The Brief
- Dozens rallied outside Pease Elementary in Austin to protest AISD’s plan to close 13 schools amid a $20 million budget shortfall.
- Parents, teachers, and students say they weren’t consulted and fear the closures will hurt communities and student support systems.
- AISD’s final vote on the consolidation plan is scheduled for November 20 after reviewing more than 7,000 public comments.
AUSTIN – On Sunday, dozens of students, parents and teachers gathered outside Pease Elementary in Downtown Austin.
The rally was the latest pushback against AISD’s proposal to close 13 schools in response to a near $20 million budget deficit.
Rally against Austin ISD school shutdowns
Speakers from across the district took to the mic to demand clear communication from AISD, continuing to claim that they’re being thrust into a plan they were not consulted on.
The district released its initial consolidation plan back on October 3rd. To address 25,000 empty seats and fix a multi-million dollar budget deficit, they proposed the closures of 13 elementary and middle schools. But for many at Sunday’s rally the closures are shutting down more than just buildings, but also shutting down core parts of the community.…