Run-off Elections Are Today,
​
​Dec 11 - Please Vote!

Run-offs in five major local races will be on the ballot on Dec 11.

Austin ISD has an important runoff election to choose an AISD School Board Trustee to represent the entire district. Every voter who lives in AISD is eligible to cast a ballot.

Run-off contenders for Austin ISD Board of Trustees at large:
Carmen Tilton
Arati Singh

You can learn more about the candidates in the League of Women Voters election guide, on page 47 in English and on page 52 in Spanish. You can also visit the candidates’ websites: https://www.singhforaisd.com and https://www.carmentiltonforaisd.com/.

Other races include:
Austin Community College Trustee Place 8 
Austin City Council District 1
Austin City Council District 3
Austin City Council District 8

For more information, visit Travis County Clerk website:
http://traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/Content.do?code=E.2018.11.12

WHY Should PARENTS & STUDENTS

Join AHS PTSA?

When PTAs & PTSAs join forces to advocate--for anything--things get done!! We wanted to share with you a RECENT & LOCAL SUCCESS... 

For years, AHS PTSA has paid thousands of dollars for discounted bus passes for our students who were in need.  
 
Dozens of Austin PTA members shared their stories with CapMetro, letting officials know how important free rides can be for Austin’s students. ACPTA advocacy chair Sonya Kaleel gathered these stories and shared them with the board.

Many voices were joined with those from Austin ISD and other community groups, and together, we all made a difference.

CapMetro voted to make FREE RIDES for K-12 students permanent! 

It is NEVER too late to join and be a part of our strength for students, teachers & parents!  Please join today:
http://www.austinhsptsa.com/joinsupport-ptsa.html
2018–2019 PTSA GENERAL MEETING SCHEDULE
Please plan on joining us!​​
  1. Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 11:30am-12:00pm, (Consent / Sexual Harrassment 12:00pm)
  2. Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - 11:30-12:00pm (Stress / Distracted Driving 12:00pm)
  3. Friday, May 10, 2019 - 11:00am - 12:00pm (this follows our final Executive Meeting)

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​STAY IN TOUCH

  • You will automatically receive the Maroon Update, the Austin High e-Newsletter, if you have an enrolled student at Austin High and have updated your email preferences in the parent cloud, where you check grades (my.austinisd.org). To receive the newsletter and other Campus Communications, go to the AISD Cloud (my.austinisd.org) and click on the My Student tab toward the bottom right. Once there, click on the My Messages tile. You MUST select CAMPUS MESSAGES for ALL email addresses you wish to receive the Maroon Update. Make sure that you click the SUBMIT button in the top right corner or your changes will be lost.
  • Sign up for Remind notifications from the PTSA. Text @AHSPTSA18P to 81010.
  • Submit news to the Austin High newsletter by Tuesday at noon
  • Volunteer at Austin High
  • PTSA meeting schedules​​
  • For ANY QUESTIONS about Austin High PTSA, please email our PTSA President, Elizabeth Kalbacher. 

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​SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL

FROM THE TEXAS PTA/AUSTIN COUNCIL OF PTAS:


Texas PTA Legislative Priorities Released


What Matters Most to You?

Texas PTA has announced its legislative priorities for the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature. Priorities include:
  • Support for adequate and equitable school funding
  • Support for ensuring that all students are reading and writing on grade level by 3rd grade (including full-day Pre-K funding)
  • Reduced emphasis on standardized testing
  • Support for policies that reduce the school-to-prison pipeline
  • Support for mental health
  • Support for policies that increase children’s health

 What you can do!  We want to know which priorities matter most to you and your school community. That will help ACPTA learn how to best to support you - with opportunities to bring speakers to your PTA, easy ways to share your views with lawmakers, information resources to learn more about issues and a chance to show your support at Texas PTA Rally Day on February 25. Please take this short survey! 
​
Stay tuned for more information from ACPTA on the survey, resources and more! Questions? Please email ACPTA advocacy chair Sonya Kaleel at advocacy@austincouncilpta.org.

BUDGET STABILIZATION TASK FORCE

The Budget Stabilization Task Force extended its meeting timeline, reviewed information on staffing, and spoke further about equity in Austin ISD at its fourth meeting August 15. The group has begun the work to identify strategies to close the budget deficit and review district spending, after the Board of Trustees approved the latest budget with a $29 million dip into reserves. The district is also expected to have budget shortfalls in the future.

