Board Special Voting Meeting: July 30, 2026

The Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees held a special voting meeting on July 30, 2026, primarily to discuss and vote on the proposed closure of Paredes Middle School and the reassignment of its students to Mendez and Bailey Middle Schools. The meeting included public testimony from community members, students, and staff expressing concerns about the closure's impact on students and the community. The administration presented data on academic performance, staffing challenges, and turnaround plan implementation difficulties at Paredes, citing insufficient progress and staffing shortages as key reasons for the closure recommendation. The board discussed boundary adjustments, staffing reallocations, transportation provisions, and support plans for affected students and staff. After deliberation, the board approved the Paredes Middle School turnaround plan modification with a 7-2 vote. Additionally, the board addressed a time-sensitive Memorandum of Understanding related to a "Grow Your Own" grant to build internal teacher pipelines and passed a resolution to revise transportation hazardous areas to ensure access for reassigned students. The meeting emphasized the need for transparency, community engagement, and accountability in managing school closures and turnaround efforts.