Latest news with #Dobie
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Facing mounting deficit, Austin ISD will cut central office staff, weighs school closures
The Austin school district will be reorganizing its central office, including eliminating and reassigning positions, as part of its ongoing effort to cut its budget deficit from $97 million to $78 million. The district's austerity measures also align with discussions about potentially closing schools within the next year to slash long-term expenses. Officials say these measures are essential to maintain financial stability, after a year of budget cuts aimed at reducing a deficit that had grown to $110 million by January. The central office cuts will involve both staff reductions and reassignments, Superintendent Matias Segura wrote in a public letter Friday. 'We recognize the timing of this announcement puts a strain on our central employees,' Segura said in the letter. 'Please know we did not arrive at this decision lightly.' The district is projecting a budget deficit of $19 million for the 2025-26 school year, but won't reach that target without making significant changes, interim Chief Financial Officer Katrina Montgomery told school board members during a meeting last week. This could put the district's fund balance — or cash on hand — at risk, she said. 'That puts us in the place where we might have to borrow to cover payroll as well as accounts payable,' Montgomery said. District leaders cut $63 million from the 2024-25 budget through spending and hiring freezes and streamlining operations, according to district officials. However, the district's predicted costs have also risen this year. When the Austin school board adopted its 2024-25 budget last summer, it predicted a $78 million deficit. Since then, the district received $14 million less in property tax revenue, overspent by $40 million on special education, and lost $12 million in federal Medicaid reimbursements. The district has pledged approximately $1.7 million each to three North Austin middle schools — Burnet, Dobie, and Webb — next year to improve their state-rated F rankings. As part of long-term efforts to reduce costs, the district expects to close some of its 116 campuses before the 2026-27 school year and has pledged to announce its plans before the end of this year. Earlier this month, district officials announced plans for community conversations over the summer and to develop a framework for identifying schools that may be considered for closure. Officials don't expect to release the list of potential schools up for closure until the fall. The district has grappled with declining enrollment for nearly a decade, resulting in smaller student populations at some schools and a loss of state funding. Texas funds school districts per child in attendance. The district's student population has declined by about 10% since 2019, when it enrolled 79,787 students. Current enrollment, at 72,244 this year, has remained relatively steady since 2022. In discussing possible school closures, the Austin district joins other urban or large suburban districts around the state, like Fort Worth and Spring Branch, seeking ways to temper crippling budget shortfalls. The Austin district is asking families and community members to fill out a survey about possible school closures, or consolidations, by June 6. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: AISD will cut central office staff, weigh school closures amid deficit
Global News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Former Manitoba Bisons coach headlines Football Manitoba Hall of Fame class
Former Manitoba Bisons football head coach Brian Dobie leads this year's list of inductees for the Football Manitoba Hall of Fame. The longtime Bisons coach is one of eight individuals to be enshrined as part of the class of 2025. Dobie retired from the Herd late last year after coaching the team for 29 years. He led the Bisons to the 2007 Vanier Cup as well as three Canada West conference titles. Dobie was named the conference's coach of the year five different times and also coached the Churchill Bulldogs over his 50-year coaching career. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Former Neepawa Tigers coach Murray Black will also be inducted in the coach's category. Two former players were selected for induction. Christine O'Donnell will head into the hall after playing alongside the boys before trailblazing a path with the Winnipeg Fearless and Wolfpack women's teams. Story continues below advertisement Jerome Swarath will also be inducted after playing touch football for over 45 years. He played in every major non-contact league and won eight championships over five decades and later became the commissioner of the PIT Touch & Flag Football League which is the biggest league in Canada. They're joined by four builders in Terry Andryo, Craig Bachynski, Richard Dudek, and Don McPherson. The Winnipeg Assassins Touch Team will also go into the hall of fame after winning 30 league titles over 33 years, while also capturing the 1982 National Intermediate Championship before retiring from outdoor play in 2011. The 11th annual induction ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 25.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Austin schools can't fix Dobie Middle by adding to overcrowded Lamar Middle
On April 17, parents at Lamar Middle School received an email from the district announcing a proposal to close Dobie Middle School (544 students) and send many Dobie students to Lamar, already at 110% capacity with 1,100 students. The Austin school district must take action, as Dobie failed to meet state academic standards for multiple years. Between the Easter weekend and the quickly scheduled meeting this past Monday, parents had little time to think, let alone organize. It's no surprise that accusations flew and tempers flared at that meeting. Personally, I disliked much of the tone and tenor on display. No one likes a NIMBY. The district is navigating a difficult situation. State standards are being enforced in ways that feel more predatory than liberating. But at the heart this is the unavoidable reality that Lamar already has too many students. The district's solution? Portable buildings built between now and August. A few days earlier at a community meeting at Dobie, parents, teachers and students expressed dismay at the district's plans to close their school — plans that would mean their students would spend up to two hours a day on school buses. (Square that with improving student outcomes.) The state has since given the Austin Independent School District until June 30 to decide Dobie's fate. We should use this time to rethink the current plan. According to state law, an entire school district can be taken over by the Texas Education Agency if a school within that district receives five consecutive 'F' ratings. Dobie just got its fourth F. Therefore, Austin ISD reasons, a merger is necessary to stave off a state takeover. But this is a misguided way to frame the debate. The district's reasoning presents the plan not as a public policy but as a political strategy — designed to prevent a state takeover. Whatever one thinks of TEA, state laws exist to keep districts accountable for failing schools. A policy explicitly designed to dodge that accountability doesn't seem to operate within the spirit of the law. Austin ISD has also been noncommittal on the details. At Monday's meeting, for example, families' concerns about teacher-student ratios, access to 504 services for students with disabilities, and the continuation