AISD approves all single-gender schools

AUSTIN (KXAN) - All three single gender schools on the table got the green light from the Austin ISD school board Monday night.

After months of discussion, the Austin Independent School District board approved a plan 5-3 Monday night to turn Pearce and Garcia Middle Schools into two single gender schools. The girls and boys will be split up on both campuses starting with the 2014-2015 school year.

"We have to change the environment the children are in so it can be conducive to teaching and learning," said Trustee Cheryl Bradley who has strongly supported the plan affecting her district.

Trustee Ann Teich, Jayme Mathias and Gina Hinojosa voted down the plan. Trustee Robert Schneider was not present for the meeting.

Hinojosa laid out a new plan to only create an all-boys middle school and high school, but it did not get support from other board members.

Trustees also passed a plan 6-2 to open a School for Young Men to compliment the Ann Richards School.

The campus would likely be housed at the Alternative Learning Center in East Austin, which would need $20 million worth of renovations.