Austin ISD proposes moving Palm Elementary students to Pérez as part of district consolidation plan

Austin Independent School District officials on Thursday described a draft consolidation plan that would move students and programs from Palm Elementary into Pérez Elementary and realign nearby attendance zones as part of a broader effort to balance seats, programs and budget pressures.

Superintendent Matías said the recommendations are "very difficult" and apologized for the disruption they create. "estos son unos cambios muy difíciles, son tristes, y quiero pedir disculpas de que tengamos que estar pasando por esto," he told parents at a community meeting at Palm Elementary.

The district said the plan aims to reduce enrollment imbalances, align specialized programs with the students they serve (including dual-language offerings), and address a projected budget shortfall that the administration said increases the risk of state-level accountability intervention. The administration announced the draft would be revised and published this Friday, discussed at a districtwide consolidation session and before the…