Austin Independent School District Superintendent Matias Segura has announced changes to the timeline for the district’s plan involving program relocations, school consolidations, and boundary adjustments. The revised schedule comes after community feedback and concerns about the integrity of the process.
According to Segura, a vote is still planned for November 20 on relocating schoolwide dual language programs and making certain consolidation and boundary changes required by the Texas Education Agency as part of mandated turnaround plans. However, three elementary schools—Palm, Bryker Woods, and Maplewood—will not be included in this vote. Any campuses affected by boundary changes unrelated to these turnaround plans will also see decisions postponed until next year. The district intends to revisit a comprehensive boundary plan and enrollment balancing effort with a new vote expected in fall 2026.
Segura explained that postponing some parts of the process will give more time for community input: “It is extremely important that when we make generational changes, we take the time to ensure community voice is thoroughly considered and that the process is done with fidelity, transparency, and integrity.”
He addressed recent concerns raised by members of the Austin ISD community about individuals leading the process: “In the past few days, members of our community have brought forward significant concerns about the integrity of specific individuals leading the process of applying community feedback to the updated plan. We take those concerns seriously and will thoroughly investigate the claims raised by members of our Austin ISD community. Our community’s input has been vital to the development and refinement of this plan and will continue to be.”
Segura noted ongoing challenges facing Austin ISD such as declining enrollment, increasing education costs, inadequate state funding, budget shortfalls, and state requirements for academic improvement. He warned that failing to act by fall 2026 could lead to deeper budget cuts or increased state intervention.
“The necessity and urgency surrounding closure, consolidation and boundary changes has not changed. Austin ISD is at a crossroads,” Segura said. “If we fail to take action by Fall 2026, the consequences to our students, teachers, and school community are significant. Failure to act means we could see deeper budget cuts impacting all of our classrooms or the possibility of increasing state interventions.”
The superintendent emphasized his confidence in both the overall plan and in district leadership moving forward together with clarity: “While I have confidence in the overall plan and our path forward, we must ensure that the plan and the leaders implementing it do so with clarity, integrity, and transparency. That’s why we are postponing a portion of the process to ensure our district and our community can move forward together.”
He concluded: “I am confident that we have the commitment and knowledge within our district to create a future for Austin ISD that preserves our values, addresses our budget realities, and ultimately ensures that every student has an excellent, well-resourced neighborhood school.”
