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Message Posted:
Oct 11 2007 / 9:33 pm

Category: Announcements

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Tell AISD What You Really Think

Online Survey and Community Forum to Give Citizens Voice on How Austin School District Makes Big Decisions

The Community Committee on Neighborhoods and Schools (CCNS) has launched an online survey, the first step in finding out how the Austin School District can do a better job on major decisions affecting Austin’s public schools and neighborhoods.
The committee will also host a Community Forum, including focus group discussions, on Tuesday, October 9, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., in the Cafeteria of Pearce Middle School, located at 6401 North Hampton Drive.
Appointed by the AISD Board of Trustees, the CCNS was created to develop, with broad stakeholder input, recommendations on standard policy and processes for identification and review of both underutilized and overcrowded schools, and for ensuring ongoing stakeholder engagement and participation.
The Committee will make policy and process recommendations on:

• Criteria for identifying underutilized and overcrowded schools
• Criteria for assessing alternatives (e.g., revitalizing, repurposing, realigning, closing)
• Assessment considerations (e.g., academic performance, environmental implications, use of resources, added value both quantitative and qualitative)
• Opportunities for interlocal collaboration with other Austin entities and organizations
• Procedures for identifying and ensuring ongoing stakeholder engagement and participation (e.g., neighborhood surveys, input from parents, students, and teachers).

Committee members view this public outreach and input effort as a critical step to raise the level of visibility in AISD’s decision-making process.  Nothing shapes the future growth of a city more than the location and quality of education in its’ public schools” said CCNS Co-Chair Paul Saldaña.  “The citizens of Austin deserve an opportunity to influence the decision-making process, and we want the public to take an active role in providing us their respective feedback”.  The survey includes questions about what steps the School District should follow to ensure public involvement in major decisions, how long that process should take, and how AISD should communicate with families and citizens on critical issues.  Committee members hope to hear from a broad range of individuals, including parents, teachers and taxpayers, especially those at under-enrolled or over-enrolled schools. Of AISD’s 110 regular campuses, for the 2007-2008 school year, three are projected to be at or above 125 percent capacity, while 23 are projected to be at or below 75 percent capacity.  In addition, state and/or federal accountability requirements can result in major school changes (state requirements may even result in school closure). After receiving public input, the Committee will develop draft recommendations, which will again be presented for public review in December.  Final recommendations are expected to be presented to the AISD Board of Trustees in late February 2008.  The survey can be taken online at: http://www.austinisd.org/tellaisd.
Also, organizations interested in hosting a smaller focus group, or for more information, should contact Janis Guerrero at 414-9776, jguerrero@austinisd.org , or Joey Crumley, at 414-9961, jcrumley@austinisd.org.