Barton Hills Elementary closing???? Can't be! (Taylor, Hutto: layoffs, elementary schools, college)

[gpurcell]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

From reading the article, it appears that both Zilker and Barton Hills are on list of schools that might be closed. What on earth are they doing to do if both schools are closed?

Are we running out of kids or something? Not all parents want to raise their kids in the suburbs - it can be a very rich life growing up closer in. I know, I raised two that way.

Probably one of the two with a Thunderdome match to which one goes.

[mimimomx3]

http://www.austinisd.org/inside/docs..._2010_2011.pdf

Interesting reading. The best solution that AISD can come up with is to raise taxes and issue bonds (which are also taxes). I suggest cutting the whole budget across the board until you can balance it. That could mean: closing schools, laying off administrators, giving up the expensive lease/selling the administrative offices on 5th street and moving to a cheaper location, asking parents to pay for music, art, etc. So be it. The taxpayers shouldn't have to make up the difference for AISD's pet projects.

[hilsmom]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

http://www.austinisd.org/inside/docs..._2010_2011.pdf

Interesting reading. The best solution that AISD can come up with is to raise taxes and issue bonds (which are also taxes). I suggest cutting the whole budget across the board until you can balance it. That could mean: closing schools, laying off administrators, giving up the expensive lease/selling the administrative offices on 5th street and moving to a cheaper location, asking parents to pay for music, art, etc. So be it. The taxpayers shouldn't have to make up the difference for AISD's pet projects.

You think art and music are "pet projects"? Really? That is a real shame. So much good can come from students being exposed to the arts, and so many children don't get it at home, nor can their parents afford to provide it. I knew plenty of children in band with me at the elementary level who never would have been able to participate had the school not provided it.

Now, I do understand we are living in tough times. Most school systems are being faced with tough choices. But I would argue arts programs are worth the money to create well rounded students. If any school my child was attending ever lost their arts program funding, I would fight tooth and nail for the PTA to raise the funds to keep it going.

Signed,
person who participated in music programs all the way through college and whose life was enriched by it

[h886]

Agreed. I think the latest stat they posted was that some 63% of AISD students qualify as economically disadvantaged. The vast majority could not afford to take a music or art class if forced to pay for it... they already qualify for free and reduced lunch.

I agree cuts have to be made, and that everyone will be hurting a bit from it. But at some point, it becomes a bad thing if we make playing football, being in the band or taking an art class only for "the elite."

[love roses]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

http://www.austinisd.org/inside/docs..._2010_2011.pdf

Interesting reading. The best solution that AISD can come up with is to raise taxes and issue bonds (which are also taxes). I suggest cutting the whole budget across the board until you can balance it. That could mean: closing schools, laying off administrators, giving up the expensive lease/selling the administrative offices on 5th street and moving to a cheaper location, asking parents to pay for music, art, etc. So be it. The taxpayers shouldn't have to make up the difference for AISD's pet projects.

When I told my husband about this last night, and about the Hutto Schools, the first thing he said was, "Great, now they'll raise the taxes on us!" Hutto High School just got done with an expansion and redoing the football stadium not too very long ago and he was angry that they found the money to do that but not the money for whatever they need now.

[love roses]

The expansion was needed, but did they really need to spend so much on the Stadium? I would hate to see any of the Arts Programs cut.

[kbchitown]

With all due respect. When we moved here from Illinois, I first thought the enormous football stadiums I saw here were college stadiums. I was amazed when told it was a high school stadium! High school? Does everyTexas HS need a stadium that rivals most colleges? And guess who pays for it?

[HappyTexan]

I think the schools are doing all they can to not cut the core curriculum and mandated services to special needs/disadvantaged kids.

Remember...the core goal is to educate kids..teach them reading, writing and arithmetic.
We've got to tighten the belt here. The good times of free spending are over.

You cannot just "issue bonds" to pay for stuff when you cannot afford to pay the interest on those bonds. Muni bonds are in the tank..investors don't trust cities and states to pay them off if they have revenue shortfalls.

Volunteerism needs to increase now..time to step up and HELP out the schools.
There's fluff that can be cut ..become an AVID volunteer so the schools don't have to pay for AVID aides and tutors. Things like that will HELP to ease the pain.

[love roses]

I was just at my niece's birthday party, and one of my BIL's cousins was there. She's an Elementary teacher here in Hutto. Her school is not one of the one's slated to be closed, but she said most of the schools, including AISD, will most likely cut underperforming teachers, surplus staff like librarians and copy room staff and go to using parent volunteers.

[hilsmom]

great, now librarians are surplus. stab me in the heart, why don't you.

yours truly, raised by a school librarian