North Central Austin Edition | August 2025

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North Central Austin Edition VOLUME 18, ISSUE 5 SEPT. 3OCT. 1, 2025

2025 Education Edition

School closure plans underway

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Austin ISD parent Kristin Davis said her fourth grader has thrived in the dual-language Spanish program at Joslin Elementary. Heading into the 2025-26 school year, however, Davis is fearful her school could be at risk of closure as the district begins a process to consolidate campuses. “Since it’s such a small school, they all know each other,” Davis said. “I am concerned that that sort of richness will be lost in the … closure process.” By the fall of 2026, AISD ocials plan to merge some campuses, and revise attendance boundaries and its transfer policy. These actions come as the district looks to cut costs amid a $19.7 million shortfall.

CONTINUED ON 20

Austin ISD is seeking to have at least 85% of its seats lled by eliminating 8,557 or more seats.

85% seats lled = 8,557 seats removed

Elementary schools Middle schools High schools Median school capacities Elementary schools Middle schools High schools Number of current campuses

600 students 1,100 students 1,700 students

79 campuses 19 campuses 14 campuses 4 campuses

Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura visits classrooms on the rst day of school Aug. 19. CHLOE YOUNGCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Other

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Also in this issue Impacts: Learn more about a new Caribbean restaurant coming soon (Page 6)

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Government: Find out more about a tax election impacting Austin voters (Page 9)

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Brittany Anderson Katlynn Fox Dacia Garcia Elisabeth Jimenez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Karoline Pfeil Sam Schaer Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Joel Valley Gracie Warhurst Sienna Wight Chloe Young Graphic Designers Abbey Eckhardt Alissa Foss Abigail Jones Sabrina Musachia

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Impacts North Central Austin

MOPAC

360

3 Revenge Bar A tribute to the city’s offbeat charm, Revenge blends dark, moody aesthetics with inventive cocktails. • Opened July

183

2222

MOPAC

10 18

• 507 West Ave., Austin • www.revengebar.com

AIRPORT BLVD.

14B

CLAYTON LN.

4 Bread Boat Bread Boat, a new Georgian restaurant, now serves cheeseboats, also known as Khachapuri. • Opened July 15

290

• 1912 E. Seventh St., Austin • www.breadboatatx.com

14A

5 The Terrace Bar & Grill The new dining spot highlights American fare with cocktails and a curated wine and beer selection. • Opened Aug. 5 • Downright Austin, 701 E. 11th St., Austin • www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/ ausbr-downright-austin-a-renaissance-hotel/dining 6 Dam Coffee Bar North Austin can keep an eye out for a new Vietnamese coffee shop with options such as espresso, phin and matcha. The locally-owned and operated business is moving into a space across from ACC Highland Campus. • Opened Aug. 7 • 609 Clayton Lane, Ste. 100, Austin • Instagram: Dam Coffee Bar 7 Banjoo From the team behind SOHA a new Korean fusion restaurant and bar will serve up late-night bites along with a full bar pouring craft soju cocktails. The concept will also include karaoke. • Opened Aug. 19 • 5222 Burnet Road, Unit 500, Austin • Instagram: @banjoo_atx

MOPAC

NECHES ST.

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183

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2 Good BBQ Company New food trailer Good BBQ Company launched its full menu and new hours in June, serving diners barbecue inspired by various parts of the United States, including Texas and Alabama. The veteran-owned business was started by owner and pitmaster Daniel Monplaisir. The business supports Mission Possible Austin. • Opened in June • 1819 E. 12th St., Austin • www.goodbbqcompany.com 71

Now open

1 Oak Haven Massage Therapy The business specializes in massage therapy and offers Swedish relaxation massage, deep tissue massage and therapeutic massage. • Opened June 13 • 5770 N. Mopac Expy., Ste. 300, Austin • www.oakhavenmassage.com

Coming soon

8 Twin Isle A new Caribbean restaurant from local chef Janelle

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Romeo, behind Shirley’s Trini Cuisine, is slated to open off of Rosewood Avenue in September. Menu items are inspired by the flavors of Romeo’s native island, Trinidad and Tobago and the surrounding Caribbean islands. • Opened Sept. 1

