If you haven't heard, this week is School Psychologist Appreciation Week! To echo our superintendent, please join me in celebrating all our school psychologists who help Austin ISD's students, families and communities every day. Thank you for your work!
In other Austin ISD News, with the passage of Prop A, some of you may be eligible to receive a compensation adjustment.
Does this impact me? Staff eligible will receive an individual compensation notice next week. Be sure to check your emails from the Talent Strategy department for more information and important dates.
Visit the merch store Nov. 14–22 to purchase limited edition Austin ISD-branded items!
To avoid shipping costs, we are excited to announce that all orders can be picked up at Austin ISD Central Office on Dec. 11!
Now, let's get started…
1 big thing: District to reduce $92 million budget deficit with three-year plan
As the Joint Community Budget Committee wraps up, district officials are evaluating options to cut the $92 million budget deficit over three years.
Why it matters: District leaders are committed to creating a sustainable budget plan while also being cautiously optimistic about the possibility of additional funding coming out of the next legislative session.
With a three-year cascading budget plan, the hardest cuts would be pushed to future years for possible implementation.
By the numbers: Last spring, district leaders made $30 million in cuts to non-campus expenses for the 2024–25 budget.
The plan will identify an additional $26 million in reductions from the current year budget.
Next school year, 2025–26, the district will carve out $47 million.
For the 2026-27 school year, the district plans to cut an estimated $19 million.
What’s next: Superintendent Matias Segura and senior leaders will present a budget plan to the board of trustees at the Nov. 21 Board Voting Meeting.
The November presentation will be for information only, with any necessary approvals scheduled for December.
Yes, and...voters approved Prop A, which will infuse $41 million into the district’s budget to support campuses and fund pay increases for teachers and professional staff. $20 million of the funds will also be used to offset current costs and reduce the budget deficit.
Thanks to Austin voters, the district will not have to consider more painful budget reductions.
Rosedale School identified as surplus after district evaluation
The district now has the opportunity to monetize the former Rosedale School site after the property was declared surplus, opening the option to sell or lease the land.
The details: The school, located at 2117 West 49th Street, is not used by the district and the tract of land does not meet the established criteria to accommodate any future needs by Austin ISD.
The school was vacated in February 2022 and a modernized facility located at 7505 Silvercrest Drive was custom-built to meet the needs of Rosedale students.
Since Feb. 2024 the location has been temporarily occupied by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office as a training site for law enforcement officials.
Driving the news: The board adopted a resolution Oct. 24 declaring the site surplus.
The district is exploring all opportunities to reduce the budget deficit, including potential revenue-boosting proposals. The most significant revenue option would be the monetization of property.
Any sale or lease will need approval by the Board of Trustees.
Parent Support Program expands support for families across Austin ISD
Thanks to an increased grant from the City of Austin, the Parent Support Team is expanding districtwide with the introduction of a new Regional Support Team.
Why it matters: Parent Support staff engage directly with families, campus staff and community members to ensure effective school-community partnerships and allocation of community resources.
What they are saying: “We are excited to add these new members to the team,” said Joy Diaz, Assistant Director Community Engagement. “The Team will now support 116 campuses instead of only 73. It's a huge lift because there are families in need all over the school district and Austin ISD wants them to feel supported.”
The new team consists of two facilitators and two regional associates, who will connect with families in non-Title I schools and promote educational opportunities throughout the district.
Austin ISD kicked off Native American Heritage Month this week with a special ceremony at Central Office where we had the opportunity to watch performances by the Great Promise for American Indians dancers and Ottertrail singers.
If you would like to learn more about the culture and heritage, everyone is invited to the annual Austin Pow Wow happening this month.
Looking for things to do this weekend?
This Saturday is the 11th annual Little EAST, which is one of the stops of the Austin Studio tour, at Blackshear Elementary School. Visitors will be delighted by student artwork, performances, plus a silent auction!
Last week I was able to visit the Harry Potter: Forbidden Forest Experience near Bastrop. It was pretty cool! It’s an outdoor trail with interactive moments here and there. An experience that’s fun for the whole fam! If you go let me know what you think.
-JJ
For questions or comments you may email me at jorge.maldonado@austinisd.org
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