It’s Custodian & Groundskeeper Appreciation Week at Austin ISD! Join us in thanking these amazing individuals for their hard work. Discover the heartwarming story of Ivan Tovar, a head custodian who pours his passion into every day.
October is a special month at Austin ISD as we recognize Dyslexia Awareness Month. We’re excited to invite you to a free screening of the documentary Hopeville, which dives into the challenges and solutions surrounding reading education. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn and connect with our community—don’t miss it!
Additionally, Oct. 6, Austin ISD is hosting the Central Texas Dyslexia Conference. It’s a fantastic chance to explore more about dyslexia and access valuable resources.
Come dance with Austin ISD this weekend! Our Fine Arts Department and the Creative Learning Initiative are bringing free dance classes to everyone. We hope to see you there! Check the details of 2024 Day of Dance.
Monday, Oct. 7 is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming Nov. 5 election. How to register or update your registration can be found on VoteTexas.gov website.
Now, let’s get started…
1 Big Thing: Prop A for Teacher Pay
Prop A is a ballot initiative asking voters to approve funding for teacher salaries and additional funding for our local schools.
If passed, Prop A will provide $41 million annually, including $17.8 million for teacher and staff pay increases so Austin ISD can retain experienced educators and support staff.
📉 Did you know Texas hasn’t raised per-student funding in over 5 years and is $4,000 behind the national average? Without Prop A, our teachers won’t see pay increases and our district will have to make deeper budget cuts.
🗓️ Early voting starts October 21! Make your voice heard. Visit austinisd.org/propa for more info
Strings of Tradition: Mariachi and Hispanic Heritage
Akins ECHS Mariachi Las Aguilas last year group
Mariachi Las Aguilas 2024
During Hispanic Heritage Month, we want to highlight a symbol of music that has become very important to the Hispanic community—El Mariachi.
When Susana Diaz-Lopez puts on her charro outfit and stands with her students from Akins Early College High School’s Mariachi Las Aguilas, she knows she is proudly representing a culture full of values, heritage, and honor.
Lopez has been guiding the students who participate in mariachi for three years—a program she started at Akins Early College High School and has grown year after year.
“I think having that cultural environment involved on campus makes them feel like they belong somewhere,” Lopez says.
Susana Diaz-Lopez with her charro outfit
Why it matters: Supporting mariachi programs in schools is essential, as they not only teach students the art of music but help them build character and leadership skills. More importantly, these programs make students feel part of a culturally rich community.
Mariachi history: Born in 18th-century rural Mexico, especially Jalisco, this lively music started at festive gatherings and grew to represent Mexican pride. Today, mariachi enchants audiences globally, celebrating Mexico’s rich musical heritage.
The magic of music: Picture a band with violins, trumpets, vihuela (a high-pitched guitar), and the deep, rhythmic guitarrón to create songs like “El Rey, El Mariachi Loco, Volver, Volver” and many more iconic songs that touch the hearts of many.
Valentina Marquez, a ninth grader joined the mariachi team this year for the first time. Her dream is to be able to sing the music that has filled her with pride since she was a little girl.
What’s next: This year, Diaz-Lopez has 22 students in the group, but not everyone has a charro suit or the necessary resources to practice and learn.
If you would like to support the mariachi group with donations you can do so through the Akins ECHS donation page.
Budget committee takes next steps in budget reduction exploration
The Joint Community Budget Committee reconvened Tuesday to deep-dive into the Operations Department budget, — which includes maintenance, facilities, custodial and transportation — during its first round of budget reduction exploration.
Why it matters:While the district is asking voters to consider approving increased funding for teacher pay and classroom support through Prop A, we’re also committed to reducing costs to balance the budget over the next three years.
The details: The committee broke into small groups to explore ways to reduce costs or generate revenue in each of the operations divisions. Examples include:
Evaluating bussing for magnet schools or exploring virtual course offerings to reduce transportation costs.
Marketing our facilities as rental spaces to increase revenue.
What they're saying: “I'm glad that Austin ISD has assembled this committee because community stakeholders need to know that they have been heard and that the district is responding to all ideas and concerns,” Fuerza Linder Kitcher, Austin ISD parent committee member said.
What’s next: The committee will continue to meet weekly and further evaluate each department within the district. Next week they'll analyze Technology, Austin ISD Police and Legal.
Potential cuts will be evaluated using an equity-based rubric.
The district’s administration team will make final recommendations to the board of trustees.
Athletics Spotlight: Students gear up for district meets, Blue Santa donation drive
Austin ISD's athletics scene is buzzing this fall with our student-athletes making big strides in their sport and in the community.
Why it matters: Athletics plays a huge role in developing the whole child in Austin ISD. You’ll start to see regular coverage of our student-athletes and the work happening daily across our district both on and off the field.
Coming up: Cross Country athletes from our high schools will head to Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park to compete at the UIL Cross Country District Meet. The district’s 6A teams will race Oct. 9 while 5A and 4A teams will hit the course Oct. 10.
We’ll also host our Inaugural Middle School Cross Country District Meet on Oct. 10 alongside the high school meet. Races kick off at 6 p.m. for the boys, with the girls' race to follow.
Fun fact: Superintendent Matias Segura is a former Cross Country runner!
Giving back: The Athletics Department is partnering with the Austin ISD Police Department and the Austin Police Department for Blue Santa Week, Oct. 7-11, benefiting the Operation Blue Santa Toy Drive.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0-14 can be made at Austin ISD's three central football stadiums, before or during games at, House Park, Nelson Field, and Burger Stadium.
Donors attending any of the games will receive a special ticket allowing their children to “Run the Field” before the game starts!
Stay tuned for more athletics coverage as the season continues!
Austin ISD Special Education Transition Fair on Oct. 12
This weekend is packed with fun things to do! I hope you get a chance to enjoy some Austin ISD events or check out what’s happening around town. I’m planning to visit the Austin City Limits festival at least for a day. Tomorrow looks exciting with Leon Bridges, Blink 182, and Chris Stapleton all performing. Hopefully I get to see them all!!!
This document has been translated using an AI-powered machine translation tool through Thrillshare. As a result, it may contain inaccuracies, errors, or inconsistencies that do not reflect the original content accurately.