Relocations

In the news

13 Waterloo Records Waterloo Records & Video will move from its 600 North Lamar Blvd., Austin location in August, according to an announcement from the company on social media. • Relocated Aug. 30

• 1401 Rosewood Ave., Austin • www.twinislerestaurant.com

9 Konbini Chefs Michael Carranza and Danielle Martinez, the team behind Japanese restaurant Tare, will offer sushi at their latest concept, Konbini. The restaurant will blend Japanese cuisine with flavors from Texas and Mexico. • Opening this fall • 908 E. Fifth St., Austin • www.papercut.bar/konbini 10 B2J Tasty Pot Known as a “Chinese sauerkraut fish” concept, the hot pot-style menu centers on the restaurant’s signature dish: tender fish fillets in a tangy broth of pickled mustard greens, chilies and Sichuan peppercorns. • Opening in September • 6929 Airport Blvd., Ste. 167, Austin • www.buerjiacsf.com 11 Restaurant François From the team at Guy and Larry Restaurants, the French-inspired restaurant will feature a blend of French cuisine with some Texas flair. • Opening November • 401 W. Third St., Austin • www.restaurantfrancois.com 12 Sugarwolf Bakery Guy and Larry Restaurants is opening this scratch bakery, coffee bar and kitchen which will serve fresh pastries, slow-roasted meats, hand-carved sandwiches and salads. • Opening in Spring 2026 • 401 W. Fourth St., Ste. 120, Austin • www.sugarwolfbakery.com

• 1105 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.waterloorecords.com

In the news

14 Wheatsville Food Co-op The company recently announced two new Wheatsville locations replacing two Fresh Plus grocery stores in North Austin. The news comes as the food co-op is preparing to close its Guadalupe Street location near The University of Texas at Austin campus in late 2026. • 14A 408 E. 43rd St., Austin; 14B 2917 W. Anderson Lane, Austin • www.wheatsville.coop 15 The Roosevelt Room Since its opening in June 2015, the bar has crafted a space for Austin community members to experience a seated cocktail experience with refined food offerings. • 307 W. Fifth St., Austin • www.therooseveltroomatx.com 16 Wally Workman Gallery On Aug. 9, the gallery launched the opening reception for its 45th anniversary, featuring 45 of its represented artists from across the world. • 1202 W. Sixth St., Austin • www.wallyworkmangallery.com 17 Klerje Coffee Klerje Coffee recently expanded its space in August to include more seating. The coffee shop, owned by husband-and-wife duo Justin Lofton and Bethany Logan, first opened in March and officially expanded in August with about 700 extra square footage. • 1614 E. Sixth St., Ste. 112, Austin • www.klerjecoffee.com

18 Sazan Ramen The restaurant is celebrating its 5th anniversary. Since opening in mid-2020, the Sazan Ramen team has been serving up its specialty ramen dishes to Austinites. Third-generation restaurateur Taiki Wakayama and restaurant consultant Darrel Oribello helm the ramen shop, specializing in paitan—a creamy, chicken- and pork-based broth. • 6929 Airport Blvd., Ste. 146, Austin • www.sazanramen.com

Closings

19 Jewboy Subs The sub shop opened in 2021 as the second store for Jewboy, which originated as a burger food truck on Airport Boulevard. • Closed July 20 • 6701 Burnet Road, Unit A3, Austin • www.jewboysubshop.com 20 Cielo The business was established in 2009 and offered a Latin nightlife atmosphere. • Closed July 19 • 505 Neches St., Austin • Instagram: cielonightclub

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Government

BY HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON

Flood recovery prompts TravCo tax increase A one-time tax hike costing the average home- owner hundreds of dollars is planned to cover Travis County’s continuing response to July’s

Austin to revamp hate crimes response Austin ocials called to revamp the city’s hate crime response and available resources. The big picture Almost 300 hate crimes have been reported in Austin since 2017, more than half of which targeted Black, gay or Jewish people. With incidents and related concerns rising, City Council voted July 24 to pause the We All Belong public information and resource campaign, and recalibrate how bias incidents are addressed locally. The city will move to reshape the campaign and a hate crimes task force over the next year. “When someone in the community is targeted because of who they are and what they believe or who they love, we need to make sure that we can stand with survivors and build systems and prevent future harm,” council member Zo Qadri said.

