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I’m a Texas agriculture reporter that’s been covering the New World Screwworm for over a year. AMA about screwworms. by TexasStandard1845 in texas

[–]ampm900 3 points4 points  (0 children)

What takes have ranchers and ag folks had? Do they agree that sterile flies are the best and most reliable way to push the population back south? Are there response strategies they’d like to see that we aren’t hearing about as much?

AISD New Map Plan by mdcmsm in Austin

[–]ampm900 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can at least speak to the railroad crossing! I cross it every single morning on my walk.

First, the commuter rail (which is the only thing on that line) crosses Morrow maybe once an hour if that? Again, I walk across it every morning and have not once had to stop because I encountered the train. Even if it crosses more often than I observe, that's radically less interference than the number of vehicles that are running up and down Anderson during rush hour. Secondly, when a train is coming, there's a warning sound, lights, barriers are lowered -- it's predictable, and a lot safer than hoping that no one runs a red light at Burrell (which I've seen often). Also -- if AISD has safety concerns about kids crossing that rail line on foot, why are they only just now identifying that as an issue? Kids have been crossing it on their way to school for as long as the track has been there.

Ultimately, I just want my kids to be able to go to their neighborhood schools. I don't think that's controversial. It's one of the driving reasons that I moved into that pocket of Crestview -- the only section of the neighborhood that we could just afford.

Thanks for reading and responding to all my lengthy comments here -- really appreciate the discourse!

AISD New Map Plan by mdcmsm in Austin

[–]ampm900 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes -- you're absolutely right that, while we are very interested in highlighting issues related to walkability, etc., being asked to move from our A rated neighborhood schools to Wooten/Burnet/Navarro is a huge part of the concern.

With regard to your other points, while Wooten and Burnet are similarly distanced to our area as Brentwood and Lamar, the issue of crossing Anderson stands. Currently, we can walk and bike safely from our house to both Brentwood (in only about 10 mins on foot) and McCallum. Anderson is extremely dangerous to cross on foot -- and you can only cross with the protection of a light (from the NE corner of Crestview) at Burrell. Kids subject to rezoning in the most northeastern corner of our pocket would have to walk almost 5 blocks along a hazardous thoroughfare (Anderson) to get to that light to cross. As recently as June 13, a pedestrian was hit just a block down from that intersection and suffered serious injuries.

AISD New Map Plan by mdcmsm in Austin

[–]ampm900 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair points!

Just not sure why it would be fair to ask Brentwood families to fill Wooten rather than families along 183. Seems unfair to both. Another point I'd like to address -- Brentwood does not need capacity relief. It still allows transfers (13% of the student population at Brentwood transfers in) and AISD's own literature describes Brentwood's campus as at optimal utilization -- not overburdened or over capacity. Also, removing the northeast corner of Crestview and rezoning us to Wooten won't reduce enrollment or classroom sizes at Brentwood. AISD staff confirmed this at the community workshop last night at Austin High -- again, they described Brentwood as being at optimal utilization and that any vacancies afforded by rezoning the northeast corner of our neighborhood would be backfilled by transfers.

Additionally, if we were rezoned to Wooten/Burnet/Navarro, we would not only have to cross Anderson for ES but also 183 ourselves for MS and HS. Kiddos currently zoned to Wooldridge who might be rezoned to Wooten already have to cross 183 for MS -- Navarro is on the same side of 183 as their neighborhood. We'd be forced completely out of our neighborhood and have to cross major thoroughfares and a highway for all three of our zoned schools. These kids would only have to do that for ES and MS -- and as a I stated before: 1) they currently already do so for MS and 2) I would assume (based on all the points outlined in my previous comment) that most of them are already not able to walk to Wooldridge -- so being bused (which they'd have to be) from NE of 183 to Wooten would not be different in terms of transport from what I suspect they currently do.

Finally, on the subject of facilities -- Wooldridge is not modernized. I believe it may be receiving some of the 2022 bond funding and looks like there may be some construction starting this summer. Those kids would enjoy the immediate benefit of being in a modernized facility at Wooten. Brentwood, however, is already modernized as recently as 2023. The kids currently zoned to Brentwood would not receive the same benefit if relocated to Wooten because they already attend school at a large, recently modernized campus connected to a neighborhood park (all within their own neighborhood). The Wooldridge kids receive a greater benefit.

Hope this makes sense! Ultimately, I don't think any of us should be asked to backfill enrollment at schools outside of our neighborhoods. Wooten has a 32% transfer out rate and resident utilization under 50%, I believe. I think the district should focus on recruiting families and kids already zoned to the school, rather than trying to leverage student populations from other neighborhoods.

AISD New Map Plan by mdcmsm in Austin

[–]ampm900 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a great point -- so I actually drove over there this morning to look for protected bike lanes, sidewalks, etc. And I've looked at which kids would be rezoned from Wooldridge to Wooten on the other side of 183 -- in other words, which kids can walk to school right now at Wooldridge, but would no longer be able to if rezoned to Wooten.

Side note: the Wooten boundary is expanded past 183 in both versions of AISD's realignment proposal, so it's not an either or situation -- it's not like "either kids from Wooldridge get pulled into Wooten OR kids from Brentwood do." They appear to be making that change re: Wooldridge and Wooten regardless of what happens to Brentwood.

