Austin ISD plans to close Blackshear Elementary School in 2028
AUSTIN, Texas - An East Austin elementary school that has been around for more than a century is set to close.
What they're saying:
The announcement to close Blackshear Elementary School came from Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura. The decision comes as the district continues to deal with a nearly $20 million budget shortfall after proposing consolidations to help address it.
Segura said the change won't happen until January 2028. Then, students from Blackshear will merge with Oak Springs Elementary.
The remaining $50 million in the Oak Springs modernization budget would not be enough to bring the Blackshear site up to modern standards, especially with the costs of historic preservation.
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Segura said moving forward at Oak Springs helps avoid the risk of leaving students in aging facilities.
The district said the modernized campus will include indoor spaces and active outdoor learning areas, but some parents said they're upset with the decision.
"I know that it will affect a lot of other families at the school. And for families who have kids at multiple campuses, like a middle schooler and an elementary schooler, that drop-off process will be totally different. You know, they're next door right now. So siblings can even walk their siblings to elementary school and then walk over to middle school," said Melissa Huebsch, a Blackshear Elementary School parent.
The district said it recognizes the Blackshear site as a cornerstone of East Austin's history. They said they will work to find ways to honor and preserve the historic nature of the site.
They plan to pursue historic designation for the site and explore ways the building can continue serving the community. They also said they will look for ways to incorporate artwork and historic artifacts from Blackshear into the new campus.
Full letter sent to parents
You can read the full letter below:
"Dear Blackshear and Oak Springs communities,
Over the last several months we’ve listened to your stories, thoughtfully reviewed feedback and carefully weighed options for the future of our consolidated Blackshear and Oak Springs community. I have made the decision to continue construction of the modernized school at the Oak Springs site to serve as the permanent home for our combined school community. We anticipate the joined school community will transition to the modernized school facility in January 2028.
Thank you for your patience while we did the groundwork to ensure we were fully prepared for this next step. We are committed to honoring the original vision and hard work of the Oak Springs community while also building the high-quality Fine Arts spaces needed to grow the wonderful program nurtured by Blackshear. By merging these two legacies, we are creating a state-of-the-art home where every student has the room and the resources to thrive.
Our Commitment to the Blackshear Heritage
I recognize that for many, the Blackshear site is more than a building — it is a cornerstone of East Austin’s history. I share this belief and want to assure you that we will find ways to honor and preserve the historic nature of the Blackshear site in the following ways:
Preserving History: We will pursue a historic designation for the Blackshear site as early as this year.
Community Benefit: Within the next year, we will begin repurposing plans to explore how the building can continue to serve and benefit the community in a newly reimagined way.
Honoring the Legacy: We will find creative ways to incorporate treasured aspects of Blackshear into the new building’s design. This could look like moving artwork or historic artifacts alongside those of the Oak Springs community to the new building.
A Vibrant Fine Arts Environment
The new campus is designed to ensure our students and transfer families have everything they need to shine. As part of this process, we had thoughtful conversations with Blackshear families and committed to supporting the campus’ strong fine arts programming at Oak Springs. Using this feedback, we worked with our architects to ensure that the following spaces can be incorporated into the modernized site:
Creative Indoor Spaces: A professional dance/yoga studio with marley floors, a dedicated theatre studio and an orchestra hall with private practice rooms.
Active Outdoor Learning: A performance stage, fenced garden and dedicated zones for sensory play.
Defining Our New Identity Together
We will partner with you to shape the vision of our unified school identity. Our design team will bring families and staff from both campuses together, including members of the Oak Springs Campus Architectural Team (CAT), to choose our school mascot, colors and interior decor. Our goal is to ensure every student feels a deep sense of belonging and pride in our shared future.
Why This Path Forward?
This change is a long-term investment in East Austin. While we explored every path, the remaining $50 million in the Oak Springs modernization budget would not be enough to bring the Blackshear site up to modern standards, especially given the costs of historic preservation. By moving forward at Oak Springs now, we avoid the risk of leaving students in aging facilities indefinitely and ensure we can recruit top-tier educators to learning spaces equipped with the best technology and safety features.
Change is difficult and we’re focused on supporting you through this process. Thank you for your continued cooperation, advocacy and dedication to our students.
Sincerely, Matias Segura, PE, MBA, Superintendent.
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Angela Shen