severe ooding. The breakdown

Due to state and federal disaster declarations following the oods, the county can raise prop- erty taxes by a greater amount without needing voter approval. Normally, any increase that’d generate over 3.5% more revenue would require voter approval. The county took that approach last year with a tax rate election for child care funding, which was approved by voters. The county’s proposed scal year 2025-26 tax rate is over 9% higher than last year’s. The approved higher property tax rate for the scal year 2025-26 budget year is roughly three cents more per $100 of property value, at $0.375845 per $100 valuation. For the average homeowner—properties valued around $515,213—this means their county tax bill will go up by about $200, with around $72 of that tied to recovery costs from the July ooding disaster. “I think it’s important for people to understand this is necessary because of the unprecedented amount of damage that has occurred throughout Travis County, including the ooding in the Big Sandy Creek and Cow Creek areas,” Commis- sioner Brigid Shea said. “We are having to, in many cases, provide emergency repairs and draw from an emergency fund that we had set up. It’s just important for people to understand the cost

Local tax dollars may increasingly fund disaster recovery as federal aid faces funding limitations.

SAM SCHAFFERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Travis County taxes The county won voter approval last year for a higher tax rate funding aordable child care, and may now increase costs again due to disaster response.

Tax rate (per $100 property value)

$0.4

$.375845

$.344445

$0.3

$.304655

$0.2

$0.1

Rising hate crimes More bias incidents are being reported to Austin police each year.

2024

2025

2026*

*PROPOSED SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

80 60 40 20 0

of these storms is signicant and is growing.” The increase would raise around $42 million set aside in a special reserve, according to the county. The county plans to lower the tax rate again in FY 2026-27 once the road repairs and recovery costs are covered, county sta said.

*THROUGH JULY

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Austin budget approved, tax rate election called Austin leaders approved a budget for the upcoming scal year with a higher property tax increase that’ll require voter approval in a November election. What happened City Council voted to adopt a $6.3 billion budget

Tax rate decision

Austin voters will decide whether to fund a larger budget plan with a 20% tax rate increase this fall.

facing nancial constraints like growing decits through the 2020s. City Manager T.C. Broadnax proposed a balanced budget in July that closed a projected $30 mil- lion-plus shortfall. But most of the council agreed more money is needed going forward, and adopted an expanded spending plan backed by a larger tax hike—triggering the fall tax rate election, or TRE. “It is time for us to trust our voters,” Mayor Kirk Watson said.

Annual tax bill

$3K

2.9K

$2.5K

2.6K

2.4K

0 $2K Fiscal Year

for the upcoming scal year 2025-26 in a 10-1 vote Aug. 14, with council member Marc Duchen against. Ocials called this summer’s budgeting process the most dicult in recent memory while

2024-25 (current)

2025-26 (TRE approved)

2025-26 (TRE rejected)

NOTE: BASED ON A TAXABLE HOME VALUE OF $500,000 SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Development

BY BEN THOMPSON

Waterline tops out downtown at 74 stories Waterline, Texas’ new tallest tower, reached its nal height in downtown Austin Aug. 1. The overview The 74-story high-rise from Lincoln Property Co. and Kairoi Residential at 98 Red River St., Austin will feature: • 352 apartments across 33 oors • 703,000 square feet of oce space across 26 oors • A 252-room hotel across 13 oors • 24,000 square feet of public commercial space at the tower’s base At 1,025 feet, Waterline is now the tallest build- ing in the city and the state, according to Lincoln, passing the JPMorgan Chase Tower in Houston. It overtook Austin’s previous record holder, Lincoln and Kairoi’s 66-story Sixth & Guadalupe that

High-rise, hotel development planned Plans for Riverside’s tallest building yet advanced this summer, while Oracle looks to expand its lakeshore headquarters. What’s happening Oracle is eyeing a campus expansion with nearly 300,000 square feet of oces and a new 255-room hotel up to 120 feet tall. Plans for a 180-foot, 360-unit residential high-rise o Riverside Drive and Lakeshore Boulevard were approved this spring.