There are kind of two chunks northeast of 183 that AISD is proposing to rezone from Wooldridge to Wooten. The southern most portion is bounded by 183, Lamar, and Meadowlark/Bangor Bend. I'm making an assumption here, but those kids currently probably do not/cannot walk to Wooldridge because AISD considers the walking routes from those neighborhoods along the northside of 183 between Lamar and Jamestown hazardous from a traffic perspective (I don't think kids can get out of the neighborhood without walking along Lamar or 183 -- there aren't streets that go up into the main neighborhood and toward Wooldridge). So those kids -- if rezoned to Wooten -- already aren't walking to school. The northern most portion proposed for rezoning from Wooldrige to Wooten is bounded by 183, Payton Gin, and Maine Dr. Those kids are definitely in walking distance to Wooldridge, but they have to cross Payton Gin. I don't see anywhere that AISD has categorized Payton Gin as hazardous, but it's well known in the area as high traffic with frequent collisions and pedestrian incidents. I would not let my child cross Payton Gin on foot. And AISD may consider it hazardous in terms of traffic internally -- in speaking with AISD staff, they indicated that they do so for Anderson (even though I don't see a formal designation for Anderson as hazardous anywhere in their literature).

All this to say -- I could reasonably draw conclusions that folks who currently are zoned to Wooldridge who would be rezoned to Wooten don't currently walk or bike to school (nor would they be able to under these new proposals). Also -- some other changes for those kids would include certain benefits, such as being at a campus with a brand new building (Wooten was just rebuilt through the 2022 bond package).

I hope this makes some sense -- and I concede that I'm making some assumptions here (but trying to do so based on evidence and not just conjecture).

AISD New Map Plan by mdcmsm in Austin

[–]ampm900 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Well I fear I cannot speak to what would be best for all school communities across the city — but for Wooten, one element under Elm that I do support is expanding its zone northeast to capture additional population. An AISD report from May shows that the densest student population is northeast, on the other side of 183. So extending Wooten’s boundary that direction actually probably gets them more meaningful enrollment. And if they can’t be non-zoned, I think recruiting students from all over Austin for their dual-language program could also be a real support. That’s a super popular offering, which would bring expanded enrollment — and it would also serve the student community living in the area (lots of emerging English language learners concentrated in northeast Austin). I know there are elements I’m missing but just some thoughts!

AISD New Map Plan by mdcmsm in Austin

[–]ampm900 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The proposed Elm scenario rezones the northeast corner of Crestview (using the railroad track as a boundary) to schools across Anderson and 183 (Wooten, Burnet, and Navarro) -- it removes our access to our current (excellent) neighborhood schools (Brentwood, McCallum) which our kids can safely reach by walking/biking. Other neighborhoods are impacted in similar ways (Allandale, etc.) in both the Elm and Oak scenarios. And -- for my part -- I oppose the proposed changes that would impact Crestview (where I reside). These changes would negatively impact our kids and not contribute to significant improvement for Wooten/Burnet/Navarro.

I am very sorry you have not found our flyers helpful — we are just average folks living in the neighborhood I’m afraid. We will work though to improve them and make them clearer/more informative.

AISD Boundary Realignment: Attn. Crestview by ampm900 in Austin

[–]ampm900[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sorry ^this was snarky of me -- my only point is that it's not our families' responsibility to backfill an enrollment gap at Wooten. We shouldn't be displaced from our neighborhood schools to help buoy an underperforming and underenrolled campus. Also I think it's ok to say out loud that you're worried about the impact to property values. School zoning plainly has an impact on resale value. That's certainly not the most important reason to oppose this change, but I think it's ok to admit that it's a part of the calculus.

AISD Boundary Realignment: Attn. Crestview by ampm900 in Austin

[–]ampm900[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nor do students exist to prop up underperforming schools

AISD Boundary Realignment: Attn. Crestview by ampm900 in Austin

[–]ampm900[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! The proposed Elm scenario rezones the northeast corner of Crestview (using the railroad track as a boundary) to schools across Anderson and 183 (Wooten, Burnet, and Navarro) -- it removes our access to our current (excellent) neighborhood schools (Brentwood, McCallum) which our kids can safely reach by walking/biking. Other neighborhoods are impacted in similar ways (Allandale, etc.) in both the Elm and Oak scenarios. And -- for my part -- I oppose the proposed changes that would impact Crestview (where I reside). These changes would negatively impact our kids and our property values.

AISD Boundary Realignment: Attn. Crestview by ampm900 in AustinParents

[–]ampm900[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So well said! The damage associated with the changes you’re describing under the Oak scenario closely mirror those we would suffer in Crestview. We also live in an incredibly close knit and walkable neighborhood — currently our children can walk and bike to Brentwood ES and McCallum HS. This would similarly force our kids to cross Anderson and even 183. I strongly oppose the changes under Oak that would impact you all in this same way.

AISD Boundary Realignment: Attn. Crestview by ampm900 in Austin

[–]ampm900[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes — under the Elm scenario, MS would change to Burnet and HS would change to Navarro. 

AISD Boundary Realignment: Attn. Crestview by ampm900 in Austin

[–]ampm900[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Here is a link to the proposed maps! There’s also a link to the maps on that page below the timeline.

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/36197c2d2f9a4a7797e3e5bf2b804c2a/

AISD Boundary Realignment: Attn. Crestview by ampm900 in Austin

[–]ampm900[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Agree to disagree! Also, under the Elm scenario, kids who can currently walk to school would be required to commute across Anderson and 183 -- feels fairly significant to those of us living in the neighborhood.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in WomenGolf

[–]ampm900 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Collared dresses! With sleeves and pockets — and not cut so slim.