AISD signals intention to pursue IDEA

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin school board signaled its intention  to move forward with a partnership with the IDEA charter schools early Tuesday morning, but put off signing the final contract until next Monday night.

The decision was made when board president Mark Williams took an informal poll of board members. This puts the Austin Independent School District one step short of finalizing an agreement with the successful Valley charter school system to take over the Eastside Memorial feeder pattern.

It's unlikely the contract will not be approved. The poll was 6-3 to vote in favor of the concept and moving forward with the contract, with trustees Annette LoVoi, Robert Schneider and Tamala Barksdale the three holdouts. LoVoi, in particular, wanted to compare side-by-side versions of the contracts.

A vote on the plan Monday night followed several months of community meetings and contract negotiations with IDEA Public Schools.

The South Texas charter system worked with the Austin school district to lay out a plan to launch an in-district charter school campus for the 2012-2013 school year at Allan Elementary starting with kindergarten through second grade and sixth grade. The plan would grow to Eastside Memorial High School.

Superintendent Meria Carstarphen believes it is the answer to putting East Austin children on a successful path to college.

During a media briefing prior to Monday night's board meeting, Austin school board President Mark Williams called the public input process “poor," and said the district rushed the charter school proposal.

Critics have voiced their opposition from the beginning arguing the plan was rushed and wonder why AISD cannot change school on their own.

The anti-IDEA group grew as parents took to the streets of East Austin. Monday night Eastside Memorial High School students against the charter school plan organized a march from Eastside Memorial to Allen Elementary. They were bused over to Austin ISD headquarters and continued their protests outside the board room.

"I'm actually appreciative of their level of engagement in many ways I hope it's a catalyst to improvement and not just whether or not IDEA passes or not," said school board president Mark Williams.

The school board approved a plan Monday night to ease overcrowded schools in north central Austin.

Monday night, the school board also voted to reject all bids submitted for the sale of the Carruth Administration Building and the Baker Center.

The board voted to expand the dual language program and to implement a new learning support model for students removed for disciplinary reasons.