The 1,025-foot Waterline tower topped out after nearly three years of development. It will open 2026.

opened last year, by nearly 200 feet. Also of note Waterline’s development has taken place alongside the second phase of the Waterloo Gre- enway initiative. Lincoln and Kairoi also provided $1 million for new bridges across the waterway.

1 Riverside/Lakeshore tower 2 Oracle campus

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Transportation

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Southbound Far West Boulevard exit closed The Far West Boulevard exit on south- bound MoPac will close starting July 20 as the 183 North Mobility Project progresses. What you should know This is part of the last phase of construc- tion closures in this area as the project nears completion in 2026. The exit will remain closed for the remainder of the year.

Lady Bird Lake trail access to be impacted The Lady Bird Lake hike-and-bike trail will soon include detours and construction zones as the I-35 bridge overhead is rebuilt. This segment of the project will reconstruct the bridge and add a new intersection at Riverside Drive and a pedestri- an-only bridge at Woodland Avenue. The details Since Aug. 10, construction has impacted the use of Lady Bird Lake, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike- and-Bike Trail and Boardwalk, as well as: • Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach • Waller Beach at Town Lake Metro Park • Chicano Park • Norwood Estate Dog Park The rst of the trail detours will begin on the north shore of the lake near the I-35 bridge. Lake access under the I-35 bridges will periodically close.

Park closure Trail detour Existing trail New intersection

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Education

BY JOEL VALLEY

Education Edition

2025

Welcome to CI’s 2025 Education Edition! As the school year begins, families across our community are adjusting to fresh routines, new teachers and the opportunities that come with a new school year. In this year’s Education Guide, we highlight key issues shaping local schools, from district budget decisions and campus closures, to a summary of college admissions requirements. I’m grateful to our talented journalists for their thoughtful reporting and for the local businesses whose support makes each edition possible. Together, we’re able to share stories that inform readers, inspire community and foster connection. Here’s to a wonderful school year!

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What's inside

Learn more about college applications (Page 14)

Find out which schools are providing free meals (Page 16)

Discover details about Austin ISD’s budget (Page 19)

For relevant news and daily updates, subscribe to our free email newsletter!

183 Project Lighthouse supports internet access as demand grows Districts across Bastrop, Hays, Travis and Wil- liamson counties are ensuring learning continues when students step off campus. The details 35 Project Lighthouse schools Katherine A. Cook Elementary School

essential tool for students, many have highlighted that the internet is essential for at-home use. From March 2020-July 2023, Austin ISD pro- vided 30,000 hotspots to connect students to the internet, but funding for the $7.2 million in technology through the Federal Communications Commission ended in June 2024. Now, hotspots are prioritized for specific student programming, according to Austin ISD. However, the district has rolled out Project Lighthouse—an ongoing initia- tive that is improving telecommunication services on campuses and in neighborhoods where internet access has historically been limited. “If they don’t have internet, they can’t connect sometimes with their teachers, their classmates, online homework, and also all the information that’s out there in the world that is accessible through connectivity,” Laura Browder, AISD executive director of technology operations said.

Graham Elementary School

With devices and internet resources provided through their respective technology departments, students can access instructional materials at home. Several Central Texas districts offer tech options for students. Bastrop ISD provides Chromebooks for students in grades sixth through 12th as part of its BootUp 1:1 Technology Initiative, which launched in the fall of 2023. “Having their own device allows students the opportunity to engage with their teacher and other learners or experts,” the district said in a statement posted to its website. Zooming in Although school officials call Chromebooks an

MOPAC

Blanton Elementary

183 TOLL

Barbara Jordan Elementary School

Austin High School

Liberal Arts and Science Academy Perez Elementary School Blazier Elementary School

290

183

Akins High School

NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Education

BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ

What to know about college applications Austin-area colleges and universities have different deadlines and requirements for applications. View the table to see admissions information for some local schools. This list is not comprehensive. St. Edward’s University did not respond. For more information, visit the respective college or university’s website.

Minimum number of credit hours needed to transfer

College/ university

Admissions GPA minimum

Spring application deadline

Terms to know

Acceptance rate

Earned when one successfully completes college-level course; some exams can also count

College credit

The University of Texas at Austin

21%

None

Sept. 1

College/university Acceptance rate

Test required?

