Austin ISD soon to decide on campus consolidations
By the fall of 2026, AISD officials plan to merge some campuses, and revise attendance boundaries and its transfer policy. These actions come as the district looks to cut costs amid a $19.7 million shortfall and declining enrollment.
The details: The district is aiming to reduce its student capacity by thousands of vacant seats as AISD’s enrollment has declined by more than 12,000 students over the last 10 years, according to the Texas Education Agency.
In August, the district ranked all 116 of its campuses for potential consolidation using a data rubric that assessed campus utilization, facility condition, educational suitability and cost per student.
AISD officials have said the district’s current resources are spread too thin and that consolidating campuses will allow the district to have fewer, better-resourced schools. Some teachers and parents said they are concerned about the impact on employees and families, and the socioeconomic inequities between campuses.
Latin-Asian food truck Mostacho Arroz Chino opens in far Northwest Austin
Latin-Asian fusion food truck Mostacho Arroz Chino opened at Pink Flamingo Food Court in June.
The details: The food truck specializes in Venezuelan-style Chinese fried rice made with fillings such as shrimp, chicken or pork, plus soy sauce, green onions and bean sprouts.
Also on the menu are savory spring rolls made with Venezuelan cheese, cabbage and ham, or a sweet filling, as well as packaged Venezuelan candy bars such as Cocosette, Cri Cri and Samba.
Travis County directs $34M in taxpayer funds for affordable child care
Less than a year after voters approved a countywide tax rate increase to expand affordable child care, Travis County officials have launched the first wave of investments under the Creating Access for Resilient Families, or CARES, initiative. Commissioners approved a $24 million contract with Workforce Solutions Capital Area, which will use existing programs to provide care for 1,000 children ages 0-3, and three interlocal agreements totaling $9.7 million with Austin ISD, Del Valle ISD and Manor ISD to expand pre-K and after-school programs.
The details: Austin ISD will extend Apple Blossom Centers’ half-day and after-school programs to 306 children; Del Valle ISD will serve 200 pre-K4 students; and Manor ISD will provide care for 1,593 children.
The initiatives are part of a broader plan to create nearly 9,800 child care opportunities countywide, including expanded nontraditional-hour programs and increased subsidy slots. County officials said more contracts are in the works, with an additional 1,700 slots expected in the coming months.
Connxus joins national network coordinating health care for Central Texans across state lines
Central Texas residents may now have a more streamlined experience when receiving health care outside of the state.
Connxus, a Central Texas health care nonprofit, joined a national network of health information exchanges known as the Patient Centered Data Home in June. The platform helps Central Texas patients receive care and exchange their health information with medical providers across the country.
How it works: If a Central Texas resident requires medical attention when they are in another state, Connxus can collaborate with other health information exchanges to alert their home provider. The network can then share a patient's medical records with an out-of-state provider and ensure the patient receives follow-up care back home.
What they're saying:“We are able to better care for the Central Texas residents, because we know what is taking place in their medical history across the state lines,” Connxus CEO Eliel Oliveira said.
