Photo: CBS Austin
Petition Deadline Arrives for Burnet and Webb Families as Austin ISD Faces Possible State Intervention
Parents and volunteers made a last push this week to collect signatures on a petition that could give Austin ISD another path forward, with the deadline to sign arriving today.
On Wednesday afternoon, volunteers set up a table outside Burnet Middle School to talk with families. Crystal Brothwell Hernandez, president of the Austin Council of PTAs, joined parents and educators there to advocate for the effort. She said about 11% of Burnet families had signed so far, compared with roughly 2% at Webb Middle School. Parents with more than one child enrolled at either campus can sign for each child.
Statement from Austin Council of PTAs:
ACPTA has not taken a position for or against the petitions at Burnet and Webb Middle Schools. That decision belongs to the families at each school, and we fully respect their right to determine what they believe is best for their children and school communities.
The PTA memberships at both schools voted to request ACPTA’s support in sharing information about the petition process and the potential impact of a TEA takeover on their schools and the district.
Our role is to help families access accurate information, ask questions, understand their options, and make informed decisions.
Providing that support does not mean ACPTA endorses either option state law provides a school community at this stage in the accountability process. The fact is petitioning for closure is the only way that families have a voice in shaping what school looks like next year for their children, and this is a relevant fact that is difficult to find within state documentation — especially when the required state-authored petition was not available online until Sept 12th.
We recognize how emotional and difficult these decisions are for families, teachers, and school communities. Our commitment remains to support families, respect their voices, and ensure they have the information they need to make their own decisions.
How the district got here
Burnet and Webb each received a fifth consecutive failing rating from the Texas Education Agency, which requires state action. Under that scenario, Education Commissioner Mike Morath could appoint a new superintendent and board of managers for the district, or close the two campuses if a majority of parents petition for it. Preliminary scores put Burnet at 59 and Webb at 58, and the district has appealed both ratings. Austin ISD says the ratings are expected to become final in December.
Mayor Kirk Watson publicly urged Burnet and Webb parents to pursue the petition as a way to avoid a takeover of the entire district.
The district steps back
Superintendent Matias Segura told families the district would not gather signatures or advocate for the petition, saying it wants families to use their voices without district guidance. If enough signatures are validated, Segura said, Austin ISD could submit a comprehensive closure plan describing how Burnet and Webb students would be supported next school year. The district also says it is continuing academic interventions and teacher training at both campuses.
A divided community
The petition has drawn mixed reactions.
Reporting from KUT News found that parents at both schools have largely opposed closing their own campuses. Burnet parent Ken Zarifis told FOX 7 Austin that the state should step in to help rather than take over. Another parent, who asked not to be named, objected to officials like the mayor pushing families to seek closures. Jose Munoz, a Webb teacher and AISD parent, acknowledged the difficult choice families face and said the concerns shouldn’t be ignored.
What’s next
With signature counts reportedly well below a majority as of Wednesday, it remains unclear whether the petition will succeed. The signatures must be submitted to the district for validation before going to the commissioner. Updated totals and the commissioner’s next steps had not been reported at the time of writing.
PODCASTS
(Episode from October 14, 2026)
(Episode from October 14, 2026)
In two candid conversations with former school district leaders, education policy experts and Austin parent advocates, The Texas Tribune examine lessons from districts that have experienced state intervention, the decisions facing Austin ISD and what’s at stake.
Speakers include:
• Erin Baumgartner, director, Houston Education Research Consortium at Rice University
• Toni Templeton, research scientist, University of Houston Education
• Alejandro Delgado, former Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Texas Education Agency
• Dani Hernandez, Houston ISD elected trustee
• Noelita Lugo, Austin ISD parent and former Austin ISD elected trustee.
Sources:
- CBS Austin, “Petition asks state to close AISD schools to prevent district takeover” — https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/petition-would-ask-state-to-close-aisd-schools-to-prevent-district-takeover
- FOX 7 Austin, “Some AISD parents petition to close Burnet, Webb Middle Schools to avoid state takeover” — https://www.fox7austin.com/news/some-aisd-parents-petition-close-burnet-webb-middle-schools-avoid-state-takeover
- FOX 7 Austin, “Austin ISD potential state intervention: Parents weigh petition” — https://www.fox7austin.com/news/austin-isd-potential-state-intervention-parents-weigh-petition
- FOX 7 Austin, “Austin ISD responds to parent petition to close 2 schools” — https://fox7austin.com/news/austin-isd-responds-parent-petition-close-2-schools
- KUT, “Austin ISD appeals two failing school ratings in bid to avoid takeover” — https://www.kut.org/education/2026-09-18/austin-isd-appeals-two-failing-school-ratings-in-bid-to-avoid-takeover
- KUT, “Austin ISD won’t help families gather signatures to avoid state takeover” — https://www.kut.org/education/2026-09-15/austin-tx-aisd-state-takeover-burnet-webb-middle-schools-tea
Since 2024, Austin City Council has issued $566 million in debt without voter approval—mostly to fund real estate acquisition and facility upgrades. This sudden surge via certificates of obligation accounts for over 60% of all such debt issued by the city in the past ten years. According to council members, buying and restoring properties now will yield long-term savings by eliminating expensive office leases and avoiding costly delayed renovations. (Austin Current)
A beloved West Austin golf course long linked to potential development plans could soon be purchased and preserved by the city of Austin.
