Austin — Austin ISD’s superintendent told a packed Blackshear Elementary Q&A that he will recommend the board reassign Oak Springs students to Blackshear as part of a turnaround plan intended to break a chain of low accountability ratings and concentrate instructional supports.

The superintendent said the board will be asked to approve boundary changes at a vote “next Thursday, the 20th,” and that the board’s action would codify the reassignment while leaving subsequent implementation details — building reuse, construction timing and whether a combined school would later return to a rebuilt Oak Springs campus — to be worked out by the administration with community input. "The vote on Thursday is to reassign the students," he said, adding that design decisions and possible future moves are administrative implementation steps.

Why the change: Matias (superintendent, speaking at the meeting) told families that recent state accountability releases compressed multiple years of ratings, forcing many schools to enter turnaround processes simultaneously. He said the district analyzed turnaround strategies allowed under Texas rules and concluded combining Oak Springs into Blackshear — paired with added supports such as content interventionists, instructional coaches and possibly an assistant principal — would most directly address accountability, reduce excess seats, and allow bond dollars to follow students into an effective learning environment.

What families asked for: Parents and staff pressed district leaders about several core concerns that could affect student experience and academic outcomes: whether Blackshear is equipped to absorb a larger student population without losing the campus culture; whether the district will guarantee high-quality teachers and sustained instructional rigor; how transportation will be provided for Oak Springs families who live within the two-mile threshold; and what will happen to Blackshear’s historic building if the campus is repurposed.

The superintendent’s responses: Matias said the district has been improving staffing and systems — citing a rise in staffing rates and the adoption of a single curriculum in elementary grades (HMH for K–2 was procured) — and pledged resources to the combined campus. He said the district will allocate additional supports (instructional coaches, content interventionists, and likely an assistant principal), implement transition planning with principals and community members, and provide transportation for the swing as needed even when families fall within the two-mile statutory threshold. He also emphasized that modernization can reduce recurring operating costs and improve safety, HVAC and instructional spaces.

Community concerns on identity and disruption: Multiple speakers emphasized Blackshear’s long community history, partnerships with nearby institutions (including a local HBCU and Carver Library), and the risk that repeated moves could erode place-based relationships and programs. Several parents cautioned that while many families are willing to welcome Oak Springs students, repeated transitions — move-in, then a later move back to a rebuilt facility — could interrupt instruction, after-school care and neighborhood routines. "We want them to become part of our community," one parent said, while another asked the superintendent to ensure the design and program preserve Blackshear’s character.

Process and next steps: The superintendent repeated that the community’s feedback will shape implementation if the board approves the reassignment; he said the Oak Springs bond project is paused and that construction/design decisions would follow community engagement. He committed to facilitating gatherings between the two school communities to plan transitions, to reissuing design and contractor contracts if needed to incorporate community priorities, and to returning to the community with details on staffing and supports.

What’s at stake: The proposal is framed as a compliance and stability measure — a response to state accountability requirements and a districtwide effort to reduce an estimated surplus of empty seats — while aiming to preserve successful campus practices. The board will consider the reassignment at its next scheduled vote; no board action occurred at the Blackshear meeting. The superintendent said the district has budgeted resources for added supports but acknowledged the changes will cause short-term disruption that the administration must manage.

Community reaction and outlook: Supporters said they are committed to welcoming Oak Springs students but urged concrete timelines, staffing guarantees, and protections for Blackshear’s historic identity. Others voiced skepticism, asking whether the consolidation will be truly cost-effective and whether promised supports will be sustained beyond the transition. The superintendent closed by reiterating a willingness to slow or adjust plans if community input indicates alternatives, and by promising follow-up meetings, transportation commitments and a detailed transition plan if the board approves the boundary change.