Coalition to Call for School Closure Postponement

On Monday, November 18, a coalition of City, County and State elected officials will hold a press conference at City Hall to call on Austin Independent School District Trustees to postpone the school closure vote slated for Monday evening.
 
AISD released the first version of the “School Changes” plan on September 5, including a list of 12 schools slated for closure. A second version was released on November 1 with a shortened closure list of four schools, while leaving the remaining schools still on a potential future closure list. Critics have contuned to claim that the short timeline has given the community and the Trustees very little time for questions or meaningful deliberations, leaving students, parents, and community leaders with more questions than answers.   
  
“With the infusion of money given by the legislature to AISD through HB 3 this past legislative session, and an unexpected enrollment growth, AISD no longer has a budget deficit to deal with, putting the district in a better financial position than it has been in many years. I see no need to take a rushed vote on such a drastic measure as closing campuses and I’m asking the Trustees to slow this process down and give the district an opportunity to fully involve the community and built public trust for any future decisions of this magnitude,” said Representative Gina Hinojosa.