Dear Trustee xxx;
I am writing to you today regarding the recent AISD Proposal for School Changes. This is the second of several messages which I will be sending to you on this topic. Each message will focus on one specific area which I hope will enable you to read and consider this information carefully.
However the action which I will be requesting will be consistent in each of my messages. That is for the AISD Board of Trustees to unequivocally state that they will defer any decision on the proposed school changes until: necessary detailed information has been made available; the community has ample opportunity for authentic engagement; other school scenarios are considered; and the diversity and economic disadvantage of student populations at schools recommended for closure are considered in the school change decision making.
While I'm sure all the members of the task force and administrators who worked with them acted in good faith to develop this proposal, I have substantial concerns in the area of AISD finances and their relevance to this proposal.
The first area of concern is the 2017 AISD Bond issue and whether AISD has faithfully acted to fulfill its commitments to the schools identified for closure. Or has the district administration inadvertently acted in a “Bait and Switch” manner with regard to using the voter approved funds.
Each of 12 schools proposed for closure has a page in the 2017 AISD Bond Issue book which was used extensively in the campaign to approve the $1.1 billion bond package. Each page describes significant and substantial upgrades and or maintenance commitments for that school. While I only have direct knowledge of one of the targeted schools, I suspect that many of the 12 have not had the upgrades or maintenance performed as committed in the bond issue.
I believe this is a significant issue as it raises into question the credibility of AISD and therefore casts substantial doubt on the entire school changes process. A likely consequence of this challenge to AISD’s credibility will be significant difficulty in approving any future bond issues.
If the Board of Trustees has access to information showing what bond funds have been expended since 2017 by school that may help to address this concern. If the data shows that the commitments to these schools have not been acted upon, then the AISD Board has a moral and possible legal responsibility to find out why.
The second area of concern is the changing Financial situation of AISD. My understanding is that the rationale for initiating the School Changes review process was based in large part upon a perceived structural deficit that AISD was facing along with declining student enrollment trends. The structural deficit is frequently given as a major reason for the urgency behind taking action on the task force recommendations.
However I question whether this urgency still applies in fall of 2019. The Texas state legislature has passed SB3 which will materially affect the total dollars available to the district. Also the total taxable property value available to AISD is moving on an opposite trend to enrollment and has been growing at 7 to 10% per year.
Given these facts, AISD needs to show the community that the premise of the structural deficit is still valid. Has the AISD finance department provided the board of trustees with an updated five year revenue and expense forecast that takes into account SB3 and increasing tax ratables? If not I strongly suggest that the board request this update as soon as possible.
While I can fully appreciate the desire of the board of trustees to support the administration and it's task forces and not second-guess the results of their well-intentioned work, this is a critical time for AISD and the residents of Austin. In this critical time the board of trustees must not be afraid to exercise leadership to ensure this difficult situation does not become a disastrous one.
I look forward to your positive response to my request for postponing any action on the School Changes proposal until the actions listed above are completed.
Peace and love,
Stephen Dock
1803 E 40th St Austin, TX 78722
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