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 the district will completely renovate using money from the 2017 bond. This project was included […]
AISD
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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 High School, John H. Reagan Early College High School and Eastside Memorial Early College High […]
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Sánchez Elementary targeted for modernization
On Thursday night, the Metz-Sánchez-Zavala Modernization Planning Team voted to recommend Sanchez Elementary School for modernization as part of the 2017 bond program. The bond called for a modernization project at one of three campuses, either the Metz, Sánchez or Zavala elementary school. Over the past several months, a planning team made up of administrators, […]
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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 reports of raids or deportations, service providers see a decline in undocumented families coming to […]
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As under-enrollment trend continues, AISD searches for ways to keep kids and money in district
The Austin Independent School District’s enrollment numbers are predicted to continue their downward trend in the coming school year, affecting long-term district decisions regarding budgeting and other financial policy. According to the most recent demographic study, the district will lose an estimated 4,266 students by 2026. This downward trend influences every part of district funding […]
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AISD shows progress despite state falling short of educational goals
According to a recent white paper from the outcomes working group at the Texas Education Agency, Texas is falling short of Gov. Greg Abbott’s “60×30 Goal.” The goal’s intent is that by 2030, 60 percent of Texan adults aged 25-34 will possess a postsecondary degree. So far, about 40 percent of Texas adults have postsecondary […]
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AISD budget task force begins tackling $30M deficit
At the Monday night meeting of the AISD Budget Stabilization Task Force, the 31-member group focused on establishing priorities and procedures as it begins the process of developing recommendations to balance the district’s budget. The task force, made up of Austin Independent School District staff, parents and community members, began looking at the current and […]
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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 outside group run the school, and that group hired a new principal this summer, Joanna […]
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New data show lead in drinking water at five more Austin schools
Lead has been found in the drinking water of five Austin public schools, new data obtained by Environment Texas from the Austin Independent School District shows. It’s the second time in the past year the toxic metal has been discovered in AISD schools and facilities. The tests revealed lead at levels considered especially unsafe by […]
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Norman and Sims end school year as separate schools, before combining this fall
The Austin Independent School District is hosting a picnic Saturday to introduce the Norman and Sims elementary school communities to one another before they combine as one school in August. Students from Norman will go to school in the Sims building next year, while Norman gets a major renovation. The merger came out of the […]
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AISD Board President Kendall Pace resigns after text message controversy
Kendall Pace, president of the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees, said this morning that she would resign from her position as president and as Place 9 trustee after controversial text messages she sent to another board trustee surfaced last week. The Austin teachers’ union had called on Pace to resign over the texts, […]
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Austin’s infill builders raise $10K to pay for 3,400 student lunches
With an eye toward public education, infill developers in Austin are tackling a new problem. Builders Care Austin, a 501(c)(3) that allows infill builders around town to make philanthropic contributions, has raised $10,000 to help pay off the lunch debts of Austin Independent School District students. Originally, Ed Ishmael, a local lawyer and developer who […]