An accident in East Austin late last night claimed two lives.
Police are searching for a driver who fled the scene after striking and killing a pedestrian early Monday morning in South Austin.
Austin Police officers responded to a report of a collision near 3820 South Congress Avenue around 4:38 a.m. Monday morning, where they located an unidentified male victim off the roadway. Despite life-saving efforts by Austin-Travis County EMS, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Investigators currently have no make or model for the suspect vehicle. APD detectives are urging anyone with information about the driver or the vehicle to contact police immediately. (Austin Police Department)
Austin police say they the department’s SOAR Unit has completed a total of 1,481 compliance checks and issued 110 warrants for offenders who failed to comply with registration requirements. (Austin Police Department)
APD announced Wednesday it has lost one of its own.
A Central Texas man is now on the FBI’s top ten most wanted fraudster list.
ICE activity reported Wednesday on Cameron Road / US 183 / US 290.
Also in Manor.
An independent federal watchdog said Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) lacks the ability to assure its agents are activating body-worn cameras when they are required to do so, according to a report released publicly on Wednesday.
OSHA is investigating a fatal electrocution at a downtown Austin construction site last week, where one worker died and another was injured but did not require hospitalization. (CBS Austin)
Wednesday morning:
Travis County first responders battled an RV fire Wednesday on Pearce Lane.
Homeowners in a northwest Austin neighborhood are worried about a growing homeless encampment nearby and its potential for a wildfire.
Jim Phillips, longtime Austin reporter, editor and mentor, died early Tuesday morning after battling pneumonia and a MRSA infection. He was 74. (Austin American-Statesman)
An Austin Whataburger that was focused on an all-digital experience that allowed customers to place their orders online or through the Whataburger app and pick them up in a drive-thru or food locker, has closed. (Austin Business Journal)
PODCAST
Early voting begins on Monday, Oct. 19. Do you have what you need to cast a ballot? City Cast Austin creative producer Elissa Castles put together a quiz to help you prep.
Plus, ahead of this weekend’s Austin Coffee Festival, Medici Roasting cofounder Michael Vaclav and Sightseer Coffee Roasters cofounder Sara Gibson join host Miles Bloxson to discuss whether we’re the country’s best coffee city.
Last up, we stop by a twisted carnival with Nickie Effenger to learn what it takes to transform Austin bars for Halloween.
The city’s Red Line light rail route is now seeing schedule adjustments to its weekday schedule. The new schedule began Monday.
CapMetro says:
Our trains are at their midlife stage – they’re expected to last about 30 years, and right now they’re a little more than 15 years old. We also currently have multiple trains undergoing work on various systems and receiving mechanical updates due to normal wear and tear and then also instances where we’ve had some folks crash their personal vehicles into our rail cars (please don’t do that!). Translation: the trains are getting older and harder to keep in-service.
With that work ongoing, our rail fleet has often been reduced to only five available trains (out of the 10 we have) for daily service. This challenge has heavily affected our regularly scheduled rail service, as well as our special event service.
Austin is planning five light-rail stations along a corridor of East Riverside, with a long-term vision for more than 32,000 housing units. But with nearly 90% of neighborhood residents renting, questions remain about affordability and displacement.
Residents in the Los Cielos neighborhood of Del Valle are upset because of a closure on Pearce Lane they believe is for no apparent reason.
New projections from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) offer an early forecast for the Highland Lakes heading into January 2027. According to LCRA modeling, water levels at Lake Travis are projected to reach between 669 and 675 feet, while Lake Buchanan is expected to hold between 1,016 and 1,019 feet.
WEATHER
By tomorrow morning, the weather in Central Texas will be very different.
More on the weekend forecast below.
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
WEDNESDAY’S PRECIPITATION
The Austin-metro area saw scattered showers and thunderstorms late Wednesday afternoon, but not everybody got lucky.
CAMP MABRY
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
In a crucial late-campaign spotlight, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rep. James Talarico took the stage solo at a live CNN town hall, using the platform to address undecided voters, confront recent health rumors, and sharpen his closing arguments—all while his Republican opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, declined to participate.
How the Town Hall Went
Moderated by Erin Burnett in Fort Worth, the town hall offered Talarico an uninterrupted opportunity to pitch his platform to a mixed audience of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.Returning to the trail after a weeklong absence due to an illness, Talarico pushed back directly against online rumors and conspiracy theories surrounding his health, calling them part of an outrage-driven “rage economy”.
