On Monday night, the Austin Independent School District voted 8-1 to change the name of Robert E. Lee Elementary School to Russell Lee Elementary School, replacing the well-known Confederate general with an Austin-based photographer known for his diverse pictures. Vice President Paul Saldaña voted against the motion, voicing his preference for a name that reflected […]
Courtney Griffin
Posted inAISD
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 due in October. It’s been more than a year since the Texas Civil Rights Project sent […]
Posted inAISD
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 verbal consensus in a relatively short time, setting their sights on replacing “Robert E. Lee” […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
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, most commissioners stated that a potential code change was their top priority. On March 3, […]
Posted inAISD
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 billion in revenue. But in March, Mayor Steve Adler spoke of a possible “tax swap” […]
Posted inAISD
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 is still crippled by the requirement that it send tax revenue to the state. Ken […]
Posted inAISD
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 programming, was originally prompted by discussion over what to do with land in the Mueller […]
Posted inAISD
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 chief officer of teaching and learning, presented programming possibilities envisioned by the South Magnet Planning […]
Posted inWhispers
AISD says yes to Robert E. Lee Elementary name change
The Austin Independent School District board of trustees finally voted to move ahead with the name change of Robert E. Lee Elementary School in an 8-0-1 motion at Monday’s regular meeting. District 3 Trustee Ann Teich abstained, stating that although she disagreed with the name change, many of the people who had spoken in opposition […]
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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 vacant or largely used for non-instructional purposes might be sold, leased or repurposed depending on […]
Posted inUncategorized
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 Cruz, the move – pursuing designation as a “District of Innovation” – could give AISD […]
Posted inWhispers
AISD to participate in SXSWedu
On Monday, the Austin Independent School District kicked off its events for SXSWedu, a three-day portion of South by Southwest’s extravaganza that focuses on education. (And right out of the gate, the district won a $10,000 prize for an innovative idea to improve Texas education.) AISD staff is involved in nearly 15 education-related events. AISD […]