Austin ISD is considering sites in Southwest and Southeast Austin for a south high school land purchase. The AISD board of trustees announced during its regular board meeting Dec. 14 that it is evaluating parcels of land to purchase in both territories. The board received a briefing in executive discussion during the same meeting about the suitability and negotiation issues of potential high school sites in south Austin. Staff and consultants are working to bring land recommendations in the new few months, board President Gina Hinojosa said. “The purchase of this land is an investment in the future of our school district and city and is based upon projections of growth and future land availability,” Hinojosa said. Voters approved bond funds in 2008 for south high school land. The board indicated March 9 it would make a decision by December on whether to purchase south high school land and has had other discussions since then on the subject. The board has previously discussed whether to buy multiple parcels of land, one parcel of land or no land for a south high school site. Hinojosa added that AISD has bond funding only for the purchase of land, not for building a high school. The board has to hold a separate bond election to fund construction, she said. The potential land purchase and construction of a south high school has been an issue the board has worked on for years to address overcrowding in Southwest Austin high schools, particularly Bowie High School. The board is addressing overcrowding by making changes to the district transfer policy, as well as exploring advanced academic programming for high school students in Southwest Austin, Hinojosa said.