Throughout the broadcast, Talarico focused heavily on kitchen-table economic issues, pointing to his legislative record on lowering prescription drug costs and advocating for campaign finance reform. Pushed on his past rhetoric regarding capitalism, he reaffirmed his position as a capitalist while calling for reforms to a system that he argued taxes labor more heavily than wealth. Frame after frame, Talarico sought to position himself as a pragmatic reformer aiming to unite working-class Texans across political lines.
Paxton’s Absence and Counter-Strategy
Ken Paxton was invited to participate in the town hall but declined, opting instead to bypass the national broadcast network and focus on grassroots events. Ahead of the broadcast, Paxton launched a 30-day campaign tour across Texas, aiming to rally conservative voters directly.
While Paxton skipped the stage, his campaign and Republican allies countered the broadcast online and through surrogate messaging. They dismissed Talarico’s moderate appeal as at odds with his voting record, while Paxton’s team continued to question Talarico’s fitness for office and past progressive statements.
Talarico capitalized on Paxton’s absence during his closing remarks, pitching the race as a choice between public service and corruption, telling the audience, “This election is not about left versus right. It’s about whether we will have a senator who puts money in your pocket, or a senator who puts money in their own.”
ActiVote poll | 9/30-10/14 LV
Texas statewide races 2026
US Senate
🟦James Talarico 51.9%
🟥Ken Paxton 48.1%
——
Texas Governor
🟥Greg Abbott 50.9% (incumbent)
🟦Gina Hinojosa 49.1% https://t.co/kJ5NgtN0tY— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) October 15, 2026
TODAY’S PODCASTS
With Republicans trailing in the polls, the party is making hard choices about where to spend its money — abandoning some races while pouring resources into others.
Shane Goldmacher, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Lisa Lerer, political correspondents for The New York Times, explain why President Trump is campaigning almost daily in deep-red territory, how his influence is shaping the strategy and whether Democrats can win over the disenchanted voters they may need to take back the House and the Senate.
(Episode from October 14, 2026)
President Donald Trump is campaigning across traditionally Republican states as his party tries to turn out voters in an increasingly competitive midterm map.
Ukraine says U.S.-supplied Starshield satellite communications have suddenly been restricted, disrupting the drones it uses to attack Russia and defend against Russian strikes.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck the headquarters of Saudi oil giant Aramco and are threatening more attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities as the conflict escalates.
National Republicans are pulling money out of Texas’ 28th Congressional District, a tacit acknowledgment of the difficulties they face in defeating Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar this fall — even after the GOP redrew the seat specifically to oust him. (Texas Tribune)
A Monday morning domestic dispute escalated into a high-speed police pursuit along Interstate 10 in New Braunfels, leaving a suspect in custody after deputies were fired upon during the chase. The resulting multi-county pursuit ended miles down I-10 with a crashed vehicle and no reported injuries to officers.
The final weekend of the State Fair of Texas is upon us.
SPORTS
NHL: Roope Hintz scored in the fourth round of the shootout and the Dallas Stars beat Colorado 3-2 on Wednesday night in a game where the Avalanche had two early goals disallowed. (Associated Press via MSN)
ON THE SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
NBA: SAN ANTONIO / DALLAS — Texas teams split their Wednesday night NBA preseason tilts, as the San Antonio Spurs cruised to a double-digit victory at home while the Dallas Mavericks fell short down the stretch at the American Airlines Center.
At the Frost Bank Center, Victor Wembanyama paced San Antonio with a team-high 19 points and 4 blocks in 23 minutes, leading the Spurs to a 123–103 rout of the Phoenix Suns. Stephon Castle added 18 points, helping San Antonio pull away with a big second quarter and push their lead to as much as 25 points.
Up I-35 in Dallas, a shorthand Mavericks squad dropped a 101–97 decision to the New Orleans Pelicans. Resting several key rotation pieces, Dallas struggled from deep (shooting 20.4% from three) and couldn’t overcome 25 turnovers. John Poulakidas and Tobi Lawal led Dallas with 16 points apiece off the bench as the Mavs attempted a late fourth-quarter rally that ultimately fell short.
Both teams wrap up their 2026 preseason slate at home on Friday.
- Dallas Mavericks: Host the Atlanta Hawks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX (7:00 PM CDT).
- San Antonio Spurs: Host the Sacramento Kings at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX (7:00 PM CDT).
The Houston Rockets return to home court at the Toyota Center tonight to close out their 2026 preseason slate against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Florida Gators’ offense sputters as quarterback uncertainty clouds showdown with Texas Longhorns. Can Jadan Baugh and the Gators respond, or will Arch Manning seize a much-needed “get-right” opportunity against the SEC’s weakest pass defense?
Watch Austin, Texas transform through this 3D city timelapse, from its early days to the modern skyline. History and Architecture. City Evolution.
