URGENT UPDATE: Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura has just announced a significant postponement of boundary change plans affecting local schools until next fall. This decision comes amid a staggering $20 million budget shortfall and declining enrollment, impacting the futures of several schools within the district.
During a board meeting on Tuesday night, Segura confirmed that three schools — Palm Elementary, Bryker Woods Elementary, and Maplewood Elementary — have been removed from the list of schools slated for closure. This shift highlights the district’s ongoing efforts to integrate community feedback into their consolidation strategy.
“This work is continuing,” Segura stated, emphasizing the necessity of restructuring the school system to enhance feeder patterns for students. He also indicated that staff members have been placed on leave as the district assesses how community input has influenced the proposed changes.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is mandating leadership changes and improvement plans for several schools under the turnaround requirements. Segura reassured parents and board members that the district remains committed to improving educational outcomes without solely relying on closures.
Following the announcement, several parents voiced their hopes for the district to prioritize educational improvements over consolidations. “With Nov. 20 being the vote, my hope is that they’ll focus on the TAPs and not on school closures,” said Rebecca Steen, a parent at Becker Elementary. She stressed the need for more teachers and support in classrooms rather than central office expansions.
In a show of solidarity, the community rallied on Thursday evening at three Kerbey Lane locations, where 10% of the proceeds will support the ten schools affected by the consolidation plans. “It’s important to come together as one giant community and lift one another up,” said Briana Rubin, a parent from Bryker Woods.
The district is set to vote on the turnaround plans on November 20, 2023, with a submission deadline to the TEA just a day later on November 21. As tensions rise and parents advocate for greater educational support, the outcome of this vote could reshape the future of Austin’s schools for years to come.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops and the community continues to engage in discussions about the best path forward for their children’s education.
