South Austin arts option considered

Austin ISD board discusses expanding LASA magnet program

By Kelli Weldon

The topic of increasing student access to Austin ISD's Liberal Arts and Science Academy, or LASA, programming was part of the school district's board of trustees work session Nov. 10.

Trustees discussed implementation of the first phase of the district's facility master plan as well as potential new academic and facilities recommendations. One option the board discussed was expanding the LASA magnet program, based at the Lyndon B. Johnson Early College High School campus.

LASA has received national recognition. Interim Chief Schools Officer Edmund Oropez said much of the demand for LASA is in South Austin.

"The number one customer of LASA right now, and that changes as years go by, is currently Bowie [High School] and Austin High," Oropez said.

Trustee Robert Schneider suggested earlier this year that AISD should have a community conversation about opening a LASA option in South Austin.

"The transportation issues in this city make it so dysfunctional that putting anything even over the north bank of ... Lady Bird Lake is a no-go for a lot of folks in South Austin," he said.