Some of you may have already heard or seen some of the news regarding the publish Austin ISD School Changes 2019 Reinvention Planning Map . This is all part of an effort to make:
“tough decisions like school consolidations and boundary changes, it will also make way for opportunities such as new, specialized programs, more equitably distributed across the district and repurposed facilities to meet other community needs”
https://www.austinisd.org/schoolchanges May 20, 2019
The biggest concern is the fact that our Bull Creek, Spicewoods, Jester, and Lakewood neighborhoods are part of a planning boundary that feeds into Burnet Middle School rather than Hill or Doss. The boundary seems to cut right through 2222.
Other concerns have surrounded how this will affect the quality of services available to our current schools and breaking up what already is providing for a quality Anderson High School. This also has an impact to the desirability of our neighborhood and market values where quality rating of schools is a big consideration of where people would love to live.
Many of the involved Hill parents have posted on the Dillos Facebook groups to voice their concern and also organize on how they can be heard. A common sentiment is that these planning maps are input to the planning process and are not final feeder, attendance, or vertical team placements, BUT everyone needs to be aware that they have an influence and the voice is more powerful than any map can be.
Kristin Ashy, our AISD Trustee for Zone 4 will be making appearances at several schools during the morning ‘Principal Coffee’ sessions held once a month for the parents. If you will to attend, I recommend doing so:
- Summitt Elementary, 7:45 a.m. – Tuesday
- Murchison Middle School, Tuesday – I will hang around after the groundbreaking ceremony
- Hill Elementary, 7:45 a.m. (this will be streamed on the Hill FB page) – Wednesday
- Davis Elementary, 7:45 a.m. – Thursday
One can also contribute to the ThoughtExchange listed on the AISD School Changes site https://www.austinisd.org/schoolchanges
An overview of the whole timeline for this advisory, review, and recommendation process is show above.