Austin Mayor Says School Closure Petition Appears to Have Enough Signatures
Austin is a city in Travis County, Texas. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a statement on October 16 that a petition concerning Austin ISD's Webb and Burnet middle schools appears to have collected enough signatures, FOX 7 Austin reported. If confirmed, the petition would trigger the closure of the two schools and prevent the appointment of a board of managers, sometimes called a state takeover of the district.
Watson said the petition process will not be final until the Fall Enrollment Snapshot is captured on October 30. He said Webb and Burnet parents have been put in a painful and difficult position, and that the petition result alone will not fix past failures in accountability and trust, but gives parents and their children a say in the future they want. He expressed confidence in Superintendent Matias Segura and thanked the parents, volunteers and the ACPTA who supported the process.
Watson noted that the Commissioner of Education still has authority to act regarding Austin ISD even with the petition results. Austin ISD also released a statement. Watson said all sides share a single goal: assuring the best opportunities for Austin's children.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：奥斯汀市政厅。图片来源：WhisperToMe，Wikimedia Commons，公共领域。Photo: Austin City Hall, Texas. Image: WhisperToMe, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
