AISD in trouble (Austin, Portland: houses, layoffs, transfer)

[Swizzle Stick]

Is AISD in a downward spiral?

https://communityimpact.com/austin/s...1-school-year/

This is compounding a trend that existed pre-Covid. Factors that are strong headwinds against AISD:

1. WFH - people are no longer beholden to living close to dense business districts, like Downtown and the Domain.

2. Defunding police. Whether or not it happens, the conversation is enough to make families think twice before buying in the city limits (and AISD).

3. The growing homeless problem. Parks and facilities (like the YMCA) around the city are being turned over to the homeless. Gillis, Butler, Searight are a few that come to mind. Homeless camping out on or next to children's playgrounds that parents won't use anymore are a stark illustration of the problem.

4. Covid - small houses are no longer viable for kids that are locked up and homeschooled. Especially with issue #3. AISD teachers are also the most resistant to returning to campus. This is not sitting well with moderate-to-conservative leaning parents.

5. Social justice attitudes of AISD that have revoked tracking or sibling transfers for Anglo students to decent schools within the district. Minority students (only) are still allowed to transfer into good school tracks. Many of these families have left the district as a result of reverse-discrimination, and the perceived rail-roading of their kids into poorly performing schools.


What is the recovery plan for AISD?

[Trainwreck20]

The vase majority of those 'missing' students this year are K and pre-k students that opted to not start school this year. Many will likely enroll/start whenever school gets 'back to normal'.

[eirenecat]

Some of those missing kinder kids may have gone to private schools which opened with in-person education, where there is the possibility they will stay.

[karpo1]

Leadership could visit Seattle/Portland/San Francisco for ideas.

[Swizzle Stick]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

The vase majority of those 'missing' students this year are K and pre-k students that opted to not start school this year. Many will likely enroll/start whenever school gets 'back to normal'.

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/ed...3-d2e497e5e983


Well, 200 AISD teacher's jobs are on the chopping block because of it. No other districts are discussing layoffs.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by eirenecat

Some of those missing kinder kids may have gone to private schools which opened with in-person education, where there is the possibility they will stay.

Based on the school groups I am in, a few may have done that, but most have opted to just keep kids home right now. At least based on what I am hearing. Virtual school just doesn't work for kinder kids, but many parents are not really big on sending their kids back right now.

Pre-k is also counted in AISD enrollment and it costs (for people that don't get subsidy) something like $600 a month. Almost no one has enrolled in that.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by Swizzle Stick

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/ed...3-d2e497e5e983


Well, 200 AISD teacher's jobs are on the chopping block because of it. No other districts are discussing layoffs.

Quiet a few teachers have quit, so I am not sure whether layoffs would be triggered right now anyway in many districts.

[ashbeeigh]

All districts are struggling this year. The numbers are higher because it’s the largest district in the area and due to inequity in the city of Austin.

KXAN went over a lot of the problems with AISD and mentioned other districts. https://www.kxan.com/news/education/...t-leaders-say/

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Based on the school groups I am in, a few may have done that, but most have opted to just keep kids home right now. At least based on what I am hearing. Virtual school just doesn't work for kinder kids, but many parents are not really big on sending their kids back right now.

Pre-k is also counted in AISD enrollment and it costs (for people that don't get subsidy) something like $600 a month. Almost no one has enrolled in that.

I know I haven't, and won't, sent my 4th grader to school until early next year at a minimum. She's actually doing very well in the virtual environment and is not picking up every single virus that is rampant in the school. The only thing she misses are her friends but if she returns she'll be required to sit in the classroom all day wearing a mask and not having much interaction anyway. Mind as well have all the comforts of home, plus she can get to sleep in a bit more.

My ninth grader could stand to return to school. She needs the structure. But no point sending one back and the other still at home, so they're both at home. Virtual instruction from the charter school has been A plus.

[Austin97]

our kinder is in school, so we sent the 2nd and 7th grader. The probability of them getting seriously ill is very low. The probability of them getting seriously ill and then infecting me is miniscule.

Really understanding the risk is very difficult as the brain has a very hard time processing very low risk events.