Stories by Courtney Griffin
Planning Commission and AISD back charter school code change
Last week, City Hall was filled with people hoping to speak to the Planning Commission about proposed changes to how charter schools are built. And, though there are still details to be worked out, those amendments will be moving on…
Land Development Code • By Courtney Griffin • May 30, 2016
AISD takes one look at equity gaps
Austin Independent School District staff presented trustees with a single-year data snapshot last Monday that showed obvious equity gaps within the district’s student population. However, the snapshot is only one piece of the district’s complete equity report, which is tentatively…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • May 17, 2016
AISD Trustees favor new Lee for Lee Elementary
After a near-yearlong process, Austin Independent School District trustees heard three final choices for the renaming of Robert E. Lee Elementary school at their Monday workshop meeting. Although not set to formally vote until May 23, board members reached a…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • May 10, 2016
Music Commission narrows omnibus priorities
Austin’s Music Commission managed to prioritize some of the “kitchen sink” initiatives put forward by the Austin Music and Creative Ecosystem Omnibus Resolution during its Monday night meeting. But while stakeholders shared multiple recommendations for potential music industry best practices,…
Music & Entertainment • By Courtney Griffin • May 2, 2016
AISD's financial woes: Why a tax swap?
Although Austin Independent School District trustees have been lamenting the district’s troubled financial state for more than a year, it may not be readily apparent what the problem is, particularly given recent news that the district is bringing in $1.3…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • May 2, 2016
AISD gives first peek at $1.3 billion dollar budget
The Austin Independent School District gave the public its first look at next year’s budget Monday. But to many, the song is the same as it was last year: Employees need more money, property taxes are skyrocketing and the district…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 26, 2016
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AISD hears results of Imagine NE Austin proposal
At Monday’s workshop meeting of the Austin Independent School District board of trustees, members heard the results of AISD staff’s community engagement effort known as Imagine Northeast Austin. The project, which posed questions to residents regarding future facilities and academic…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 18, 2016
AISD trustees hear proposals for South Austin magnet school
The Austin Independent School District board of trustees heard five future programming proposals for a potential new South Austin magnet school, but that is about as far as planning went Monday night. At the board’s workshop meeting, Edmund Oropez, AISD’s…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 12, 2016
AISD to seek bids for 10 properties
The Austin Club and the Austin Independent School District’s centrally located administrative headquarters — as well as other district-owned properties — might soon see an ownership change. On Monday, the AISD board of trustees announced that 10 district properties that are…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • Mar 23, 2016
AISD looks into becoming "innovation" district
On Monday, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees heard a proposal that could provide the district with more flexibility in its establishment of school hours, student-to-teacher ratios and teacher benefits, among other things. According to AISD Superintendent Paul…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • Mar 9, 2016
AISD announces Lee Elementary decision deadline
In a year defined by hard conversations about race and historical legacies, the Austin Independent School District has finally announced a date to vote on a potential name change for Robert E. Lee Elementary School. The issue was brought to…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • Mar 1, 2016
AISD staff to formalize HUB participation program
On Monday, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees directed staff to move forward with final plans for the district’s first official historically underutilized business program (known as HUB), though many board members expressed reservations. Although the issue has…
