August 11, 2008 - Trustees Select 'Eastside Memorial High School at the Johnston Campus'

Austin School Trustees tonight selected Eastside Memorial High school at the Johnston Campus as the new name for the Districts newest high school.
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July 16, 2008 - PTSA of Former Johnston High School Encourages Students to attend a Saturday Information Fair to Choose a New School

Members of the Parent, Teachers, Students' Association (PTSA) of the former Johnston High School will be available to the news media at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 17 to encourage Austin students to attend the Saturday Enrollment Fair event at the school.
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June 19, 2008 - What should the Austin School District name its newest high school?

The AISD Board of Trustees invites community members to submit nominations for the name of the new Eastside high school that will open on Monday, August 25, on the campus that was formerly the Johnston High School campus.
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June 18, 2008 - Campus to Be a 'School of Choice' for Students Districtwide
TEA Approves AISD's Repurposing Proposal AISD Set to Open A New Eastside High School in August 2008

Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott today informed Austin School officials that he has approved the District's Repurposing Proposal that will open a new high school for the Eastside, serving Grades 9-12, to be housed at the former Johnston High School campus.

The new school will open on Monday, August 25, as a "school of choice" for students from throughout the Austin School District. In August 2009-2010, AISD will open a second new school at the campus. Both schools will provide rigorous college and career focus, and incorporate an innovative instructional model.

Superintendent Pat Forgione said the Commissioner's decision allows AISD to continue planning for a New Vision with parents, students, and the community to ensure that the new high school for the Eastside will move beyond the limits of a traditional high school.

AISD has been conducting parent/community forums, focus groups, and surveying students and parents to identify students' needs and community values. This intensive community engagement will continue throughout the summer months. For more information, please refer to the "Frequently Asked Questions."

June 9, 2008 - AISD Votes to Keep a High School on the Eastside

Because Johnston did not meet state standards on the TAKS test and completion rates in May 2008, the Commissioner of Education ordered closure of Johnston High School in a letter to AISD dated June 4, 2008. However, the Commissioner has allowed AISD the opportunity to request that the campus be "repurposed" under the rules.

On June 9, the AISD Board of Trustees demonstrated great support for Johnston High School and the East Austin community when they voted (unanimously) to support the submission of a proposal to TEA to repurpose the Johnston campus.

By repurposing Johnston High School, East Austin families and students will continue to be served by a high school in their own neighborhood. We must now wait to see if TEA accepts AISD's proposal.

In order to repurpose a high school, a school district must change the name and the school number. It must also meet certain requirements regarding school staffing and the student population that is served by the school.

The repurposing plan also states that a new instructional program will be put in place at the Johnston campus for the 2008-2009 school year and that a "New Vision" will be implemented for the 2009-2010 school year. The process for creating "A New Vision for Johnston" includes studying several different programs and small school models to determine which programs/models can best serve the needs of Johnston students. Community involvement is critical, so please join this effort to create "A New Vision for Johnston."