Latest news with #SouthbySouthwestEDU
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At SXSW, AISD superintendent lays out challenges, opportunities Austin schools are facing
Keeping children safe and maintaining resources and opportunities for students are priorities for Austin school district Superintendent Matias Segura, he said during a conversation at South by Southwest EDU last week. An ongoing budget deficit has already forced the district to slash millions in expenses, and the cuts might be different across schools since Austin serves students with varying levels of need, Segura said. 'With the limited resources you have, you're not going to be able to protect everybody equally,' he said. 'Every school community has a different student group they're serving, different levels of privilege, and that means we may have to invest more in certain parts of Austin.' The discussion with SXSW EDU founder Ron Reed comes as the Austin district faces a $110 million budget deficit, navigates an ongoing state-mandated correctional order for special education, and a slate of new orders aiming to reshape the federal government's role in education. Since President Donald Trump again took office Jan. 20, he has spoken about cutting the U.S. Department of Education and has signed an order barring transgender girls and women from participating in women's sports. The Education Department has also unveiled an 'End DEI' portal for students, parents and teachers to submit complaints about diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at schools. Answering an audience question, Segura said he has been intentional about how the district has made decisions in responding to political winds in education. 'There are things that I'm going to be proactive about, which means that they're going to be done immediately,' Segura said. 'There are things that, hell or high water, we're not going to move until there's court injunctions. 'You show love by keeping students safe, and if our educators and if our principals are not in place to ensure that our students feel safe, then none of this matters." Most of Segura's remarks at the SWSX EDU panel focused on his efforts to create more learning opportunities for students, either through programming or by attracting more staff. Much of his interest has been on improving career pathways for students by encouraging business partners in Austin to invest in students' futures from an earlier age, he said. Too often, potential business partners only come to the district when students are ready to graduate from high school, he said, but he's pushing for earlier involvement. 'That process was set, you know, really in middle school, but in many cases of fourth grade,' Segura said. 'I need to see you at the elementary school career fair.' The district has also been aggressive at tackling its own challenges with Austin's affordability crisis by offering staff compensation, but the issue still needs further remedies, he said. A third of the district's staff doesn't live in Austin, Segura said. The district has had two compensation increases in the past two years: a $17 million package in 2024 made possible by a voter-approved tax rate hike and a $64.5 million investment in 2023. By the time students leave the Austin district, Segura wants them to be well-rounded people, in addition to achieving in academics, he said. 'We want great humans,' Segura said. 'I want students to leave Austin ISD and feel comfortable talking to people who don't look like them. I want students to leave Austin ISD and feel comfortable in their own skin.' This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: At SXSW, Austin ISD superintendent talks challenges, opportunities
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At SXSW, AISD superintendent lays out challenges, opportunities Austin schools are facing
Keeping children safe and maintaining resources and opportunities for students are priorities for Austin school district Superintendent Matias Segura, he said during a conversation at South by Southwest EDU last week. An ongoing budget deficit has already forced the district to slash millions in expenses, and the cuts might be different across schools since Austin serves students with varying levels of need, Segura said. 'With the limited resources you have, you're not going to be able to protect everybody equally,' he said. 'Every school community has a different student group they're serving, different levels of privilege, and that means we may have to invest more in certain parts of Austin.' The discussion with SXSW EDU founder Ron Reed comes as the Austin district faces a $110 million budget deficit, navigates an ongoing state-mandated correctional order for special education, and a slate of new orders aiming to reshape the federal government's role in education. Since President Donald Trump again took office Jan. 20, he has spoken about cutting the U.S. Department of Education and has signed an order barring transgender girls and women from participating in women's sports. The Education Department has also unveiled an 'End DEI' portal for students, parents and teachers to submit complaints about diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at schools. Answering an audience question, Segura said he has been intentional about how the district has made decisions in responding to political winds in education. 'There are things that I'm going to be proactive about, which means that they're going to be done immediately,' Segura said. 'There are things that, hell or high water, we're not going to move until there's court injunctions. 'You show love by keeping students safe, and if our educators and if our principals are not in place to ensure that our students feel safe, then none of this matters." Most of Segura's remarks at the SWSX EDU panel focused on his efforts to create more learning opportunities for students, either through programming or by attracting more staff. Much of his interest has been on improving career pathways for students by encouraging business partners in Austin to invest in students' futures from an earlier age, he said. Too often, potential business partners only come to the district when students are ready to graduate from high school, he said, but he's pushing for earlier involvement. 'That process was set, you know, really in middle school, but in many cases of fourth grade,' Segura said. 'I need to see you at the elementary school career fair.' The district has also been aggressive at tackling its own challenges with Austin's affordability crisis by offering staff compensation, but the issue still needs further remedies, he said. A third of the district's staff doesn't live in Austin, Segura said. The district has had two compensation increases in the past two years: a $17 million package in 2024 made possible by a voter-approved tax rate hike and a $64.5 million investment in 2023. By the time students leave the Austin district, Segura wants them to be well-rounded people, in addition to achieving in academics, he said. 'We want great humans,' Segura said. 'I want students to leave Austin ISD and feel comfortable talking to people who don't look like them. I want students to leave Austin ISD and feel comfortable in their own skin.' This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: At SXSW, Austin ISD superintendent talks challenges, opportunities
