AISD vote on school closure proposal looms over east Austin schools

AUSTIN, Texas - Time is all one East Austin school is asking for days before the district school board votes on a proposal to close schools. Facing closure is Metz Elementary, one of the district's oldest schools nestled in the east side, with a minority student population of 98 percent.

The school is also home to Bertha Rendon Delgado’s family. Five generations of her family attended Metz Elementary School.

"The fact that they would even want to close the school for low enrollment and not give the school an opportunity is heartbreaking," Delgado said. "We are in solidarity we want to make sure that we all join together and we tell the district these are the issues this is what we need to resolve and we need to take all the schools off."

Since Austin ISD has released version two of its school changes plan parents, alumni and community members have sprung into action advocating to save Metz, Sims, and Pease. A rally was held outside of Pease Elementary on Wednesday. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin) was present to show her support. 

"As the longest continually operating public school in the whole state of Texas, Pease Elementary is a living, breathing monument to our support for our public schools," Hinojosa said.

Brooke Elementary is also up for consideration. Alumni like Jared Breckenridge took to the mic Friday to share his story as a college grad and a product of East Austin schools.

Advocates for each school are standing united asking that the district postpone their decision and invest in the schools instead of closing them.

Austin ISD's board will vote on November 18th. Families from Metz are inviting district leaders to attend a community meeting they have scheduled on Monday.