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Originally Posted by Novacek
I'm not sure I like AISD spending so much on new facilities while enrollment is decreasing, but I'm inclined to vote in favor of it just to stick it to the legislature, if nothing else.
Though I think I'm voting against the county bond. Most of the money is coming from Austin and the other cities, and none of it goes to city residents.
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You're right. It's a little crazy to think that a district that is shrinking overall would need new facilities. It's just that the growth pattern is weird. East Austin is shrinking in terms of kids, but SW, SE, and NE Austin are growing with kids.
Akins is overcrowded, and there are tons of houses/apartments being built in their zone. The new HS, which is not being funded with this bond, will eventually go out there. It'll be needed.
Bowie is overcrowded. Bowie was built to hold 2,400 kids and has been well above that its entire existence. AISD projects Bowie to peak around 3,100 in 2021 or so, then drop back to a steady 3,000. That's bigger than they are currently. Their reports say that Bowie has enough classroom space to make it work, but the common areas are what needs work. The band hall is not nearly big enough. Same with orchestra. The theater is in bad shape. The lunch room is way too small. Same with the athletics wing.
I wouldn't be against combining Reagan and LBJ. They are so close together, and both are under-enrolled. But the communities will be up in arms.