El Distrito Escolar Independiente de Austin intenta ganarse la confianza de la comunidad hispanohablante en una conversación destinada a evaluar un pasado que los padres describen como "traumático".

Gus Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy held their annual Tie Ceremony where students learn how to properly wear their school uniform. Staff, seventh- and eighth-graders worked with sixth-graders to ensure students feel successful walking into school each day with a perfectly tied tie.

By Benjamin Beane

The first day of school can be a whirlwind for any high schooler, but this year was especially memorable for Eastside Early College High School junior Marith Diaz Cruz, who learned she was selected as a Young Women in Bio Ambassador.

“They sent a letter to my mom’s email, but I didn’t know and she didn’t know, so when I came here the first school day that’s when I realized because Dr. [Sanford] Jeames was like, ‘Marith, you’ve been selected to represent the state of Texas,’” recalled Diaz Cruz.

The theme struck by community organizers and the Superintendent alike at Monday’s community meeting was reckoning with past mistakes so Austin ISD could move forward. “This is about giving the community the space to tell us how we’ve eroded trust in the past, and how we can earn it back,” Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said. “We want you — our community — to not just hear that this time is going to be different, but rather to actually feel it.”

Sounds of Spanish horns and guitar erupted at the AISD Performing Arts Center Austin ISD's Hispanic Heritage Month Virtual Kick-off Celebration on Monday. "For many of our students, families, and staff, the Spanish language is an important part of Hispanic heritage," said David Kauffman, executive director of multilingual education. "More than 22,000 of our students identify Spanish as the primary language spoken at home, and we want to celebrate their culture."

Students at many campuses will soon enjoy the benefits of outdoor spaces with new picnic tables built by the Austin ISD Service Center. The district is building 375 picnic tables to support outdoor classrooms and lunch areas for students.

Austin ISD is set to approve the lowest tax rate in 20 years at its Sept. 23 meeting of the Board of Trustees.