AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Independent School District parents spent Thursday evening asking questions and sharing their concerns about the proposed AISD consolidation draft plan.
The district announced a draft plan earlier this month, which would close 13 schools and change school boundaries if passed by the board of trustees.
It comes as the district faces a nearly $20 million budget shortfall and a decline in enrollment, leaving some schools under capacity.
Declining enrollment means the district is bringing in less money, as state funding is tied to enrollment and attendance. Over the past decade, Austin ISD has seen a 14.5% decrease in enrollment, from more than 84,000 students in the 2014-15 school year to about 72,000 in 2024-25.
Austin ISD’s Consolidation draft plan has not been met with open arms, as many parents have shared their concerns and frustrations.
“I appreciate the hard work that everyone is doing, but I know that we can make this process better,” said a parent during Thursday’s virtual meeting.
AISD Superintendent Matias Segura was joined by multiple district administrators who answered questions in the meeting.
“All of this has put immense pressure on our system and if we don’t take action we lose the ability to have the responsibility of educating our students here in Austin,” Segura said.
Austin ISD has continued to let parents know that this is a draft plan, and nothing is final until a vote from AISD Trustees on Nov. 20.
“We are committed to taking this input, refining and improving our plan,” Segura said. “As I have said before — this is a draft plan.”
Austin ISD Trustee Kathryn Whitley Chu has been outspoken about her thoughts on the proposed plan.
“The current plan is a no for me, but I trust our community to have better solutions and I trust my colleagues to listen,” Whitley Chu said.
Whitley Chu said she has seen communities coming together to come up with solutions and said the process needs to have more community input moving forward.
“They do have a say and this is not the final plan,” Whitley Chu said. “I am not going to be bullied or forced to say here is the package you’ve got to take it, when our community sees there are improvements that can be made.”
KXAN reached out to all of Austin ISD’s Board of Trustees to hear their thoughts, once they respond we will share their thoughts as well.
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