Don't miss a spooktacular time this weekend at the Austin ISD Police Department5th annual Trunk or Treat event at the Nelson Athletic Complex! This is a great opportunity for families to enjoy safe trick-or-treating and meet local police officers.
🎶🎺 The 51st AnnualAustin ISD Marching Band Jamboree was a hit! All 13 of our high school marching bands showcased their incredible talents with special guest performances from the Texas State University Bobcat Marching Band! 🥁✨ Check this specialvideo.
1 big thing: Exploring cost reduction strategies within Technology and Talent Strategy
The Joint Community Budget Committee delved deep into the budgets of the Technology and Talent Strategy departments at its Oct. 8 and 15 meetings. The committee continues its work to explore potential cost reductions and revenue opportunities.
Here are the highlights from each department:
Technology
The Technology department is currently working through efficiencies, such as moving to Google, which will save $500,000.
The department has reduced its budget within the past year by $1.4 million by reducing staff and non-staffing expenses. For the current fiscal year, the department will reduce its budget by another $3.4 million through staff vacancies and additional non-staffing cuts.
Revenue and other funding sources could come from vendor partners in grant opportunities. Monetizing real estate with the implementation and construction of cellular monopoles could bring rental revenue from cell towers. The department is currently looking at potential partnerships.
Talent Strategy
Reducing turnover and onboarding expenses is one way of cutting costs potential within Talent Strategy. The current teacher retention rate is 80.4% (a 5.3% increase from 2022-23 school year). Retention could lead to additional savings in the long run.
The department is also looking at further consolidations of divisions and downgrading specific professional positions through attrition.
The latest: The committee was scheduled to meet one last time on Oct. 22; however, they decided to extend the meetings through Nov. 12 after the results of the Prop A ballot initiative are known.
What's Next: The administration plans to present its budget reduction plan, which will include ideas explored with the committee, to the Board of Trustees at the Nov. 21 Board Voting Meeting.
What is Austin ISD Prop A?
Prop A is a ballot initiative asking voters to approve funding for teacher salaries and additional funding for our local schools.
Unlock Your Future with the P-TECH Cybersecurity Program at Northeast ECHS
October is Cybersecurity Month! What better way to celebrate than by highlighting Austin ISD's efforts to empower students in the field of cybersecurity?
Going to school in Austin ISD gives students incredible opportunities like the P-TECH Cybersecurity Program at Northeast ECHS, where they can learn from leading industry partners and gain real-world skills.
How it works: Northeast Early College High School is leading Central Texas in innovation with its P-TECH program in Information Technology, focusing on Cybersecurity.
Thanks to a partnership with Austin Community College (ACC), students can take free college classes and earn an Associate Degree in Applied Science with a specialization in Cybersecurity—all while still in high school.
The P-TECH program provides students with mentorship, workplace learning opportunities, and internships through Dell.
Students learn in modern, dynamic spaces equipped with the latest technology, designed to mirror the innovation seen in today’s tech companies.
What they’re saying: "Cybersecurity might seem really intimidating, but it’s really not. It’s just so new. When people think about cybersecurity they might think that they have to be an expert coder or programer. That is not true. You do not have to be proficient in a bunch of programming languages to work in the tech industry or to work in cybersecurity,” says Cole Brown, P-Tech teacher.
What’s next: Enrollment for Austin ISD opens Nov. 6. Discover more about this program and all the other unique programs our district offers by visiting www.austinisd.org/enroll
Austin ISD Police celebrates new officers, new ranks
Three officers were sworn in and seven were promoted to either Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Assistant Chief Oct. 14 in a ceremony at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center.
Austin ISD Police Chief Wayne Sneed and Trustee Kevin Foster congratulated the officers as their families also joined in on the celebration.
Congratulations to all those who were promoted and thank you for all you do to keep us safe!
Background: The Austin ISD Police Department expanding its force in compliance with HB 3, including adding 70 motorcycle officers to patrol elementary schools. All officers go through robust training on working with children and de-escalation tactics before joining the district.
My mother and my husband’s family were visiting last weekend and we were able to get tickets for Pumpkin Nights! It was a great time if you have the opportunity to go– I highly recommend it.
Sweet Eats Farms is another fun place to take the kids to enjoy fall activities.
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