Austin ISD considers closing 12 campuses

The Austin Independent School District will begin a series of meetings on Monday, Sept. 23, to discuss the proposed closure and consolidation of 12 campuses. 

The closures and consolidations are expected to save the district about $240 million in maintenance costs, while also helping students academically. The majority of the closures, eight out of 12, will be in East Austin — a historically underserved community. 

News of the closures prompted state Rep. Sheryl Cole (HD-46), whose district includes East Austin, to ask Austin ISD leaders “What are you doing to my kids?”

Cole also considers the closures a little premature, because AISD won’t know how the district’s budget will improve with the passage of HB-3, which included $11 billion for public education. 
The closures are scheduled to start next year and extend through the 2024-25 school year.