SAT range ACT range

Regular deadline

Admissions contact info

Early action

Application sent in before regular deadline; can apply to other colleges

Huston- Tillotson University

The University of Texas at Austin

admissions@austin.utexas.edu 512-475-7399

100%

2.3

Nov. 1

26%

1230-1480*

29-34*

Dec. 1

Binding application; application sent in early to first-choice college; receive decision in advance The Free Application for Federal Student AID determines eligibility for financial assistance Deadline by which an application must be received to be given strongest consideration

Early decision

admissions@htu.edu 512-505-3160

Huston-Tillotson University

900 minimum

16 minimum composite

100%

May 1

Southwestern University

33%

2.5

Oct. 1

FAFSA

admission@southwestern.edu 800-252-3166 student.records@austincc.edu 512-223-4636

Southwestern University

43%

1140-1290 26-31

Feb. 3

Austin Community College

100%

N/A

None

Rolling admissions

Priority deadline

Austin Community College

100%

TSI-required

N/A

Rolling admissions

Varies by amount of transferable hours completed

Not required for students ranked in top 75% of high school class

Rolling admissions, advised to apply sooner to meet scholarship deadlines Rolling admissions, advised to apply sooner to meet scholarship deadlines

Texas State University

https://onestop.txst.edu 512-245-8978

1330 combined*

29 composite*

69.7%

N/A

Nov. 15

Rolling admission

Application is considered as soon as all required information is received

Texas State University

67.1%

Concordia University Texas

Applicants are given the option to submit SAT and ACT scores with their application

90%

N/A

admissions@concordia.edu

Test optional

Concordia University Texas

90%

Rolling admissions

*STUDENTS IN THE TOP 5% AND 25% OF THEIR GRADUATING CLASS WILL RECEIVE AUTOMATIC ADMITTANCE FROM QUALIFYING HIGH SCHOOLS PROGRAMS TO UT AND TXST, RESPECTIVELY.

THIS LIST IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE.

SOURCES: APPLY TEXAS, COLLEGE BOARD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

76 Austin ISD campuses to receive free meals Austin ISD will offer free meals to all students at 76 of its campuses during the 2025-26 school year, according to district officials. The details The breakfast and lunches will be provided through the Community Eligibility Provision program. This is a federally funded program that allows qualifying low-income schools to serve free meals to all enrolled students. Families don’t need to apply or provide documentation to receive meals. What else Campuses that are not eligible for the program will provide meals to students based on their meal status. Students qualify for either free meals, reduced-cost meals or paid meals. Students attending schools not eligible for the program and in need of free or reduced-cost meals,

Austin ISD to adopt new phone policy The Austin ISD board of trustees is set to vote on a new device policy at an Aug. 21 meeting, after press time. House Bill 1481—passed by state lawmakers this spring—requires districts adopt policies banning the use of personal devices during the school day. A closer look Students may use devices provided by the district but may not use personal devices, unless they have a medical exception, said Edna Butts, AISD director of intergovernmental relations and policy oversight. AISD officials are recommending students be required to put their phones away in a bag.

1 Pre-K and Early Childhood Center 52 Elementary Schools 12 Middle Schools 9 High Schools 2 Other types of campuses 2025-26 CEP Schools

Scan to find the full list here:

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

can do so if: Receiving state-funded benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Enrolled in foster care or are homeless Approved by AISD’s application for free or reduced-cost meals. Also of note For the 2024-25 school year, 77 AISD campuses were able to provide free breakfast and lunch through the program.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ELLE BENT, ANNA MANESS & CHLOE YOUNG

ACC officials announce new chief of police Austin Community College District officials welcomed Gizette Disher as the college’s new chief of police Aug. 4. Explaining the role Disher will lead the ACC District Police Depart- ment and oversee a team of 94 commissioned officers and 20 professional staff, according to a news release. All public safety operations across the district’s campuses will be Disher’s responsibility, along with bringing strategic leadership, operational oversight and emergency preparedness to the role. In the release, Disher said her top three goals as ACC’s chief of police are to: • Be visible and engaged to learn the needs of the ACC community • Understand the concerns based on those needs

Women’s volleyball coming to Concordia Concordia University Texas is launching an NCAA women’s beach volleyball pro- gram, which is set to begin competition in spring 2026. The announcement comes about one year after Concordia became the first university in Texas to begin forming a women’s flag football program. “Adding beach volleyball creates another path for female student athletes to compete and lead,” Concordia interim Director of Athletics Matt Wallis said in a news release. The team will be led by Amy Farber Teal, and will train and compete at the Austin Sports Center in Cedar Park. Facility planning is already underway, and recruiting for the team’s first roster will begin in the fall.

