UPDATE: Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura has just announced a significant delay in the proposed school boundary changes, impacting several local schools. In a critical decision made during a board meeting on Tuesday night, Segura confirmed that three schools—Palm Elementary, Bryker Woods Elementary, and Maplewood Elementary—will be removed from the consolidation list due to an alarming $20 million budget shortfall and declining enrollment.
This urgent announcement comes as the district faces mounting pressure from parents and community members. Segura emphasized that the district is re-evaluating how community feedback has influenced the consolidation plan. He disclosed that some staff members have been placed on leave pending further investigation into the matter. “It’s not lost on me that these decisions are not short-term decisions,” Segura stated. “These changes will alter the district, really forever.”
In a crucial move, the Superintendent revealed that any campuses affected by boundary changes not related to the Turnaround Plans (TAP) will be postponed until next fall. “Just to be really clear, this work is continuing; it is not cancelled,” he assured. “The need to align our school system to improve feeder patterns is something that I am committed to doing.”
Parents and community advocates are escalating their calls for alternative solutions to school improvement rather than closures. Rebecca Steen, a concerned parent from Becker Elementary, voiced her hopes for prioritizing TAPs over consolidations ahead of the critical vote on November 20, 2023. “I think our kids really deserve that,” she urged, adding, “We need less people at the central office, and we need more teachers in the classrooms.”
In an effort to support the affected schools, the community organized a solidarity spirit event at three Kerbey Lane locations on Thursday night. This event pledged to donate 10% of all proceeds to the schools facing consolidation. Briana Rubin, a parent from Bryker Woods Elementary, highlighted the importance of community unity, stating, “It’s ever so important to come together as one giant community and lift one another up.”
The district is set to finalize the turnaround plans and submit them to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by November 21, 2023. As developments unfold, the urgency for community engagement and support becomes paramount in shaping the future of Austin ISD schools. Parents and educators are urged to stay informed as the situation continues to evolve.
