1.      Public Comment:

• All 30 slots were filled
  • Many speakers shared opinions about the decision to modernize Sanchez Elementary. Concerns raised:
    • The Bond specified a modernization project for the Eastside Memorial Vertical Team, however, Sanchez ES is in the Austin Vertical Team.
    • Does the decision to modernize Sanchez mean that Zavala ES or Metz ES could close?
    • Safety concerns about Sanchez being close to the I35
    • Concerns that the engagement process pit schools against each other for resources
  • Casis ES parents expressed frustrations with leveling of a kindergarten teacher at their campus and how the administration handled it.
  • Community members spoke in support of the East Austin Manifesto

2.      Presentation of AISD School Financial Integrity Rating for 2018

• No one signed up to speak at the Public Hearing
• AISD receives a perfect store of 100 and a rating of Superior from TEA
• Moody’s gives AISD an Aaa bond rating

3.      Consent Agenda & Considerations

• Consent Agenda passes unanimously 7-0, Trustee Geronimo Rodriguez was absent from this meeting and did not participate in any votes
  • Board approved modernization at Sanchez Elementary
    • Read about AISD’s community engagement process
    • Look at the data and information reviewed by the Modernization Project Planning team
  • Gordon asked for more information about the Targeted Utilization Plans (TUP) for schools under 75% capacity.
• Approval of Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Roster
  • Trustee Julie Cowan raised concern that the board was unfamiliar with the SHAC appointee process and that this affected diversity of opinion on this team.
    • Lisa Goodnow, Associate Superintendent of Academics and SEL, explained that the board must appoint at least 5 members, and others may apply and be approved by the board.
  • Board approved the proposed SHAC roster 6-0-1, with Trustee Cowan abstaining

KEY ITEMS:  Elementary Modernization Project Approval

 7:25 PM   Public Comment

• Up to 30 members of the community may speak for 2 minutes

 8:45 PM Presentation of Austin ISD School Financial Integrity Rating for 2018

• Followed by Public Hearing at 8:45 PM

9:15 PM Consent Agenda

• Academics & Curriculum
  1. Approval of Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC) 2018 – 2019 Roster and Board of Trustees SHAC Member Appointment
  2. Metz, Sanchez, Zavala Elementary Modernization Project
  3. Agreement between ACC and AISD for Dual Credit Educational Partnerships

• Business & Finance
  1. Contract for Advanced Email Protection and Analysis Solution
  2. Contracts for Security Cameras and Camera Installation
  3. Contracts for Membership and Participation in Purchasing Cooperatives

• Facilities
  1. Approval of Electric Utility Easement Agreement at New Southwest Elementary School

• Policy
  1. TASB Policy Update 110: Election Procedures
  2. Changes to Transfer Policy FDA and FDB

• Items for Separate Vote
  1. Interlocal Agreement with City of Austin: Mexican American Cultural Center
  2. Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
  3. Building Use Agreement with UT at Frank Erwin Center for 2019 Commencement Ceremonies
  4. Advise TX Interlocal Agreement with Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and UT

By: Avani Chhaya

With information readily available at your fingertips, it is easy to feel overwhelmed at the deluge of facts and figures about high schools in Austin ISD. We have distilled all of that high school information to the three important facets, impacting a high school student: attendance, discipline and college-readiness. Attendance has large budget and academic ramifications. In addition, disciplinary data shows which campuses are suspending their students at higher rates, highlighting disparities for our students of color. With the aim of high school to prepare students for life beyond the secondary level, the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment gives a glimpse at one of the college-ready components for students.

1.Attendance

Students in Central Texas miss 2.4 million days of school every year, according to E3 Alliance.

If a student is absent from class, it results in a loss of learning and a loss of state funding for the school. According to Austin ISD, missing school once a week is equivalent to missing out on a full year of learning every five years. E3 Alliance goes on to state that a student’s absence costs $38 per day, losing $20,000 every week in a high school, totaling over $91 million a year for our schools across the Central Texas region. With higher expectations and an increase in the workload at the high school level, it is much harder to academically catch up if a student is continually absent from school. High school campuses are expected to meet the AISD’s annual high school target of 93.8 percent for attendance. A sample of how districts monitor attendance across campuses can be seen in the High School Dashboard 2017-2018

2. Discipline

In 2017, the AISD school board voted to ban home suspensions and expulsions for preK to 2nd grade students with similar ban resolutions passed in Dallas, El Paso and Houston school districts, along with a bill at the state level banning suspensions.