ACC Police Department Chief Gizette Disher served as the assistant chief of police for Austin.

COURTESY AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

• Collaborate with the ACC community to improve any shortcomings and challenges “I look forward to serving the ACC community and being part of the growth and vision of our future,” Disher said in the release. What they’re saying Neil Vickers, ACC executive vice chancellor of finance and administration, said Disher brings decades of leadership and service to the Austin community. Disher will be sworn in Aug. 7.

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Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Austin ISD adopts $1.6B budget, makes $44M reductions

Austin ISD adopted a $1.58 billion operating budget with a $19.7 million shortfall for scal year 2025-26. The district reduced its initial shortfall projec- tion of $127 million after proposing $44 million in budget reduction strategies, including $9 million in additional state funding following the 2025 legislative session. Additionally, AISD is expecting to receive $45 million in revenue from two land sales, Chief Financial Ocer Katrina Montgomery said. “This is not a stopgap,” Montgomery said about adopting the shortfall. “We’re going to continu- ously do work to reduce the decit over the next scal year.” The AISD board of trustees voted to adopt a general fund budget with $1.58 billion in revenue and $992.1 million in expenditures at the June 26 meeting. The district is anticipated to pay $715.5 million in property taxes back to the state through a process known as recapture and save $15.3 million in vacant positions. “If we get additional state funding ... we can reduce another line item or we can just throw that back into our fund balance,” Montgomery said. “But, what we are committed to doing is making sure, whether these strategies all hold 100% or not, that we will reduce $44 million in FY 2025-26.” The impact A homeowner with an average taxable value of $576,644 is estimated to pay $4,040 in property taxes in FY 2025-26 based on a tax rate of $0.9253 per $100 valuation, according to district docu- ments. This would be a $317 reduction in property taxes from the previous scal year.

Budget Reductions AISD has proposed the following reductions totaling $44 million :

If approved by voters in November, the state’s homestead exemption would increase from $100,000 to $140,000. Also of note Under House Bill 2, AISD is anticipated to receive around $35.9 million in additional school funding, around $9 million of which may go toward osetting the district’s budget shortfall, Montgomery said. The $8.4 billion school funding legislation— signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 4—includes a $55 increase to the basic allotment of funding per student as well as funding increases for special education, early education, school safety and support sta. Around 600 AISD teachers with three to four years of experience will receive $2,500 raises and about 3,000 AISD teachers with ve or more years of experience will receive $5,000 raises, Montgomery said. Superintendent Matias Segura said that while AISD is grateful for HB 2 funding, the district’s • $10 million to restructure central ofice positions • $9 million in additional state funding • $7 million in cuts to contracted special education services • $4 million in holding staff beneits contributions • $3.75 million in unidentiied cuts • $3 million to reduce department budgets by 5% • $3 million in property insurance savings

• $2 million in revisions to special education placements by centrally locating students at certain campuses • $800,000 to reduce campus budgets by 10%, excluding staff positions • $500,000 to consolidate or eliminate supplementary programs

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

“We cannot continue to run decit budgets... We have to gure out where we’re not as ecient as we could be in our campuses, all while protecting the quality of education in Austin ISD.” MATIAS SEGURA, AUSTIN ISD SUPERINTENDENT

overall funding has not kept up with rising costs. The board is expected to vote on the district’s compensation plan Aug. 21. Sta members receiv- ing raises will be notied Sept. 15. In case you missed it Amid its budgetary concerns, AISD is planning to begin closing and consolidating campuses begin- ning in the 2026-27 school year.

