Southwest Austin | Dripping Springs - December 2024

Education

BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ

New Dripping Springs ISD attendance zones OK’d New attendance zones for Dripping Springs ISD elementary and middle schools were finalized by the board of trustees at a meeting on Dec. 16. The map will go into effect for the 2025-26 school year. What you need to know The new map attempts to balance out over- capacity in the district, Superintendent Holly Morris-Kuentz said. DSISD officials anticipate the most growth in the western and central part of the district. The changes will occur primarily to east side planning units, rezoning them out of the current Walnut Springs and Dripping Springs zones. The new map will directly impact 19 of the 53 current planning units, which are small subdi- visions within each zone. The board approved the new map in a 5-2 vote, with Trustees Shanda

Austin ISD school to be modernized The Pecan Springs Elementary School community celebrated the start of the school’s full modernization with a groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 11. The details The project, part of the 2022 Bond, will demolish the 67-year-old school near Windsor Park to build a modernized facility in its place. The new campus will include outdoor learning areas, flexible learning spaces and security upgrades. The total project budget for the modern- ization is expected to be completed in fall 2026. All Pecan Springs Elementary School activities will be in portable buildings at Winn Montessori Elementary School as construction continues.

Elementary School #6

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DeLeon and Tricia Quintero voting against the map, voicing concerns about impacts to various neighborhoods and a lack of information on alternative workarounds. These process is underway as the district continues construction of a sixth elementary school and expansion of Sycamore Springs Middle School. For the 2024-25 academic school year, 8,900 students are enrolled at the district. The capacity limit is 8,850 students, as previously reported by Community Impact.

Austin ISD to cut $92M to offset large budget deficit

Austin ISD Three-Year Budget Plan Austin ISD plans to make $92 million in budget cuts over the course of three years. The biggest budget cuts will occur next fiscal year, 2025-26.

but not limited to the following: • Transitioning to a hybrid work format for main office staff • Using Google Classroom instead of BLEND • Minimizing bus routes for magnet and stu- dent-share busing • Reorganizing various departments to clear vacancies or unneeded positions

Austin ISD is drafting a three-year plan to cut $92 million from the district’s budget. Superinten- dent Matias Segura presented a potential plan to the board of trustees at a meeting on Nov. 21. The details The plan requires the district to make $92 mil- lion in cuts over the next three years, Segura said. The district is looking at various cuts, including

Fiscal Year

Planned Total Budget Cuts

2024-2025

$26 million

2025-2026

$47 million

2026-2027

$19 million

Total

$92 million

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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