Austin ISD is considering closing 13 campuses.
AUSTIN, Texas — Bryker Woods Elementary parents, students and community members rallied Thursday morning, hoping to convince Austin ISD leaders to keep their school open.
Austin ISD is considering closing 13 campuses as part of a districtwide consolidation plan. Superintendent Matias Segura has been visiting each campus on the list to meet with families, hear concerns and answer questions.
On Thursday, Segura visited Bryker Woods Elementary, where parents made their voices heard before he even stepped through the door.
“I hope that he walks in our halls and sees the communities that we’re building with our kids, and sees the A+ education that we’re giving them, and decides to take another look at this plan,” Bryker Woods parent Kathryn Leins said.
Families at Bryker Woods have been fighting the proposed closure for months. Many say communication from the district has been unclear, and they hope Segura’s visit will mark a turning point.
On Wednesday night, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees held a special work session to discuss the draft consolidation and boundary change plan. The updated version of the plan is expected to be released to the public Friday, reflecting feedback gathered during virtual meetings and in-person campus visits like today’s.
Leins, who has a son at Bryker Woods, said her family has found a strong sense of community at the school. She questioned whether closing it would actually save money.
“There is not just a budget deficit emergency, by the way. There is a TEA takeover emergency. And this proposal is slated to solve both of those problems,” Leins said. “We’re asking AISD to just take a pause, do meaningful analysis, and then come back to the table with actual numbers showing that this will save money.”
Hundreds of parents, students, neighbors and local business owners gathered in front of the school entrance for what organizers are calling a “Save Bryker Woods, Save Money” pep rally.
Segura’s visit to Bryker Woods marks his first time touring the campus as part of the district’s ongoing review of schools at risk of closure or consolidation.