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School closure plans underway From the cover

AISD school consolidation data rubric

Two-minute impact

The approach

AISD ranked campuses in order of how optimal they were for consolidation alongside a support and resource index to measure the level of student need. The index lowered a campus’s score by accounting for demographic groups, such as special education, low income or English learner students. “Some of these data points [are] unfairly … reflecting a reality of historic inequity and the current inequity in our district, and so we need to counteract for that,” AISD Director of Planning Services Raechel French said at a July 15 school consolidation workshop. In 2025, 41 AISD campuses received failing D or F ratings from the state, 26 of which may require turnaround plans on how to improve student performance and avoid TEA intervention. A-F ratings will be factored into the consolidation process; however, all campuses may be considered for closure despite their rating, district officials said. The district is now conducting a contextual analysis of the data rubric results by receiving feedback from the board of trustees, campus principals and community members, French said. At an Aug. 7 school consolidation workshop, board members discussed how to balance enrollment, align feeder patterns, provide baseline offerings

Austin ISD assessed schools for potential consolidation based on the following factors, along with a support and resource index to account for different student groups.

The district is projected to face a $19.7 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2025-26 after making $44 million in budget reductions. AISD is looking to close campuses to avoid having to further cut staff positions, eliminate programs and increase class sizes, school board President Lynn Boswell told Community Impact . The district is aiming to reduce its student capacity by thousands of vacant seats as AISD’s enrollment has declined by more than 12,000 students over the last 10 years, according to the Texas Education Agency. In August, the district ranked all 116 of its campuses for potential consolidation using a data rubric that assessed campus utilization, facility condition, educational suitability and cost per student. AISD officials have said the district’s current resources are spread too thin and that consolidating campuses will allow the district to have fewer, better-resourced schools. Some teachers and parents said they are concerned about the impact on employees and families, and the socioeconomic inequities between campuses. “This isn’t anything anyone is excited to choose,” Boswell said. “It’s something we’re being pushed to choose. I think our obligation is to do it as thoughtfully, as collaboratively, as strategically as we can, but it’s a disruptive, painful process.” Rubric results Schools were ranked from 1-5 based on the need for potential changes. Higher scores mean the most concerns. This is not a list of closures.

Category Description Weight

How full or empty is the building?

Utilization rate

35%

Utilities, contracted services and rentals

Cost per student (building & operations)

25%

Quality of the physical building

Facility condition

20%

Cost per student (staffing & academics)

Staff, benefits and supplies

15%

Educational suitability

Size and types of learning spaces

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

for every campus, offer specialized programs and explore different school models. “If we’re going to have high quality education and we have limited resources, the only way to get there is by having fewer schools,” Superintendent Matias Segura said in an interview with Commu- nity Impact . “We can’t be razor thin everywhere.”

Projected enrollment decline in AISD Austin ISD is expected to lose nearly 7,600 students over the next 10 years. Historical enrollment Projected enrollment

How we got here

Despite state lawmakers passing an $8.4 billion school funding increase in 2025, Boswell said state funding isn’t keeping up with rising costs. For FY 2025-26, the district lowered a projected $127 million shortfall by selling two former cam- puses for $45 million and making $44 million in reductions alongside $17.8 million in savings from vacancies and schedule changes. This included cutting $7 million in contracted special education services and receiving $9 million in new state funding under House Bill 2. The district saved $10 million by restructuring its central office positions, which included 40 employees losing their jobs, Segura said. “We’re doing this because we have done almost everything else we can think of, except things that feel even worse than closing schools,” Boswell said. With an enrollment of about 72,000 students— down nearly 15% from 2014—AISD has over 22,000 empty seats. By 2034, AISD’s enrollment is projected to drop by nearly 11% percent to about 64,500 students, according to a new demographic

Campus

Total score

70K 72.5K 67.5K 75K

Ridgetop ES

4.15

Blackshear ES

4.05

Maplewood ES

3.75

Covington MS

3.74

McCallum HS

3.7

SOURCE: MGT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Joslin ES

3.56

report by MGT. The district is seeing families move to the sub- urbs as the cost of living rises in Austin, Boswell said. Meanwhile, more families are enrolling their children in charter schools, she said. Over 16,000 students residing in the district attended a charter school or another public school district in the 2024-25 school year, according to the TEA.