of the fine arts academy were met only with vague answers. The reality is, there is no way to do what is being proposed without taking something from Lamar students. This pits two groups of parents against each other while ignoring the wishes of both. Austin ISD has other options. State law allows the district to hand over Dobie to a charter school operator. Charter schools are not for everyone, but this option could be accompanied by a transfer policy that allows Dobie families to relocate to other schools that have capacity. Ultimately, the better option would be to double down on Dobie — keep it open, invest new resources and work to improve outcomes. This might risk a TEA takeover in the future, but Dobie isn't the only Austin school to have received multiple F-ratings. TEA might come knocking anyway. We need to create a blueprint for turning F-rated schools around in 1-2 years. By pursuing the current plan, Austin ISD risks a scenario that breaks Lamar without fixing Dobie. They are also putting undue pressure on students, parents and teachers at so-called 'failing' schools, who are working tremendously hard in almost impossible circumstances. They are not to blame for the prospect of a state takeover. They are the ones being failed. Austin school leaders are in a bind and do not receive the support they deserve from the state. But the district has better options. Instead of spending millions of dollars on hastily erected portables at Lamar, Austin ISD should invest the money in the Dobie community. Ben Wright is a freelance communication strategist and the parent of a Lamar Middle School student. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin ISD can't fix Dobie Middle School by breaking Lamar | Opinion
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TEA extends deadline for Dobie MS turnaround plan
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Education Agency on Wednesday issued an extended deadline for Dobie Middle School's federal accountability plan. The new deadline will be June 30 instead of the previous April 30 date, according to a letter from Austin Independent School District Superintendent Matias Segura. 'This new deadline gives us more time to consider the feedback we've received fromboth communities and to more deeply explore options for Dobie's future,' Segura said. Segura said the board will share an update regarding the extended deadline at their regular meeting Thursday night. In early April, AISD said it risked a potential 'takeover' by TEA, if Dobie Middle School 'does not significantly improve student success … by the end of next school year,' according to a memo sent to teachers. According to AISD's Dobie Turnaround Plan FAQs, for the 2018-2019 school year, Dobie Middle School received an 'F'. 'School ratings will not be calculated until the end of the 2024-25 school year. While there have been meaningful improvements at Dobie, the results of mid-year student assessments indicate that Dobie will not receive a rating of 'C' or better,' AISD said in the FAQ. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents, staff voice concern over potential for Lamar Middle to take on students facing Dobie closure In the Dobie Turnaround Plan FAQ, AISD outlined three options it must choose from regarding the future of the school: Restart the school for the 2025–26 school year in partnership with a charter school approved by the Texas Education Agency. This would be similar to what has happened at Mendez Middle School with Third Future Schools. The charter school would have the authority to hire all campus staff, including teachers and the principal, and we could not guarantee positions for current staff. Permanently close Dobie at the end of the 2024-25 school year and reassign Dobie students to another Austin ISD middle school for the 2025-26 school year. Temporarily close Dobie at the end of the 2024-25 school year and develop a plan to reimagine the school. Current Dobie students would be reassigned to another Austin ISD middle school for the 2025-26 school year and a new school would open at the Dobie campus at a future date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Parents, staff voice concern over potential for Lamar Middle to take on students facing Dobie closure
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A meeting at Lamar Middle School on Monday evening was packed with parents, students and staff voicing concern over a potential shake-up looming in the near future. Dobie Middle School is at risk of closure as the Austin Independent School District superintendent and Board of Trustees consider options on how to deal with poor student performance at the school, and Lamar Middle School could be directly impacted. AISD leaders said the entire district is at risk of being taken over by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) because of low performance levels at Dobie. AISD Assistant Superintendent Angel Wilson sent a memo to teachers earlier this month notifying them of the possible TEA 'takeover' and options AISD has to avoid a takeover. MORE DETAILS: Northeast Austin middle school may close after school year The Dobie Middle School page on AISD's website outlines the district's options in a list of 'Dobie Turnaround Plan FAQs.' The district must choose one of the following: Restart the school for the 2025–26 school year in partnership with a charter school approved by the Texas Education Agency. This would be similar to what has happened at Mendez Middle School with Third Future Schools. The charter school would have the authority to hire all campus staff, including teachers and the principal, and we could not guarantee positions for current staff. Permanently close Dobie at the end of the 2024-25 school year and reassign Dobie students to another Austin ISD middle school for the 2025-26 school year. Temporarily close Dobie at the end of the 2024-25 school year and develop a plan to reimagine the school. Current Dobie students would be reassigned to another Austin ISD middle school for the 2025-26 school year and a new school would open at the Dobie campus at a future date. The Lamar Middle School Parent Teacher Association said two of those three options could result in hundreds of Dobie students being transferred to Lamar, which parents and staff worry could strain Lamar. Several guardians whose children attend Lamar Middle School emailed KXAN stating they were not informed of the potential change until last week. They said AISD sent an email about the possible transfer on Thursday evening. The district scheduled a meeting at Lamar for Monday evening ahead of the school board's regular meeting this coming Thursday, where Superintendent Matias Segura explained the options and answered questions. 'This is moving too fast. Families were informed with less than a week's notice—over a holiday weekend—about decisions that could fundamentally reshape Lamar and Dobie Middle Schools,' Lamar Middle School PTA President Edward Bradfield said in an email. 'We're not just talking about schedules or budgets. We're talking about trust. About the future of our children.' The AISD board was set to discuss and potentially take action on the Dobie MS Turnaround Plan at its meeting this Thursday, but the meeting agenda online states the public hearing and approval of the plan was rescheduled to Monday, April 28, at 6 p.m. The item is still on this week's meeting agenda, but it is for discussion only. The Turnaround Plan must receive board approval before submission to TEA, which is required by April 30, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
