Parents, Teachers Rally Against Austin ISD’s Plan to Close 13 Schools

On Sunday, a large group of parents, students, and teachers gathered outside Pease Elementary to voice their opposition to the proposal from the Austin Independent School District to shut down 13 campuses to reduce expenses.

The demonstration marked another chapter in the ongoing protests against AISD's proposed school consolidation plan. District leaders argue that this plan is essential to bridge a $20 million budget shortfall and tackle approximately 25,000 vacant seats in Austin schools.

At the rally, parents and teachers expressed feeling caught off guard by the proposal and voiced their frustration over what they characterized as insufficient communication from district officials. “We were not included in the discussions.” “We’re being pushed into a plan we had no say in,” one parent expressed during the event.

AISD unveiled its first closure proposal on October 3 and subsequently presented a revised version last week, taking into account over 7,000 public comments received. The revised plan features modifications to school boundaries, yet it maintains the proposal to close the same 13 elementary and middle schools.

Families associated with Galindo Elementary find the closures particularly distressing. The school is set to take in students from Dawson Elementary and a portion of Joslin Elementary, both of which are included in the closure list.

“Many of them feel that their school has failed them,” stated Jace Herman Shaw Jr., a student at Galindo. “It’s exciting that some of my friends are visiting my school, but it’s disheartening that their schools are closing and they have no control over the situation.”

Judith Swanson, a former teacher, expressed concern that the closures might lead to enduring emotional consequences. “The connections that are vital for effective learning between educators and learners are being severed,” she stated. “For certain children, the classroom serves as a more secure environment than their own home.”

Parents such as JJ Flurry from Widen Elementary expressed concerns that the district has not offered apparent alternatives to the proposed closure. “I remain uncertain about what choices were available,” he stated. “We simply need additional time.”

Leaders from AISD report that they have been engaging with affected schools and communicating with families over the past few weeks. The school board is set to cast its final vote on the consolidation plan on Nov. 20, after experiencing one of the most public and emotional debates the district has encountered in years.