In a Sept. 5 letter to the Austin ISD community, Superintendent Paul Cruz wrote the district is considering school changes because district leaders know they must “fundamentally change” the education system.

Whether you’re a parent, a community member or a student, you may be wondering why these fundamental changes are necessary. AISD’s enrollment has dropped by more than 6,000 students in the last six years, and many of its schools are too big for the number of students enrolled there.

District leaders said they proposed the plan to close 12 schools because they believe students will have better experiences in new campuses optimized for modern learning.

However, in many places, schools are the centerpieces of community, and a closure is not as simple as turning off the lights and locking the doors. These decisions are complex, and Community Impact Newspaper has much more information (see Page 34) to help you understand the details of a process that will have a major effect on the lives of students throughout this city.