 11, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Public Notice: Destroying Some to Save Others

City, Austin ISD look for similar changes in similar places

"...neither case will the entire town be destroyed. Both AISD's proposed school changes and the city's code rewrite appear..."

Oct. 11, 2019 News Column by Nick Barbaro

Equity, Clarity Sought in School Changes Process

(UPDATED) AISD hears from parents at both East and Westside schools

"...like, pressure is building around two central themes: whether AISD can really claim its plans are equitable when most..."

Oct. 4, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Justice Demands Sacrifice

"...Dear Editor, The AISD administration has recommended closing 12 schools, the majority of..."

Oct. 2, 2019 Postmarks

Study the Maplewood Model

"...of color, 34% economically disadvantaged children, 14% special education enrollment, a dual-language program, and children of refugee families, Maplewood..."

Sept. 21, 2019 Postmarks

Austin at Large: The Oldest Story in Town

Will Austin ISD's "School Changes" be our last chance to learn our lesson?

"...him that year that had fallen through, long past AISD's enrollment deadline; we threw ourselves at the principal's feet..."

Sept. 20, 2019 News Column by Mike Clark-Madison

AISD's "School Changes" Process Places Equity Front and Center

“Historically, this is a very racist city, and unfortunately, this school district is a part of that system"

"...at Burnet Middle School in North Austin to press AISD officials for details on what kinds of changes the..."

Sept. 13, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

With Changes Coming, AISD Revisits Facilities Plan

Trustees to consider school closures, redrawing of attendance zones, and more

"...been slowed down a bit from its original timeline, AISD Operations Officer Matias Segura, who is leading both efforts,..."

Aug. 16, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

AISD Board of Trustees Approves $1.6 Billion Budget for 2019-2020

Lege gives AISD a one-year budget breather

"...trepidation about the financial health of the district, the AISD board of trustees approved unanimously on Monday night (June..."

June 21, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

AISD Told to Pay More, Make Cuts Hurt Less

School change process seeks to improve academic programming access to all students

"...repurposing campuses over the next several years – what AISD is blandly calling its "school change" process. The document..."

May 24, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

AISD Employees’ Union Urges 10% Raise

With likely increase of state funding, local teachers say: “We’re worth it”

"...demand dwarfs the initial 1% teacher-only offer made by AISD, a proposal EA President Ken Zarifis called "insulting" in..."

May 17, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

AISD Board Debates Path for Future School Closures

AISD Board gets closer to "school change"

"...familiar boundaries such as Lamar and I-35, according to AISD Operations Officer Matias Segura. This was to promote "creative..."

May 10, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

AISD Trustees Consider $30 Million in Cuts

Treading carefully on the budget

"...in the next school year ($8 million) and projected enrollment declines ($3.4 million), along with $8.5 million in savings..."

April 26, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Making the Math Work on Real School Finance Reform

"Texas Plan" brings new money to Austin and other districts, but nothing's final yet

"...kids into their schools. Many urban districts have seen enrollment declines in recent years as households become smaller, neighborhoods..."

April 26, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

UPDATED: AISD Reassigns Principal After "MAGA" Controversy

Andrews Elementary principal Gabriela Soto said the school's new PTA looks forward to "making Andrews Great Again!"

"...UPDATED April 11, 1:42 pm: The AISD principal accused of discriminating against immigrant parents at Andrews..."

April 12, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

House Rolls Out School Finance Bill

Republican leaders propose $9 billion in funding for public schools over the next two years

"...billion that's already been set aside to account for enrollment growth. Some of this funding injection would go toward..."

March 8, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Signs of Trouble and of Hope at Mendez Middle School

In-district charter seeks to turn around a campus’ longtime struggles

"...stakes for the T-STEM effort; for some in the AISD community, the partnership highlights the difference state-funded grants can..."

March 1, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

AISD Trustees Push Back on Campus Closure Plan

“When we start messing with people’s schools, we start messing with their communities”

"...truly engage their constituents. Under the timeline proposed by AISD Superintendent Paul Cruz, the board would need to approve..."

Feb. 15, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

AISD Trustees: Slow Down on School Closures

Concerns raised over facilities plan timeline, community engagement

"...The Austin ISD Board of Trustees on Monday night..."

Feb. 12, 2019 News Post by Austin Sanders

AISD Starts the Clock on School Closures

Board set to decide in June on campus consolidations

"...learning spaces for as many kids as we can,” AISD Superintendent Paul Cruz said of the emerging plan. The..."

Feb. 8, 2019 News Post by Austin Sanders

AISD and City: Let’s Work Together!

Looking for mutually beneficial uses for publicly owned land

"...would not initiate any new work – but both AISD and the city hope a renewed commitment will lead..."

Feb. 1, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Closing Schools, Shrinking Enrollment Make for Tense Times at AISD

Sour apples at AISD

"...Task Force presented its likely-to-be-controversial recommendations for navigating through AISD's fiscal crisis, and a briefing from district demographers revealed..."

Jan. 11, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Austin At Large: Fractured Fairy Tales

Will no Prince Charming come to save our school district in distress?

"...And likely will again this time around, as the AISD Board of Trustees, which has until June to close..."

Jan. 11, 2019 News Column by Mike Clark-Madison

Central Texas Lawmakers Speak Out About the 86th Legislative Session

Interviews with the team representing 2.1 million Austin metro residents

"...into recapture at the same time it is losing enrollment, and somehow that trajectory has to change, because it's..."

Jan. 4, 2019 News Feature by the News Staff

Rep. Vikki Goodwin on the 86th Texas Legislature

“I worry when people talk about property tax caps [and not] where the revenue is going to come from instead”

"...board. It's just [from] having my kids go through AISD schools and having been involved in their school lives...."

Jan. 4, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

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