AISD Seeks Land For New High School

Austin independent School District officials Monday revealed plans to seek land in southern portions of Austin for an envisioned high school.

Conversation about trustees’ potential land acquisition largely took place behind closed doors in executive session at their regular meeting.

But board members generally disclosed they are looking at potential sites in the southwest and southeast sections of the city. AISD board President Gina Hinojosa said formal recommendations on land acquisition would be made in the coming months.

“The purchase of this land is an investment in the future of our school district and city, and is based upon projections of growth and future land availability,” Hinojosa said.

The effort stems from a previous bond referendum when voters approved raising money for school land on the South Side. Board members have long discussed the need for another high school in South Austin in light of overcrowding and population growth.

The abundance of district schools no longer taking transfer students this academic year illustrates the state of overcrowding in South Austin. A district spokesman provided a list of schools frozen to transfers for 2016-17 given peak occupancy--six of them in South Austin, including Bowie High School at 4103 W. Slaughter Lane.