Yesterday evening, AISD Trustees decided to hit the pause button on East Austin school closures.  These are the very schools that we work with are impacted by high levels of gentrification in East Austin, massive charterization, and systemic underinvestment that has resulted in a grassroots movement to save East Austin schools that dates back to the bond election that is now resulting in the modernization of Sanchez Elementary.

Literally, thousands of children have been swept up into the charter schools that are near-EXCLUSIVELY (except for one) located in East Austin.  Well, if this kind of reform is good for the east side, it should be equally good for Austin's wealthier west side and we all of course know this to not be true.  Plus, it's a bad optic when certain board members abdicate their responsibilities to equitably serve the poorer side of town by paternalistically continuing to advocate for charter schools for Austin's east side.

The solution is not simply to increase enrollment into these schools, but also for them to become places where powerful learning is taking place so that we can "poach" the charter schools and get these children back. 

Powerful learning is already taking place.  Zavala has great partnerships with Communities in Schools and the University of Texas Neighborhood Longhorns Program and STEM programs in every grade as part of the AISD's creative learning initiative.  Sanchez, Houston, and Perez have dual language programs.  Metz has a pre-K dual language program.  Most have after-school programming and socio-emotional learning (SEL).  And all five of them can boast involvement in our Saturday academy.

Besides, who wants to be governed by a corporation when local governance is an option?  You can run for office and be a trustee in the public sector and be a voice for your community.  This is not possible in the corporate sector where your identity as a parent is reduced to that of a consumer and your child's schooling is reduced to a contract. 

Consider reading (or re-reading):  The Inconvenient Truth about Charter Schools in Texas: A Look at the Evidence.  There are obviously some good charter schools, but the record as a whole leaves much to be desired.  And many of our vulnerable families are aggressively targeted with glossy fliers, advertisements, and sales pitches that sway them in that direction. 

Public education is inescapably political.  Many individual and organizational efforts for many months have gone into saving East Austin schools. Yesterday evening's great showing of community members in support of all of our East Austin schools made a difference.  The struggle continues.

-Angela Valenzuela

AISD to spend $25 million to modernize east Austin school

By: 

• Tom Miller 

Posted: Sep 24, 2018 09:59 PM CDT

Updated: Sep 24, 2018 09:59 PM CDT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin ISD is moving forward with a plan to spend $25 million modernizing an East Austin elementary school while putting the fate of two other elementary schools in the same neighborhood in jeopardy. 

The board voted Monday to pour the money into Sanchez Elementary, selecting the school just east of downtown over Metz, and Zavala Elementary schools, both of which were also being considered. 

The district argues student enrollment has dropped at the three schools for years, and that they’re no longer financially solvent.  

“Enrolment is on a steady decline, and that's because Austin is a growing city and we're experiencing gentrification in that area,” said Jocelyn Connell, an AISD community engagement supervisor. 

Dozens of people spoke out against the decision before the board vote, arguing the board pitted local schools against one another and unfairly punished minority students already struggling to close an achievement gap with white, affluent students.  

As parents waited to pick up their kids outside Zavala, they couldn’t help but discuss the fate of their school.  

“In the long run, you have to think 20 years, 30 years ahead,” said Ramon Maldonado. “Where are these people going to send their kids?” 

Maldonado pointed out that new development is underway on lots surrounding the school, and he predicts the district will eventually need more schools in the area.  

Before the board meeting started a group called the East Austin Schools Manifesto Coalition demonstrated in front of the school board. Many held signs that said, “our east Austin schools aren’t for sale.” 

Board member Edmund T. Gordon, who represents the schools in question, voiced strong opposition to the plan. 

“Closing schools can devastate communities and it's a big problem,” he said.  

Construction at Sanchez isn’t expected to begin until next year. The board won’t make a decision on the fates of Metz and Zavala Elementary schools until 2020. 

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