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East Austin parents, advocates demand clarity after Blackshere closure notice; neighbors urge delaying surplus of Becker Elementary
Summary
Community speakers said the proposed midyear move for Blackshere Elementary feels like a closure and asked trustees to reconsider using boundary changes or bond funds to avoid displacing students; neighbors also asked that Becker Elementary not be declared surplus without further dialog.
Several East Austin parents and community leaders used the public-comment period to press trustees on plans affecting neighborhood campuses. Multiple callers said an administrative announcement to move students from Blackshere Elementary to the Oak Springs site amounts to a closure for Blackshere and erodes the school’s identity; some speakers alleged a conflict of interest because district leadership previously advocated for rebuilding Oak Springs and asked for a public board vote rather than administrative action.
Other callers urged the board not to declare Becker Elementary surplus pending more community engagement, warning that selling donated land is permanent and that the district should consider short‑term financing solutions, bond reappropriation, or partnerships to keep neighborhood capacity intact. Speakers cited the district’s need to preserve enrollment and argued that surplusing properties is a short-term plug that undercuts long-term planning.
District staff acknowledged those concerns on the record, said the district would continue outreach and requested follow-up emails so staff could provide clarifying information to trustees and the public. No formal binding decision on closures or surplus designations was taken at the May 7 session.
