Hundreds of community members urged the Austin Independent School District trustees on April 12 to preserve programs and staff at Adobe/Dobie Middle School as the district prepares a turnaround plan required by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Speakers from Adobe and the Rundberg neighborhood — teachers, students, parents and community partners — described thriving band, theater, mariachi and wraparound services. “At Adobe, we have many thriving fine arts programs... How can we guarantee that wherever you would send our community, they will have equitable opportunities to participate in the same activities?” asked Lainie Gilbert, Dobie Middle School theater director. Tatiana Brown Gomez, an Education Austin member and teacher at Adobe, urged trustees: “I ask that Adobe's plan keep the same career focused ace programs, esports, cosmetology, barber academy, culinary, and medical academy.”

Why it matters: Superintendent Mateus Segura told trustees the district must deliver a TEA-approved turnaround plan on an unusually compressed schedule after the agency’s interpretation of federal accountability timelines left less planning time than in past turnarounds. Segura said the district started community engagement in December and had pursued a supplemental federal grant (“lasso grant”) to fund an agreed middle‑school support package, but snapped timelines and a late TEA clarification accelerated the process.

What the superintendent said: Segura told trustees the district had initially expected more planning time but learned in late February and March that TEA expected implementation by August 2025. “We had 1 less year and that the timeline for implementation of the turnaround plan had to be August of 2025,” Segura said. He told the board he wants to submit a plan that TEA will accept rather than risk rejection and a more severe intervention.

Options under study: Segura described categories of state‑acceptable responses that the district is evaluating for Adobe/Dobie: (1) a charter partnership/restart with a TEA‑approved turnaround partner, (2) permanent closure and boundary adjustments so affected students attend higher‑rated campuses, or (3) a temporary closure and creation of a different campus model (for example, a reimagined program such as K–8 or magnet-style restart) after reassigning students to A/B‑rated campuses while rebuilding. He emphasized each option has different execution risks, requirements for receiving schools’ capacity and implications for students, staff and facilities.

Community process and next steps: The superintendent said the district will continue community engagement and had scheduled a public meeting for Monday, April 14 (district staff will present the options and collect feedback), and a turnaround survey that closed April 15. The board’s next voting meeting is April 24; Segura said the district will present a plan for board consideration then. He said the district would pursue solutions that keep programs and access for students wherever possible and urged community participation in the April meetings.

Public comment in context: Many speakers asked trustees to preserve Dobie’s offerings and leadership, citing gains under current principal Miss Walker and partnerships such as Austin Voices and Communities in Schools. Students described increased engagement and success from fine arts and athletic programs; parents and staff cited stability and teacher retention as factors in student growth.

What the board said: Trustees repeatedly asked clarifying questions about timelines, the legal options the commissioner may impose if a school remains low‑performing on federal/state measures, and the feasibility of each scenario. Trustee Hunter summarized: “Schools get grades...We have possibly three F’s. The state says kids have to be in a high‑rated school. Now we’re between a rock and a hard place.” Several trustees urged a plan that centers students and preserves effective programming where possible.

Forward look: The district will collect community input on April 14 and through the April 15 survey, and return to the board on April 24 with the recommendation(s) it believes TEA will accept. Segura said he will aim to submit a plan TEA will approve on the first try to avoid further escalation that could reduce the district’s control over any resulting changes.