Blackshear cannot be separated from its location. Moving the school off its historic campus: severs long-standing community partnerships and permanently removes a site rich in cultural, educational, and historical significance.

Calling this a “campus move” does not change the reality that this is a closure of Blackshear.

The Board of Trustees voted to close Oak Springs, not Blackshear.

Characterizing the decision as a “campus move” is untrue when the decision put forth that a new school identity will be created in 2028.

Despite repeated references to the importance of process and community engagement, this decision was made without a formal vote by the AISD Board of Trustees.

School closures are among the most consequential actions a district can take. Families deserve to see their elected representatives go on record and be accountable to the community they serve.

The Board of Trustees formally voted to close Oak Springs. The Board of Trustees also formally voted for Oak Springs to “restart” and the vote did not pass.

The 2026–2027 school year already represents a major transition for students and families. This will be the first year Oak Springs students attend school on the Blackshear campus, requiring new routines, relationships, and expectations for children and caregivers alike.

The current proposal would require a second campus move the very next year, in January 2028. Mid-school year. Families who have just established stability would be asked to uproot again—while students and educators are simultaneously expected to implement a demanding Turnaround Plan.

Research and lived experience both tell us that stability matters, especially for young learners. Asking students to endure repeated disruptions during a critical period of academic intervention puts their success at risk and undermines the very goals the district says it is trying to achieve.

Blackshear has worked hard—alongside its principal, teachers, and families—to become and remain a passing school. Blackshear’s success is not accidental. It is supported by:

• Proximity to higher education institutions like Huston-Tillotson University and the University of Texas

• Proximity to third places like the Carver Library

• Proximity to Kealing Middle School

These relationships are place-based. They cannot simply be moved.

The decision to move to a building on the Oak Springs campus is a decision to move to a school that cannot fit the current combined student body like the current Blackshear building can.

The building was also not designed to support the needs of Blackshear’s Fine Arts programs. This limits access to transfer students and limits the availability of fine arts programs for Austin elementary students.