Stories by Courtney Griffin
Conservation District preps for annexation
With two major bills pending in Texas’ legislative session, officials with the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District discussed a potentially rushed timeline at their regular meeting Thursday. In March, legislators put forward House Bill 3405 and Senate Bill 1440 to…
Local Government • By Courtney Griffin • May 18, 2015
AISD remains hopeful about school finance bill
Austin Independent School District trustees received good news Monday: A state bill restructuring school finance, House Bill 1759, still has wind in its sails. In the hour-plus monthly meeting with staff, AISD Intergovernmental Relations Committee members heard updates on several…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • May 13, 2015
AISD, others ask state for $3 billion in new funding
Three members from the Austin Independent School District board stood with more than 20 other school districts at the State Capitol on Wednesday to ask legislators for $3 billion in additional statewide school funding. “For AISD, this figure is vital,”…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • May 7, 2015
New AISD group to tackle Austin High traffic
This summer, a new interlocal group will propose a solution to address the traffic problems that are expected to slam Austin High School in coming years. At the Austin Independent School District’s Board Dialogue meeting, trustees directed administration to create…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • May 6, 2015
CTRMA approves MoPac/Cesar Chavez study
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is taking a closer look at potential trouble spots on the proposed MoPac South Improvement Project, but not at the level some residents had hoped. At its regular meeting Wednesday, CTRMA’s board unanimously authorized the…
Roads • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 23, 2015
County asks for 'loop' road project studies
Travis County is asking the area’s transportation authorities to step back and take a look at the big picture. In a controversial 2-1 vote, the Travis County Commissioners Court is asking the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority to institute broader studies.…
Environment • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 22, 2015
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Travis Commissioners delay hiring administrator
The Travis County Commissioners Court put the brakes on hiring a new county executive of administrative operations last week after officials questioned whether the county’s current organizational structure was the most efficient. “We talked about how important it was to move…
Travis County • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 20, 2015
AISD board reacts to threat from charter schools
Austin Independent School District board members have urgently requested a policy change that would curtail area charter school districts’ access to student information. At the board’s dialogue meeting last Monday, members learned that nearby charter schools have been filing Public…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 14, 2015
AISD board discusses student transfer changes
Austin Independent School District board members approached student transfer policies last Monday with a scalpel instead of a sledgehammer, with the goal of trying to ease high enrollment in certain schools. After much discussion, they ended the meeting with an…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 13, 2015
Concerns raised over 18-foot-wide trail design
A proposed urban trail that is as wide as a city street became an issue Wednesday, after residents voiced concern about the pathway’s design. During an April 1 meeting, Environmental Board members heard an update on the Upper Boggy Creek Trail…
Environment • By Courtney Griffin • Apr 8, 2015
City says SH45 SW environmental study unsound
Austin’s Environmental Board is looking at its options after hearing from city staff that the approved environmental impact study, or EIS, for State Highway 45 Southwest is not based on sound science. The EIS was prepared by TxDOT and CTRMA, with…
