On Monday, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees unanimously tweaked its facilities naming policy. Although the change clarified the district’s ability to abolish controversial school names, it provided little guidance on if and how such a process might unfold. Trustees agreed to strike out a clause in current policy that restricts the board […]
AISD Board of Trustees
This is the governing board of the Austin Independent School District. The board is comprised of two at-large members and seven district representatives.
AISD delays, but keeps “new” LASA on table
The Austin Independent School District board of trustees heard a barrage of new academic program proposals for South Austin on Monday. But at the end of the meeting, the long-discussed idea of creating South Austin’s version of the district’s prestigious Liberal Arts and Science Academy remained on the table. Although board members had previously anticipated […]
AISD punts Confederate name changes to committee
With tension hanging thick in the air, Austin Independent School District trustees’ tempers rose as they discussed ways to tackle the politically and racially charged topic of potentially changing Confederate-related names associated with five AISD schools: Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Eastside Memorial High School at the Johnston Campus, Sidney Lanier High School, John H. […]
AISD tightens military access to students
Military recruiters seeking to sign up future servicemen and -women will have less access to Austin Independent School District students than they did one year ago. On Monday, board members unanimously adopted new language in the district’s visitors policy that clarifies exactly where military recruiters can and cannot go. In accordance with federal laws, schools […]
AISD reviews staffing; changes could cost millions
With enrollment dropping, a tight budget and no sign of relief from the Supreme Court of Texas, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees trudged forward with its budget discussion Monday, assuming another year of limited resources and growing challenges. Despite approving this year’s budget only two months ago, board members have already begun […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
AISD avoids dipping into savings
The Austin Independent School District board of trustees unanimously passed the Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget at Monday’s regular meeting, and thanks to a record increase in certified property values, the district will most likely avoid dipping into its contingency funds. This year’s budget has been the subject of a long, drawn-out process that balanced employee demands for […]
AISD changes on the horizon after 84th session
Teachers, staff and students are no strangers to state legislators fiddling with school ratings or standardized testing, and this past legislative session was no exception. Monday, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees received an update on changes brought by the 84th Legislature after lawmakers passed 111 bills that will affect school districts statewide. […]
AISD trustees lean toward transparent appointment process
The Austin Independent School District board of trustees laid out a timeline for potential District 7 applicants at a special meeting Tuesday night. Most of that process will be open to the public. In a 6-1 decision with District 1 Trustee Edmund Gordon opposed and Vice President Amber Elenz absent, board members decided to honor […]
AISD hears final budget draft
On Monday, the Austin Independent School District’s chief financial officer gave trustees the good news first: AISD will have more revenue than it expected to have in June’s version of the Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget. But most of it will go to the state. Presenting AISD’s near-finalized budget to the board, CFO Nicole Conley said that changes […]
