In the face of internal dissent and public opposition, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees approved a contractual partnership with IDEA Public Schools to establish an in-district charter program by a 6–3 vote.

The specially called meeting started just after 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19, and saw the decision made just before 1 a.m. after a midnight extension that sent the meeting into the early morning—similar to the Dec. 12 meeting, which also required a midnight extension. The board called for the special meeting at the Dec. 12 regular meeting after deciding it did not have the necessary information to take action on the contract.

Despite efforts to keep discussions civil, the crowd showed disapproval several times throughout the meeting, and a man was removed by AISD security. Many in attendance appeared downcast—and others infuriated—following the decisions the night ended with the crowd roaring in protest, "Down with Carstarphen!" "We'll vote you out!" and "Boycott IDEA!"

Assuming contract negotiations go as expected, IDEA will install a college-prep charter program at Allan Elementary School and will be part of the Eastside Memorial Vertical Team—composed of Eastside Memorial High School and its feeder schools—in the 2012–13 school year. AISD is partnering with IDEA in the hopes that it can raise high school graduation rates, increase standardized test scores, retain students that would otherwise depart to out-of-district charters and improve Texas Education Agency accountability ratings.

Trustees Robert Schneider, Annette LoVoi and Tamala Barksdale held the three dissenting votes regarding the contract, stating that language issues and amendments needed to be resolved in order to preserve district interests.

Early in the meeting, LoVoi made a motion for the board not to move forward with the IDEA charter proposal. The motion was defeated 6–3—a result that seemed to be a indication of the lines drawn between board members. LoVoi continued to vocalize her opinions several times throughout the meeting, to which President Mark Williams replied, "You're not in charge, as much as you'd like to be."

Schneider tweeted during the meeting from his personal account, "Anyone think this isn't a done deal???" suggesting the end result was all but decided already.

During the meeting, he said that it was "the most poisonous and divisive issue" he had ever seen in his tenure on the board.

The board has been under intense scrutiny lately as community members, as well as former Austin mayors and former AISD trustees Gus Garcia and Carole Keaton Strayhorn, voiced their opinions that the governing body did not properly vet IDEA before considering an agreement with the nonprofit institution.

"One of the things that I wanted to do was to come and recommend to you to take your time to look at this issue," Garcia said during citizens communication at the Monday meeting. "It points to a condition that exists in Austin and in our community, where the parents are very concerned. They do not feel that the process was transparent, they do not feel that they were heard and they don't feel that their students will get the education that they deserve."

However, just moments before, board president Mark Williams opened the citizens communication by acknowledging the community's input.

"Whether it has been emails, whether it has been phone calls, whether it has been in person, whether it has been in some cases texts, I've seen the media coverage, and I think my fellow board members have too, so I think a lot of voices have been heard," he said.

Strayhorn urged the board to get off the dais and into the community, to trust parental judgment and to advocate a democratic culture.

"For government to work well it requires one key element: elected officials trust in all the people they represent," she said. "We'll fight for accountable, responsible and transparent government—decisions made in the sunshine and accessible to all."

IDEA will start as K–2 and sixth-grade classes at Allan Elementary School in 2012–13, and parents of Allan students will be given the choice for their child to opt out.

The program will grow to K–12 by 2018–19, serving 125 children between K-5 and 225 from grades 5–12.

Contract highlights

For the 2012–13 school year, IDEA shall be paid by AISD $5,001 per student average daily attendance plus weights such as compensatory education and special education.

AISD shall provide to IDEA a license to use and occupy designated space at Allan Elementary School beginning with the 2012–13 school year, and Eastside Memorial High School, beginning with the 2013–14 school year.

The facilities shall be maintained and operated by AISD in accordance with district policy and regulations.

AISD requires IDEA maintain standards as required by the State Board of Education rules and Texas Education Agency (TEA) regulations for charter schools.