The teachers union, Education Austin, is joining with the NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, to demand major changes to the district, including splitting it in two from east-to-west, hiring an equity officer to decide on how much money should be distributed out, and getting taxpayers to foot the bill for more housing for teachers.
The coalition also wants any school closure plans to be put on hold until all efforts to increase enrollment have been tried. These demands are said to be how this coalition believes poor, non-white students will get the best chance at an equitable education and learning experience end what it calls the practice of segregation.
They’ve also released a manifesto including demands such as higher pay for teachers in East Austin than in West Austin, taxpayer-subsidized housing for teachers, and a complete restructuring of AISD that could lead to a split into two separate districts, one east and one west.
Jim Harrington with the Texas Civil Rights Project said AISD has done nothing for East Austin. The coalition, which includes board member Ted Gordon, is even threatening to walkout at schools to get the attention of AISD leaders.
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