During Monday’s board dialogue meeting about the school-to-prison pipeline, Austin Independent School District Trustee Paul Saldaña pointed out that AISD’s teacher demographics do not mirror its student demographics. He said that most students in AISD will not see a minority teacher, and “you can’t be what you can’t see.” Saldaña said there are more than […]
Courtney Griffin
Posted inAISD
AISD talks prison pipeline; reviews current system
At Monday’s dialogue meeting, AISD trustees took their first look at the state of the district’s “school-to-prison pipeline” system, examining the district’s policies and practices that push students out of the classrooms and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Speaking on behalf of municipal courts at the meeting, Judge Sherry Statman said that even […]
Posted inWhispers
AISD to talk renaming on Nov. 2
Over the past several months, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees has heard many residents’ opinions on Hyde Park-based Robert E. Lee Elementary’s namesake. Monday’s regular meeting was no exception. A total of 26 residents spoke in favor of changing the school’s name, citing reasons ranging from the Confederate general’s stance on race relations […]
Posted inWhispers
AISD enrollment drops
The Austin Independent School District wrapped up leveling in September, a process in which teachers from underenrolled schools are moved to overenrolled schools to help relieve overcrowding. According to district data on Sept. 21, AISD has experienced an estimated 1,090-student drop in enrollment compared to the same time last year. The district has lost the […]
Posted inAISD, Public Safety
AISD to begin video ticketing
During a quick approval of Monday’s consent agenda, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees unanimously OK’d the use of camera-based ticketing to help curb drivers’ illegal passing of stopped school buses. AISD entered into a one-year renewable contract with Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions Inc. for a School Bus Safety Stop-Arm Camera System. ATS […]
Posted inAISD, Austin
AISD trustees appoint Wagner to D7 spot
The Austin Independent School District concluded a more than six-week appointment process at its regular meeting Monday when, in a 7-0 vote — with Secretary Jayme Mathias abstaining — board members appointed Yasmin Wagner to South Austin’s District 7 seat. District 6 Trustee Paul Saldaña made the motion, and At-Large Board Member Kendall Pace seconded. […]
Posted inAISD
AISD District 7 candidate forums conclude
Two Austin Independent School District trustees and about 40 residents packed Baranoff Elementary School’s cafeteria this weekend to hear District 7 candidates Yasmin Wagner and Jonathan “Dale” Sump field questions. Saturday’s meeting was the third and final in-district forum. Now AISD trustees will interview the two candidates on Sept. 24 and give district-wide residents a […]
Posted inAISD
AISD begins South Austin academic talks
Even if the Austin Independent School District trustees come to an agreement in December, a new, advanced academic program in South Austin probably will not open its doors until the 2017-2018 school year, said Superintendent Paul Cruz. At the board’s dialogue meeting Monday, despite the lack of District 7 representation, AISD trustees began discussing what […]
Posted inWhispers
AISD District 7 residents invited to three forums
The Austin Independent School District is holding three public forums next week, giving residents a chance to question District 7 candidates Yasmin Wagner and Jonathan Sump, who are running for a seat on the AISD board of trustees. Forums are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at Bowie High School; Thursday, Sept. […]
Posted inWhispers
AISD inches forward in creating District 7 candidate criteria
In a 7-1 decision, Austin Independent School District board members decided to use a list of approved questions in District 7’s candidate appointment process instead of a more formalized rubric. AISD District 1 trustee Edmund Gordon was opposed. Two candidates stepped forward to fill AISD’s recently opened District 7 seat by Tuesday’s deadline: Jonathan Sump, […]
Posted inAISD
AISD subcontractor workers potentially underpaid
An Austin Independent School District subcontractor might have shortchanged its workers by more than $12,000 in total for a project that was contracted in 2009. If settled as is, it could potentially be the largest case of wage noncompliance within AISD in five years. At last Monday’s regular meeting, AISD board members took up the […]
Posted inWhispers
Comments fly about Robert E. Lee Elementary School’s name
In the wake of the removal of the Jefferson Davis statue from the University of Texas campus, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees heard nine residents speak for and against renaming AISD’s Robert E. Lee Elementary School. At Monday’s regular meeting, four residents asked board members to change the name, while five asked […]