Austin parents try to stave off school consolidation

• But the district says the closures will lead to roughly $20 million in savings — enough to cover its current budget shortfall — amid declines in school enrollment.

Case in point: Maplewood Elementary is a beloved gem in the Cherrywood neighborhood that won in "A" this year in the state's accountability ratings.

• Built in 1951, the school has more than 400 kids enrolled but is on the closure list.

What they found: The school is over-enrolled and facility fixes are too expensive, per the school district's evaluation.

Yes, but: In keeping with state mandates, Maplewood recently upgraded its security fencing and its costs per student are less than two-thirds of the other elementary schools, per an Axios analysis of school district data.

• Under the district plan, Maplewood will merge with Campbell Elementary, which got a "D" rating this year.

What they're saying: Greg Foley and Shannon Davenport, who have two kids at Maplewood Elementary — and a third about to enter — say they specifically moved to the area so their kids could attend the school.

• "It was shocking," Foley, a creative director and children's book illustrator, tells Axios. "When you buy a house, you look at schools and ratings."
• "I personally haven't slept for a week," says Davenport, who runs a small bath and body care company. The couple has been submitting comments with Austin ISD board members to plead their school's case — as well as asking other elected officials to get involved.

The parent-led group See Us, Hear Us ATX argues the closures will disproportionately hurt economically disadvantaged students such as those from the F-rated Oak Springs Elementary in East Austin.

State of play: Parents are figuring out ways to fight back at schools across the district.

• At Bryker Woods, near West 38th Street, parents who are data scientists have delivered a report to the board arguing that it doesn't make financial sense to shut the school down, Teal Pennebaker, a parent at the school, tells Axios.
• Other Bryker Woods parents who are lawyers are looking for legal avenues to prevent the closure, she says.
• At Becker Elementary in South Austin, parents and students have rallied to keep open their school with morning pickets.

The other side: Defenders of the plan say it's been carried out thoughtfully and will save the district from a state takeover.

• "We have to have some hard conversations and work for the betterment of the district, and not just a single school or neighborhood," Austin attorney Cynthia Soliz wrote on Facebook.

AISD didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but superintendent Matias Segura said in an email announcing the plan earlier this month that all district families "deserve to have excellent, well-resourced neighborhood schools."

• "While this is true for some, we have fallen short in serving some of our most historically underserved students. To achieve this vision, we must work together to transform as a community, ensuring our resources allow all students to learn in a vibrant, well-resourced school," Segura wrote.

Between the lines: The closures could accelerate the downward enrollment trend in Austin public schools.

• The district could "lose significant students to charter or private schools, and all the money they're hoping to save will be wiped out," Pennebaker, the Bryker Woods parent, says.
• Meanwhile, a new state law gives families state money for private school tuition.

What's next: On Wednesday, Segura is visiting Maplewood and meeting with parents — part of his tour of schools on the consolidation list — and the Maplewood community is hosting a rally at the Cherrywood Coffeehouse as part of its effort to keep the school open.

• The AISD board is scheduled to make final decisions about school closures on Nov. 20.