Austin ISD unifying two East Austin schools

As part of its $1 billion bond spending plan, Austin ISD will unify Norman and Sims Elementary schools. They say the process will begin in the 2018-2019 school year.

“These are schools surrounded by neighborhoods that are filled with students and families who really care about their schools. It's not just a number to them, it's not just a budget amount,” said Monica Sanchez, an advocate a part of “Save East Austin Schools.”

The district says low enrollment, is the reason they need to put the two schools together

When one closes, the other will be rebuilt, and become the new campus for the students

Sanchez has volunteered in the east Austin community for years and thinks closure isn't the answer. “These are schools they have been attending in some cases generations,” said Sanchez.

Trustee member Doctor Edmund Gordon has some reservations about the plan. “I ran on a platform that said we wouldn’t be closing schools in district one, so it's a position I’m very sympathetic too,” said Gordon.

He thinks the district should take some time to listen to the eastside before making the move.

“We're losing money, not just in those two schools, but throughout the district, particularly the eastside on schools under-enrolled, there's no question about that. A good amount of money is being lost every day. On the other hand, you're fooling around with people's lives,” said Gordon.

A planning committee will decide by January which school gets closed.

Sanchez feels, there should be another option, instead of closing a school. “I think it's the school board's responsibility to help these schools that are struggling, whether it's enrollment, grades, whatever the case is,” said Sanchez.