Gullett ES

3.55

Bryker Woods ES

3.55

Barton Hills ES

3.45

Mendez MS

3.44

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Potential impacts 85%-90%

The impact

Going forward

In October, AISD officials will present their recommended consolidations to the board of trustees, who will vote in November. Education Austin will start meeting with district administration in September to discuss how the process might look, Underwood said. “This process will only be as good as the input we get from people and the way we are creative about this together,” Boswell said. In November, the board will adopt transition plans for impacted students, staff and programming, Segura said. Those plans could help merging campuses build a shared school culture, he said. Key dates May 13 The district announced the intention to consolidate schools in the 2026-27 school year. Aug. 14 The administration presented a list of all scored campuses using the data rubric tool at a board meeting. Oct. 9 The administration will present their recommendations for campus consolidations and boundary changes. Oct. 9-Nov. 13 AISD will hold community engagement on transition plans. Nov. 20 The board will vote on a campus consolidation package, boundary changes and transition plans.

AISD officials have not said how many campuses will be impacted. The district is aiming to realize $30 million in savings by consolidating campuses. This requires removing around 8,600-13,100 seats. “I’m hoping this is going to be an opportunity to be more fiscally responsible across the board,” AISD parent Deborah Trejo said. Trasell Underwood, vice president of AISD’s employee union Education Austin, said many educators are fearful of what might happen to

target for seats to be filled

$30 million or more in cost reductions

8,557-13,156 seats to be removed

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

have a student population that is 85% economi- cally disadvantaged or higher. Combining schools could provide the opportu- nity to invest additional resources in underserved schools while the district repurposes campuses for affordable housing, Boswell said.

their jobs if their campuses are closed. AISD teacher Mallory Vinson said she is

concerned how this might affect disadvantaged communities. Forty-four of the district’s campuses

What else?

and high schools. Martin Middle School in South Austin currently feeds into five high schools, Segura said at an Aug. 7 meeting. The district allows students to transfer to another school in the district based on availabil- ity. Some students transfer to attend a special program, while some campuses are empty due to students not choosing to go there, French said. About 25% of AISD students transfer to another campus, Segura said “We need to create a system where everyone has no problem going to their neighborhood school,” French said at the July 15 workshop. “The fact that we have some that people don’t want to go to due to reputation is unacceptable.”

Part of the consolidation process could include rezoning students and amending AISD’s transfer policy. The district is seeking to balance enrollment so that schools aren’t overenrolled—with 107% or more seats filled—or under-enrolled—with 64% or less seats filled, according to AISD information. Davis said she believes Joslin Elementary is underenrolled due to the district’s failure to update attendance boundaries in recent years. “We’re underenrolled because AISD drew the boundaries that way, and they haven’t moved them,” Davis said. AISD officials and parents told Community Impact the district has fractured feeder patterns where students are split between multiple middle

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY DACIA GARCIA

The nonprot currently oers classes to girls ages 1217 and will soon start classes for girls ages eight and up.

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Nonprot Headstrong Girls’ Boxing was founded in 2021 and oers scholarships for teenage girls to learn boxing skills.

COURTESY PAIGE VAUGHN

Headstrong Girls’ Boxing improves girls’ condence Nonprot Headstrong Girls’ Boxing, founded in 2021 by a duo from Austin Women’s Boxing Club, shapes a space for young girls to get frustration out, strengthen communication skills and nd community all while staying active.

Julia Gschwind (left) and Alex Plichta (right) are the co- founders of Headstrong Girls’ Boxing.

How it works Girls ages eight to 17 are able to apply for a schol- arship in which they receive free training at AWBC. The scholarship covers a trimester of classes and currently eight girls are participating in the pro- gram. For the upcoming trimester from September to December, Plichta said they hope to raise funds to support 10 or more kids. The impact Plichta said the most impactful growth she sees in participants is their condence. “I’ve seen a major growth in their communica- tion skills and their openness to problem solve,” she said.

COURTESY HEADSTRONG GIRLS’ BOXING

AWBC owner Julia Gschwind and instructor Alex Plichta started the nonprot project during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gschwind had a longtime goal of providing free training to girls as a way to get more girls involved in the historically male-dominated sport. “I think entering that space where generations of people associate it with men and then taking control of that space is incredibly empowering,” Plichta said.

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