Stories by Claire McInerny, KUT
Austin ISD board approves process to close some schools by August 2020
The Austin Independent School District’s board of trustees voted unanimously Monday to move forward with a plan for closing and consolidating schools. The decision to close schools comes as the district continues to face declining enrollment. Demographic reports show enrollment…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Feb 26, 2019
Austin ISD board members push back on short timeline to close schools
The Austin Independent School District’s board of trustees is balking at the administration’s plan to announce school closures by summer. AISD has lost more than 6,000 students in the past six years, and enrollment is projected to continue its decline.…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Feb 13, 2019
Task force recommends Austin ISD cut magnet programs, consolidate schools to save money
A task force created by the Austin Independent School District released a report outlining budget cuts and ways the district can bring in more money. Some of the more dramatic recommendations are redrawing attendance zones, closing schools and cutting magnet…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Jan 8, 2019
Austin ISD faces unpopular options to fix budget: Closing schools and redrawing boundaries
It’s time for the Austin Independent School District to do something drastic to improve its financial situation, says a member of a task force studying its budget. On the table: closing schools and changing boundaries. “There are some really key…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Nov 21, 2018
Austin school board, communities clash over names for Confederate-named schools
The Austin Independent School District’s Board of Trustees will vote next Monday on what to rename four schools currently named after members of the Confederacy. The board will decide between honoring the schools’ wishes, which in some cases means no name…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Nov 19, 2018
Austin ISD seeking parent input on new sex ed curriculum
The Austin Independent School District is seeking parental input as it prepares to rewrite its human sexuality curriculum. The district hasn’t revised its elementary and middle school curriculum in 12 years. Parents received an online survey Wednesday inviting them to…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Nov 8, 2018
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Here are the candidates for Austin ISD board of trustees
Five seats on the Austin Independent School District’s board of trustees will be on the ballot Nov. 6. The role of the school board is to oversee the AISD superintendent and district administration. The board votes on district policy and…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Oct 16, 2018
Some argue proposed new names for Austin schools don't leave Confederacy behind
Despite momentum earlier this year to rid Austin Independent School District properties of links to the Confederacy, the district’s board of trustees is facing pushback over proposed new names. At a meeting last night to publicly discuss recommendations for Sidney…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Oct 10, 2018
On the eve of East Austin school consolidation, community still has questions
The Austin Independent School District’s board of trustees will vote in a little over a week on how to consolidate three elementary schools in East Austin. Students at Metz, Zavala and Sanchez elementary schools will combine into one school, which…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Sep 14, 2018
Austin ISD schools honoring Confederate figures will find out new names this semester
Five Austin Independent School District schools named for Confederate figures will get renamed this semester. The Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted in February to rename the John T. Allan facility, Zachary Taylor Fulmore Middle School, Sidney Lanier Early College…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Aug 29, 2018
As fear rises among undocumented community, Austin ISD reminds families schools are a safe place
As the new school year approaches, the Austin Independent School District is preparing for more immigrant families to rely on it for resources outside of education. Leonor Vargas, AISD’s administrative supervisor of parent programs, said when there’s a rise in…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Aug 3, 2018
New principal hopes project-based learning will improve academics at Mendez
When students at Mendez Middle School return to school next month, there will be new curriculum – and a new principal. After Mendez failed state standards four years in a row, the Austin Independent School District agreed to let an…
