Two things dominated this PFLASA meeting. First, the 25-26 PFLASA Board was elected! Terms start July 1st, but say thank you to all the people stepping us to run PFLASA. The new board:
- Anna Land, President
- Angela Graveline, Vice President
- Diana Hubbard, Treasurer
- Lara Wilcox, Asst. Treasurer
- Elisabeth Belile, Secretary
- Amy Casto, Assistant Secretary
- Sarah Grubert, Grants Committee Co-chair
- Marianne Reat, Grants Committee Vice Chair
As important as electing and celebrating next year’s officers is, most of the meeting (and afterward in our discussion with Principal Crescenzi) was about the changes to magnet transportation. Next year AISD is switching to a hub system. This means a switch away from the LASA bus stop being at your local elementary and to your local middle or high school. Yes, this is unlikely to be a walkable distance from your home. Yes, I realize this is unpopular, but you will be shocked to find out that I am not in charge of this decision. Realistically with the avalanche of budget cuts ahead, AISD has no good choices. (May I suggest you channel your anger and go the lasaptsa.org to find out how to advocate for school funding?). The reality is the hub system is going to happen and now is our opportunity to pro-actively anticipate problems. To that end, PFLASA has created a transportation survey to use the collective power of our knowledge to bring those problems to light. With this information LASA can go to the AISD transportation department and try to get things resolved. I understand this is very upsetting to many if not most of you. I understand this may decrease economic diversity at LASA. I also understand the need to vent. But I have no ability to change or revert the new system. Telling PFLASA these things in our survey isn’t helpful. What is helpful is telling us of known dangerous areas, huge traffic problems, or any other problem you can foresee. PFLASA is putting the survey out through every communication channel we have BUT we have very limited ways to contact incoming parents of rising Raptors. If you know one of those families, please send the survey to them! For information on the new system including how to determine your hub go: https://www.austinisd.org/transportation/bus-hub-faqs
On that grim note, I turn to happier news. The format change to the New Parent Coffee (during the elective fair on Choice Sheet Day) was a success and we plan to switch to that model next year. We still having a master class available AND Geeta Suggs (LASA Parent Alum) will be returning to do an “Intro to Naviance” as a free class!!
And finally, I am asking for help for next year. We need help feeding teachers! PFLASA holds four meal events during the year to support teachers, staff, and administration. Our current hospitality chair is graduating, and we need 4-6 people who want to take these events on. With a committee that size, one person could be in charge or every event could be hosted by a different member—it will be up to the committee. Most importantly, the last meal of the year is coming up soon (the End of School Year Luncheon), which is an amazing opportunity to shadow and learn the ropes before next year. And if you are interested in feeding students, we also need a shadow for AP Breakfast this year to chair it for next year. Want to volunteer, have questions, want to tell me how much the new transportation system sucks? Email me at president@pflasa.org
Next meeting is April 25th at 8:15 in the PFLASA Portable (NOT on Good Friday which is an AISD holiday).
Trying to help but of very limited power,
Ellen Stewart-Klein
PFLASA President
