Austin ISD Board of Trustees Information Session: October 15, 2026

Austin ISD Board of Trustees information session, October 15, 2026 (reconvened after midnight): The board discussed upcoming property transactions and school-site use. For a future voting meeting, trustees previewed a resolution to declare properties surplus and authorize negotiations for the sale of the former Sunset Valley Elementary and Dawson sites, plus a ground lease for excess land at Bedichek Middle School; no approval of those transactions occurred in this session. Community speakers opposed a potential Dawson sale to Alpha School and asked that the city of Austin acquire former Becker green-classroom and playground property for park use. Staff said a separate RFP for leasing the Becker building was expected later, and a trustee was told the Becker property was not currently on the agenda. A parent also sought an update on paused 2022 bond projects at Gus Garcia; a trustee requested a future briefing.

The board discussed a $491,000 encumbrance for ballistic shields and breaching tools, which the administration said would be funded through grants associated with the state mandate under House Bill 33; the item was discussed but not voted on at this session. Trustees also reviewed the Imagine Learning software contract ahead of a future vote: staff said the contract had been reduced from more than $300,000 to a lower amount and reduced again based on license use, but no exact current value was stated. Budget discussion covered a potential $14.8 million enrollment-related revenue decline and a possible $2 million diesel-cost overrun, with staff planning to improve forecast reporting and present proposed budget cuts. The board voted unanimously to approve local policy FDB on admissions and inter-district transfers, and accepted two student-achievement monitoring reports; neither action constituted a contract award.