Austin ISD may select charter schools to operate Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools next school year.

The big picture: This summer, AISD restarted the campuses by hiring new principals and staff to improve academic outcomes for students amid multiple failed state ratings. This fall, the campuses have seen a decline in test scores while enrollment has dropped, according to district data shared at a Dec. 11 board meeting.

The update: Across all three campuses, student test scores declined in reading and math from last school year to the beginning of this school year, according to data from MAP Growth testing administered Sept. 2. The MAP Growth test is intended to project how well students will perform on the upcoming State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, in the spring, said Mary Ann Maxwell, assistant superintendent of academics.

What else? This school year, Burnet lost the greatest number of students at 143 followed by 110 students who left Dobie and a loss of 88 students at Webb.

For over half a decade, Meals on Wheels Central Texas has supported seniors and functionally homebound Texans to remain in their homes for as long as possible.

From meal delivery to home repairs, MOWCTX spearheads various efforts to support the greater Austin area.

“Our mission is to help those who are aging or functionally home-bound age in place,” MOWCTX CEO Henry Van de Putte said. “Because that's the most dignified way to live and it's the most economical way to live and it's the most humanitarian way to live.”

The big picture: Founded in 1972 as a part of Meals on Wheels America, MOWCTX has grown the number and scope of its services over the past 52 years.

The nonprofit offers various meal and nutritional programs, including:

• Home-delivered meals
• Healthy Options Program for the Elderly
  • Grocery delivery
• Groceries to go
  • Volunteer-supported grocery shopping
• Congregate lunch centers

Check out the top trending Community Impact stories Dec. 8-11. 

1. Dozens of Lake Austin properties move to disannex; city to lose nearly $300M value

2. Buffalo Wild Wings closes its doors in Cedar Park

3. New development to bring almost 400 homes to Georgetown

4. Kudos convenience store heads to Adelton in Bastrop

5. Local police coordination concerns arise for EISD following September incidents

6. $210M state library and archives building underway in Pflugerville

City and state officials gathered Dec. 12 to mark Southwest Airlines' planned expansion at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, a day after City Council signed off on a $5.5 million economic incentive deal with the airline.

What's happening: Southwest will add 2,000 local jobs and establish a new crew base at the airport by mid-2027 through the expansion that's also expected to support thousands more related jobs throughout the community. The initiative comes amid ABIA's own facility expansion project, including a second concourse, where Southwest is expected to lease a majority of the new gates to be added.

In addition to Austin's local incentive deal approved Dec. 11, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Texas will be contributing $14 million to the project at ABIA.