Subject: AISD: Stop the consolidation process and focus on preventing TEA takeover

Austin Independent School District (AISD) is one "F" grade away from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) taking over our public schools. Instead of focusing on this threat, AISD leaders are spending untold time on identifying high-performing schools that they can close for budget purposes. That logic is hugely disconcerting. The district undertook school closures in 2019 and have no data about whether money was saved (while those schools now sit empty and abandoned - still costing the district money). We don't have confidence in AISD's approach to consolidation, and we're terrified that it's a distraction from a much bigger threat. 

We need AISD to focus on turning our low-performing schools around and halting the very real threat of TEA takeover. TEA takeover would mean this unelected body determines what Austin students learn and control their budget. This has terrifying implications given how politicized TEA has become.  

Trustees: please focus on the immediate threat and stop getting distracted with questions about the age of buildings. We need you to halt the consolidation process and focus on what matters - saving our schools from TEA takeover.