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Parents, students and coaches plead with Austin ISD trustees to save water polo and Communities In Schools
Summary
Dozens of in-person and recorded public commenters told trustees June 11 that proposed cuts would harm students— mental-health supports, UIL water polo opportunities and library services; many offered to partner on funding and urged trustees to reject the superintendent contract extension until the community is satisfied.
Dozens of speakers used the public-comment period June 11 to press trustees to preserve student-facing programs threatened by budget reductions, especially UIL water polo and Communities In Schools (CIS).
Students from multiple high schools described water polo as a community that creates friendships, gives D-1 scholarship pathways and teaches water safety; parents, coaches and booster leaders offered fundraising and co-funding models and said USA Water Polo and local YMCA partners had pledged support. Several speakers emphasized that water polo represents only about 0.05% of the district budget but has outsized benefits for students.
Separately, many parents, alumni and CIS volunteers described the program as a lifeline providing case management, counseling, emergency assistance (food, utilities, oxygen machines) and summer enrichment. Speakers said CIS staff help families remain connected to school and that cutting CIS would remove supports for students with mental-health needs and other vulnerabilities.
Public commenters also challenged the timing and transparency of layoffs and program lists, expressed alarm about librarian and bilingual/sped stipend cuts, and several called on trustees to reject item 11.1 (Superintendent Segura's contract extension) until community concerns about management, school closures and accountability are addressed.
The board did not respond with votes during public comment, but trustees and administration later acknowledged the themes and said they would continue to engage partners and review alternative cost-sharing models and transportation arrangements for athletics.
