New HS in South Austin (Houston, Dallas: real estate, homes, purchase)

[scm53]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

Population projections from AISD show that the HS's within AISD will start seeing a net decline starting in 2017 that will last for 10 years.

For the past ten years, population projections have shown future Bowie attendance zone declines - yet it is currently 445 students over capacity. The problem is, you can't forcast move-in demand if you are using current ES and MS populations - which is what AISD does. There is still new development inside the current Bowie zone, on top of the move in demand for a very attractive school.

In 2008, AISD voters approved $32M for a new south HS. Why are we still talking about it?

[sojourner77]

Originally Posted by scm53

In 2008, AISD voters approved $32M for a new south HS. Why are we still talking about it?

Voters approved $32,000,000 for purchasing the land, then rejected the funding to plan and design the new HS. If you read the very bottom line - there is no guarantee that funding the construction will ever be brought to ballot. AISD could end up selling the land - that is assuming they have even bought it.



South Austin High School | Austin ISD

In the 2008 Bond Program, voters approved $32 million in funding for the purchase of the land for a south high school. Bond funds remain available to purchase of the property once a site is selected.


For school year 2012 – 2013, the South High School (Land Only – 2008 Bond Program) Annual Academic and Facilities Recommendation (AAFR) addressed several district needs:

• There are no academic magnet high school programs in south Austin.
• The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at Anderson, Fine Arts Academy at McCallum, and Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) are all located in north Austin.
• Projected growth in student enrollment in south Austin adds potential for overcrowding in existing high schools in the south.

Voters in 2013 did not approve a bond proposal to fund the building-related planning (environmental studies, architectural designs) for a new high school in south Austin.
A bond proposal for the construction of a new high school has not been presented to voters for consideration.

[Trainwreck20]

In 2008, AISD voters approved $32M for a new south HS.

If that was the cost of a new HS, then we would NOT be still talking about. Unfortunately, that is just a small amount of the cost of a new HS.

[rangergrit]

I'm waiting to hear a RE Agent market a home by arguing the crappy HS it feeds to is great because it's easier to make top 8%.

[sojourner77]

Originally Posted by rangergrit

I'm waiting to hear a RE Agent market a home by arguing the crappy HS it feeds to is great because it's easier to make top 8%.

They don't really need to, the homes are doing it themselves.

[gpurcell]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

Sending the kids from Barton Creek to a HS downtown is even more insane, so I'm suggesting that Austin HS swap Barton Creek with Travis Heights. Travis heights is literally a bike ride down Town Lake from Austin HS.

Makes a lot more sense to shift center west enrollment from Anderson to Austin. There shouldn't be any cross-lake attendance zones.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

If that was the cost of a new HS, then we would NOT be still talking about. Unfortunately, that is just a small amount of the cost of a new HS.

Sorry - I failed to say that it was only for the land. Problem is, not even that has been bought - and land prices do nothing but continue up.

The real poop in the living room that no one wants to talk about, is the hatred of a vocal segment of central Austinites towards those of us who have committed the unpardonable sin of living in a place that offends their sensibilities. I have endured it for almost thirty years, and am now at a point where I am just as inflexible, as unwilling to compromise as they are. It is unconscionable that facilities to educate our children are held hostage by radicals. But that's where we are. The AISD board knows that proposing a new HS where it needs to go would unleash the hounds of hell. So, they are willing to drive kids N of the river - in ever worsening Mopac traffic - rather than do the right thing.

In case anyone wonders how long this has been going on, the land that Patton ES and Small MS are on, was originally going to be the SW HS. That was blocked, and Gary Bradley offered the land where Bowie now sits. SOS passed in '92, making a SW HS all but impossible. Akins got built because a SB member (whose name escapes me) lived in Onion Creek and wanted it E of Bowie.

So no, there won't be a SW HS - but it has nothing to do with need.

[Raskolnikov]

Also insane to send 78749 to Crockett. That zip code is literally right around - and to the west-of Bowie! So everyone would drive past it and have a nice 12-15 minute drive to Crockett.

You know what's one way to totally destroy a neighborhood? Jack with school zoning and make the people who bought a house in that neighborhood because of the school drive past that school to go to a different school.

Imo i wonder if a law has ever been introduced at the state level to prevent cities from bait and switching neighborhood schools. (Buy a house in this neighborhood because the schools are so good.. Prices go up and up and up... Taxes go up... Then change school zoning to underperforming schools. Everyone moves away and the neighborhood becomes a slum. Rinse and repeat.)

[sojourner77]

Originally Posted by Raskolnikov

Also insane to send 78749 to Crockett. That zip code is literally right around - and to the west-of Bowie! So everyone would drive past it and have a nice 12-15 minute drive to Crockett.

78749 is actually north of Bowie, and 1/3 of that zip already attends Crockett. The red dot marks the location of Bowie HS. Residents in 78749 would have to drive south to drop their kids off at school, and then drive back north to their jobs with everyone else.

and yes- the majority of those parents with jobs would be driving north to downtown, SW Parkway, Mopac, 360, etc. The SAHM's would be stuck in the same traffic with them as well.

[Raskolnikov]

Well the particular part of 78749 that my community is in, already is 8 minutes to the west - and slightly north- of Bowie. I can tell you that it makes no sense to drive all the way to Crockett. (Except in the minds of radical ideologues or people who have no skin in the game aka kids and homes in these communities)