Here are three things to know as the task force moves forward.
  1. The task force extended its working timeline until Nov. 7 with bi-monthly meetings to learn more about the district’s budget. Future meetings will delve into various departments including transportation, energy management, academics, and technology. Through these focused meetings, the task force will have opportunities to speak directly with department leadership about spending, possible reductions, and outstanding needs.

  2. Equity has been an ongoing discussion at task force meetings. An exercise on what equity looks like for each member provided an opportunity for group discussion and sharing how equity could be further realized in AISD. Themes that came up included culturally responsive schools, student voice, and ensuring that opportunities and outcomes are not predictable based on neighborhood or zip code. During the staffing presentation by the AISD Human Capital team, the task force learned of one way the district is supporting professional growth in teachers. AISD has more nationally board certified educators than any school district in Texas and AISD has focused on mentoring teachers across the district to ensure highly qualified teachers are available to all students.

  3. Did you know payroll accounts for 86 percent of the district's general fund operating budget? The task force learned that staffing formulas are essential to building budgets for campuses. AISD sets student to teacher ratios for grade levels to best support learning and staffing allocations are based on those formulas. For example, AISD aims to have a 22:1 ratio for kindergarten through fourth-grade classes and a 29:1 ratio for secondary classes. The Task Force agreed further exploration was needed to better understand how changes in staffing guidelines could impact student achievement.

HOW CAN YOU ENGAGE?

T H A N K  Y O U: ACADEMIC  EXCELLENCE  FUND  DONORS

THANK YOU to the following families and businesses for their generous support of excellence in academics at Austin High School.  Your Spring 2018 support is greatly appreciated by the students, staff and community of Loyal Forever Maroons!

Donations are accepted all year!​
Valedictorian Susan Ogden; Summa cum Laude Molly Austin, Realtor, Blackburn Properties Barbara & Bart Knaggs Travis & Sherri West The Yonge Foundation; Magna cum Laude ABC Home & Commercial Services Kevin & Carol Capitani Julie & Coby Chase Beth & Tom Granger The Kuczaj Family The Layne Family Linda & Congressman Michael McCaul Okay to Say™, A Campaign for Mental Health The Stripling Family Summer & Justin Youngblood; Cum Laude Briley's Upholstery Shop Curry-Endresen Family The Elenz Family Freeman Law Firm Covert Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram - Stacy & Bart Gunkel Chris Holland Family The Kolerich Family LeaderOne Home Loans Sarah McHaney Jessica & Steve McMillen The Moehnke Family Kristen & John Nelson Kendall & Charlie Pace Kristie & Anthony Peterman Cookie & Steve Saunders Jane & Ben Shepperd Singh Law, PLLC The Tickle Family; Honor Roll AHS Alumni Association Amy & Trevor Allen Family Sara & David Arthur Jennifer & Burke Banda The Bangle Family Tom & Cherylann Campbell Family Heather & Bobby Chesney Ali & Sam Clare The Cozart Family Ben Crenshaw Family The Ehrlich Family Tracy & Drew Fielder Jennifer Foucher Steve & Lea Ann Fowler Steve & Loren Gigliotti Max & Tina Hambly Hyde Park Bar & Grill Raymond & Elizabeth Jackson Marla & Phil Kiger Dana & Jeff Kocurek The Lessner Family Steven C Levatino, Attorney at Law Carolyn & Don Lewis Sara & John Marler Becky & Jeff Melton Kerri & Greg Morisey Nancy & Tom Nesbitt Holly & Lee Norman Lauri & Chris Perry Alexandra & Paul Saenz Kelly & Michael Stouse Whit & Kim Williams; Exemplary Anonymous Melissa & Rick Abel Elizabeth Adams, Realtor, Urbanspace Mr. & Mrs. Avery Bengtson Greta Gonzales & Kevin Brady Adam & Chanta Costa Monte & Cari Ezell Lea & Paul Holubec Barbara & Tim Klitch Jenna & Randy McEachern Amy & Shaun Moore Catherine & Kyle Parks Maine Root/The Seiler Family Jeannette & Brad Sprague; In Kind Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. La Condesa Dulce Vida Tequila Nothing Bundt Cakes, Austin-Westlake Primizie Snacks

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

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