October isDyslexia Awareness Month and Austin ISD is honored to host the Central Texas Dyslexia Conference! The event is a free learning opportunity for families, community members, and educators. The 2024 Central Texas Dyslexia Conference starts on October 6.
Reminder: Tomorrow is a PLED Day for staff and a student holiday!
Don't forget to review your benefits and enroll in our annual Benefits Open Enrollment. You may enroll online at www.austinisdbenefits.com between now and Oct. 15.
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, what you need to know
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
Sparks of Joy in Austin ISD
As part of Custodian & Groundskeeper Appreciation Week in Austin ISD, we're highlighting the dedicated staff who keep our schools running smoothly. In this installment of “Sparks of Joy” we introduce you to Ivan Tovar, head custodian at the Alternative Learning Center.
Tovar has been working at Austin ISD for 35 years.
His dedication to the district runs in the family—his sister works as a teaching assistant, and their father is a retired Austin ISD employee.
Why it matters: Tovar is the head custodian at the ALC, which will be demolished and rebuilt after this school year. Despite knowing this, Tovar continues to keep the building in excellent condition, maintaining its lawns, power-washing the walls, and shining its floors.
What he's saying: He’s dedicated to the work, even fixing broken windows and maintaining the school’s indoor garden, leading by example with a contagious passion for his job.
“We came into this world to leave a legacy—to make the world a better place,” Tovar said.
The impact: Tovar’s influence goes beyond the building’s upkeep. He encourages other custodians to put in extra effort, reminding them that their work is an investment in the future of the district.
“I encourage other custodians to walk the extra mile, to be generous, to see their mission as one that can save lives,” Tovar says. “Everything we give [to the district] is an investment, not a loss.”
His background: Tovar credits his father for teaching him the value of hard work and gratitude. He recalls how two ladies from the Human Resources team helped him get his GED when he first arrived in the U.S. from Mexico, giving him the opportunity to start working for the district.
One more thing: The families Tovar serves are forever grateful for his work. Years ago, when the school community learned he was building his house, they invested their time and money to help him finish sooner than he had hoped.
When people ask why he’s never applied for other jobs in the district, he answers: “Why would I? I love what I do.”
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 Linda 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.
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.
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.
Understanding TELPAS
This year, Austin ISD is serving 21,908 emergent bilingual students — 30% of our total student population. To best support emergent bilingual students, the Austin ISD Multilingual Education Team is launching additional support to help all teachers target their support for students’ English language development skills.
Why it matters: In alignment with Austin ISD’s inclusive vision for education, emergent bilingual students are incorporated in general education classes. This means all campus staff will need to understand how to support these learners.
How it works: Teachers will have access to resources to use with students, including explanations for the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System, TELPAS. This annual test measures emergent bilingual students’ progress in English language proficiency development.
Each year, students are tested in four domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
The goal is for students to increase their English proficiency by one level each year or remain at Advanced High once they reach that level.
ICYMI, the U.S. Department of Education highlighted the district's Early Learning and Bilingual Education programs for Bilingual Child Month. You may view the video by visiting the USDOE's X's, formerly known as Twitter, page.
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations continue with the Viva Style Fashion Show on Oct. 11 and "Join the Fiesta" on Oct. 12. It's sure to be a lot of fun! Hope to see you there!
-JJ
For questions or comments you may email me at jorge.maldonado@austinisd.org
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.
