The Pride is Back at Eastside Memorial

October 7, 2009 - Grand Opening Celebration for Eastside Memorial Green Tech and Global Tech Schools on October 13th

State Senator Kirk Watson and Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen will be among the special guests to attend the official ribbon cutting for the new Green Tech and Global Tech schools at Eastside Memorial High School, at the Johnston Campus. The ribbon cutting will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, in the gymnasium of the school, located at 1012 Arthur Stiles Road.
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May 9, 2009 - Eastside Memorial Green Tech and Eastside Memorial Global Tech Host Open House

Eastside Memorial Green Tech principal, Connor Grady and Eastside Memorial Global Tech principal, Moises Ortiz hosted an open house to host parents and students interested in attending Eastside Green Tech or Eastside Global Tech. AISD Parents and students received information on the laptops students will be issued at the two new schools. Students and parents also were given the opportunity to meet the New Tech teachers and see samples of student projects. To view photos of the open house, click here. For more information call (512) 414-2319 or visit www.austinisd.org/eastsidenewtech.

March 30, 2009 - AISD Board of Trustees Select Names for the Eastside Memorial New Tech Schools

Eastside Memorial Green Tech High School
The Green Tech school will implement the New Tech program with a T-STEM (Texas Science Technology Engineering & Math) curriculum and an emphasis on the environment, energy issues, conservation and emerging "green" industries.

Eastside Memorial Global Tech High School
The Global Tech school will implement the New Tech program with a Global Studies emphasis in partnership with the Asia Society.

February 16, 2009 - Community Invited to Submit Names for New Tech Schools at Eastside Memorial
After extensive community input to name the new Eastside Memorial High School at the Johnston Campus in 2008, community members now have the opportunity to name the two New Tech schools that will begin at the Eastside Memorial campus in August 2009.
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November 24, 2008 - Principal Selections for New Tech High
Trustees approved Superintendent Pat Forgione's recommendation of the following appointments...
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October 13, 2008 - Board of Trustees adopts New Tech and Global Studies Models
Trustees approved New Tech High as the instructional model at the two new high schools to be introduced at Eastside Memorial High School in the Johnston Campus in August 2009.
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September 30, 2008 - Eastside Parents and Community to Discuss New Tech Highs Proposal
The Austin School District's Office of Redesign will host a Parent and Community meeting at Eastside Memorial High School to discuss the recommendation that two New Tech Highs be created on the campus.
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September 22, 2008 - Creating 21st Century Education For the Students Of Eastside Memorial High School At the Johnston Campus
With the closure of Johnston High School in June 2008, and the approval of the Texas Education Agency to "repurpose" the campus facility and open two new schools.
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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."