Parents and faculty are weighing in on the future of two Austin elementary schools. Austin ISD sent out a survey to the Blackshear and Oak Springs communities.
Parents and faculty are weighing in on the future of two Austin elementary schools. Austin ISD sent out a survey to the Blackshear and Oak Springs communities. Both schools are half full with each school's enrollment at around 200 students.
Consolidating them makes sense to best utilize space, but since Blackshear has such a long history in Austin and is in the process of getting a new roof, parents say it should not close. Parents and faculty are weighing in on the future of two Austin elementary schools. Austin ISD sent out a survey to the Blackshear and Oak Springs communities. Both schools are half full, with each school's enrollment at around 200 students. Consolidating them makes sense to best utilize space, but since Blackshear has such a long history in Austin and is in the process of getting a new roof, parents say it should not close. Blackshear Elementary School was built in 1891. Its East Austin neighbors say it is an important part of the city's educational history. Lennie King has had children at Blackshear since 2019 and says many parents at Blackshear are taking the survey seriously. They want to let the Austin Independent School District know they do not want the historic school that is located across the street from Huston Tillotson University to close. "We have a direct pipeline with their teaching teachers there. So, we receive a lot of teachers from Houston Tillotson. We have performances over there. They allow us to use their chapel for live performances," said King.Austin ISD is considering temporarily moving students from Oak Springs Elementary to the Blackshear campus in the fall of 2026. The consolidation would allow the district to finish construction of a new, modernized school on the Oak Springs site. Once construction is complete, students from both schools will leave Blackshear and permanently move into the new school. "With the district having poured the foundation for the new school at Oak Springs, is it possible to stay here?" asked CBS Austin Reporter Bettie Cross. "We hope so, but we don't know. We did hear that the school was designed for 300 some kids. We're going to be at 425. How will we all fit there? Do you really want to spend a bunch of money again to go and redesign? I'm not sure if that is the best use of money," said King. Parents, faculty, and community members are being asked to give feedback through the transition survey. Joy Moore does not think her opinion, or anyone else's, will impact a process that is already well underway. "The process that we're going through now, I believe it is already a done deal. I believe that there are parents and the community that will be heartbroken because there are no words and no petition that will stop this political engine," said Joy Moore, who lives next to the Blackshear campus.Austin ISD says a decision has not been made. Superintendent Matias Segura is evaluating the proposal and is expected to make a final decision by the end of January.The City of Austin is taking legal steps to get a bar on Sixth Street to take action in preventing criminal activity.The motion, obtained by CBS Austin, allegesA board-certified OB/GYN refused to give a direct answer to Sen. Josh Hawley who repeatedly asked her if men can get pregnant during a Congressional hearingSAN ANTONIO - New video captured by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows the moments someone rammed ICE agents with a car here in San Antonio.TheThree people have been arrested after a 17-year-old girl was found being held against her will at a home in Uhland, police said.Officers responded Jan. 10 to aFederal immigration enforcement operations were underway in Kyle and Buda Thursday, with local officials confirming the activity but emphasizing they were not i
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