In reference to the Student Code of Conduct, the state law allows a student to be suspended for up to three days, and there is no limit on the number of times a student is suspended in the semester or school year. The suspended student will have a conference with the school’s administration to explain the situation.

Austin ISD’s Summary of Equity Work indicates that several student groups experienced a higher rate of home and in-school suspensions in 2016. While male students were suspended at a higher rate than female students, special education and economically-disadvantaged students were punished with a home suspension, which was higher than the district average. Middle school rates of home suspensions were higher than high school and elementary school. In addition, there is a clear inequitable gap between students in different racial and ethnic groups. African-American and Hispanic students experienced home suspensions at a far greater rate than their White counterparts. These trends continue to persist with in-school suspensions as well.

Some campuses in Austin ISD, such as Akins High School, are implementing restorative practices to lower the suspension rate. Through a partnership with Life Anew, Akins implements a system of check-ins and classroom circles to build the school community, as well as lessen the occurence and frequency of conflict.

In a 2015 AISD report, seven sixth grade students were asked about the circling techniques at Martin Middle School, as part of the restorative practices program with Life Anew. Circling is where students sit in a circle and confront a problem directly with their classmates, teachers or family members. This strategy is meant to build empathy, perspective-taking, trust and dialogue among a classroom community. While the students spoke of their positive experiences with this circling technique, they mentioned how circling with a shy or disrespectful peer poses challenges.

3. Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment

Students planning on attending college in Texas can take the TSI, which is a standardized test determining college-readiness in reading, writing and math. The district and state scores below represent the number of graduates who scored at or above the set criteria for English Language Arts (ELA) and Math out of the total number of graduates with subject scores. According to the Texas Education Agency, high school students are considered college-ready with a score of at least 351 in ELA and at least 350 in Math. In the most recent school year, only 25 percent of students are college-ready in ELA and only 20.3 percent in Math in Austin ISD.

TSI Scores in ELA & Math for District and State From 2014-2016

Source: Texas Academic Performance Report

1.      Public Comment:

• All 30 slots were filled
  • Many speakers raised concerns about Celebration Church being allowed to rent out the AISD Performance Arts Center because of their stance on LGBTQ people. Read about it here.
  • Librarians raised an unintended consequence of the decision to halt inter-campus mail due to budget constraints. Previously, librarians could use inter-campus mail to request books from other campuses, providing more options for students. Without it, students only have access to the books in their library. Dr. Cruz said that the district would work to find a solution.
  • Speakers expressed frustration with the proposed MLS soccer stadium plan; as currently written, Precourt Sports Ventures would not have to pay property taxes and AISD would miss out on potential tax revenues.

2.      Consent Agenda & Considerations:

• Consent Agenda passed unanimously 8-0
• Board approved an agreement to continue mental health services at Austin HS, Bedicheck MS, Burnet MS, Dobie MS, Eastside HS, International HS, Fulmore HS, Garcia YMLA, Lanier HS, LBJ, LASA, Martin HS, McCallum HS, Reagan HS, Sadler Means YWLA and Travis HS for the 18/19 school year.
  • AISD commits to save mental health centers in jeopardy of closure
• 2019 Legislative Priorities
• Interlocal Agreement with Austin Public Health for youth development programs passes 7-0-1, Trustee Wagner abstained because she works for the City of Austin
• AISD Human Resources presented amendments to the Family Leave policy, removing partial pay for some extended leave and parenting leave. After much discussion, the motion failed 2-6. Trustee Cowan, who voted in favor, said, “If not this, then what?” The board has asked the district to make tough calls, like this one, and Cowan called her fellow trustees to support their plan. Trustees who voted against said that they worried about this policy change not being communicated in time for families to make decisions about having or expanding a family. Trustees also expressed not wanting to balance the budget on the backs of their employees.

3.      Superintendent’s Report:

• Preliminary Accountability Results
• Adoption of I&S and M&O Tax Rate
  • Motion to levy a Maintenance & Operation ad valorem tax at a rate of $1.0790, unchanged from previous year, passed unanimously
  • Motion to levy an ad valorem tax to provide a sinking fund to pay principal and interest on bonds at a rate of $0.1130, unchanged from previous year, passed unanimously
  • Motion to grant historical landmarks a partial tax exemption passed 5 –3; Trustees Gordon, Anderson, and Mathias voted no