AISD board approves four academics, facilities recommendations

The school will transition to an autonomous school model, giving it flexibility in program design, budget allocation, scheduling, professional development and curriculum. The school will focus on service learning, blended learning and dual-language enrichment. No additional appropriations would be needed in the 2013–14 budget to support implementation, according to board documents.

Dual-language program

The board also approved a recommendation to expand its dual-language program in elementary schools and eventually extend dual-language education to middle schools in the district.

Carstarphen said that early in the AAFR process, the administration asked schools to apply to participate in the dual-language program as well as have their PTAs sign off on that.

In 2013–14, the dual-language program would have an estimated budgetary impact of $424,000, according to board documents. Trustee Robert Schneider said he supported moving forward with the dual-language expansion and extension, but its cost will not be easy to afford.

"My chief concern is the budget and how we're going to be paying for this in the future. I wish that there was a real opportunity for us not only to discuss the impact of the AAFRs but [also] the bond, and what we need to do to recruit and retain teachers," he said. "There's a whole lot of issues that are tied up there that have some frightening implications."

If the district cannot identify a new revenue stream for the dual-language program, the implementation of the AAFR will likely be delayed, Carstarphen said.

Fine arts

The board also unanimously approved the implementation of the Any Given Child fine arts program, which has received wide support among members of the Austin community including parents, teachers and local artists.

Implementing the program will cost about $1 million, and the district will have to locate revenue for that as well, Carstarphen said.

In 2011, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts chose Austin for Any Given Child, which establishes long-term arts education plans for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The Kennedy Center conducted a nine-month-long audit of AISD, surveying hundreds of principals, teachers, fine arts specialists and community arts partners. The program's goal is to eventually be implemented districtwide, according to AISD.

"I came from a family that couldn't afford to allow us to have music lessons," Torres said, adding he hopes the new program will provide opportunities for students who are currently in similar situations.

Responsive Education Solutions to continue

The board also voted to continue the Responsive Education Solutions Graduation Pathways program that aims to help high school dropouts and at-risk students at Lanier and Travis high schools.

The schools started ResponsiveEd's programs in August, and the recommendation for the 2013–14 school year proposed extending the contract. ResponsiveEd is a statewide community of tuition-free, public charter schools that helps students complete high school through college preparatory programs.

Not all of the AAFRs that initially were proposed were voted on Dec. 17. Torres noted that the board plans to vote on the school for young men in January rather than postponing the vote indefinitely.

Other board decisions

Parent Mike Corwin spoke during citizens communication about another charter issue discussed at the Dec. 17 meeting, the district's contract with IDEA Public Schools. Corwin said he had a problem with the term "partnership" being used to describe the contract with the organization, which set out in 2011 to establish an in-district charter at Allan Elementary School in East Austin.

"IDEA is very much aggressively trying to expand its brand," he said. "The real tragedy in this is that Travis Heights shows there was another way [besides IDEA]."

The board voted 5-4 to terminate the district's contract with IDEA on Dec. 17.