AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: The video published above reports that a discussion regarding the additional eight potential school closures would be discussed in January 2020. As of the publishing of this article, AISD said those discussions had not taken place.
Austin ISD informed parents Friday that Brentwood Elementary students would go to school at the Webb Middle School site starting in 2020-21.
KVUE reported in December 2019 that Webb Middle School was one of eight locations in AISD to be discussed in January 2020 to be closed. This came after the district voted to close four schools in November 2019. The four schools voted to close in November 2019 were Sims Elementary, Metz Elementary, Pease Elementary and Brooke Elementary.
In the School Changes 2.0 plan, Webb Middle School students were slotted to go to Dobie Middle School in the event of a closure.
Austin ISD officials told KVUE Friday it had not discussed those additional closure plans in January, as reported. Officials added there were no talks of closing Webb Middle School right now, but said it remains on the list of eight schools to be revisited and discussed in the future.
A letter sent from Austin ISD to Brentwood parents and community members read:
"Dear Brentwood Elementary School Families and Community,
Thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts with us as we have worked to find the best swing space for the Brentwood school family.
We have looked carefully at each of the options, listened to your feedback and considered the cost, as well as the effects on students, staff and the surrounding community at each location. This is not a decision we take lightly.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, district staff shared their findings with you and recommended using space at the Webb Middle School campus to house Brentwood students beginning next year.
Our superintendent, Paul Cruz, has carefully reviewed the possible implications of each move, and has decided that relocating to the Webb Middle School site is best suited to the needs of the Brentwood students and staff.
The campus is only about 2 miles from Brentwood, and the layout of the space will ensure that Brentwood and Webb students have their own sections of the campus to call home.
A Brentwood transition committee will now determine the details of the transition and the specifics about the swing space. We will also work to answer questions about transportation, after-school programs, transfers, enrollment, safety and more.
Thank you for your time and commitment to ensuring the best for your students and for all the students at Brentwood Elementary.
Austin ISD"
Here is the AISD letter sent to the Webb parents:
"Dear Webb Families and Community Members,
We wanted to bring your attention to an important decision that will involve the Webb Middle School campus.
As part of the 2017 Bond Program, Austin ISD has been working through an evaluation process of potential off-site swing space locations to house the nearby Brentwood Elementary School community while their campus is modernized.
Swing space is an interim facility that temporarily houses some or all of a campus during the construction of a modernized school. Because of the size of the Brentwood student population, the limited size of the school site and issues identified during construction planning, in fall 2019 it became clear that it was in the best interest of the campus community to use an off-site swing space.
Based on conversations with Brentwood staff, families and the neighboring community over the past three months, the district identified four potential swing space options: Brentwood Neighborhood Park, Burnet Middle School, Dobie Middle School and Webb Middle School. The district evaluated each option based on cost implications, schedule risks and the impact of each space on Brentwood and the receiving community.
Dr. Cruz has carefully reviewed the possible implications of each move, along with a recommendation from staff in favor of Webb Middle School.
We want to emphasize that this plan will cause minimal disruption to the Webb community, and Webb students will still have access to the field and track. The temporary facilities housing the Brentwood students will be physically separated from the main Webb building as well. The decision was made in coordination with the Webb, Brentwood and AISD leadership teams.
We will now work with the Webb leadership team to schedule a community meeting on the earliest date available. This meeting will provide an opportunity for your community to learn more about this process and to share your initial input and questions with district staff.
Additionally, a transition committee will be formed by the district to work closely with the Webb and Brentwood communities as we plan for and implement this transition. Site prep work for a temporary facility on the Webb campus will begin in the spring, and the Brentwood community is expected to swing over from August 2020 through December 2021, returning to their home campus in January 2022.
As details continue to come together, the district is committed to engaging families and neighbors and doing everything possible to minimize the impact on the Webb and Brentwood communities. We will continue to share information as soon as it is available, and in the meantime we encourage you to share questions and feedback with AISD at future@austinisd.org or 512-414-9595.
Today and every day, thank you for supporting our students and school communities as we create 21st-century learning spaces and reinvent the urban school experience together.
Austin ISD"
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