Building the Local Government/ School Partnership

Laura MorrisonCity Council Member

Austin, Texas

A City of Prosperity & Vibrancy…

◦ Best City for the Next Decade◦ Best City for Small

Businesses ◦ Best for Jobs and Economic

Growth ◦ Top Creative Center◦ Top Startup Cities ◦ Greenest Cities◦ Fittest Cities ◦ Most Bookstores per Capita◦ Major Cultural Festivals◦ Self-proclaimed “Live Music

Capital of the World”

Relatively Low Unemployment

◦ Austin (6.8%)◦ Texas (8.5%)◦ US (9.1%)

More than 1 in 5 Austin residents live at or below the federal poverty level

Approximately 36% of County households are “housing cost-burdened”

Only 50% of Austin ISD graduates are considered “college-ready”

Families and children, neighborhoods and schools are critical to the growth, diversity, vibrancy, and economic vitality of Austin

Affordable, family-friendly housing is a basic requirement for attracting and retaining families

Core values for affordable housing include geographic dispersion, long-term affordability, deeper affordability

Urban Core Demographics◦ # of Households Increasing◦ # of Dwelling Units Increasing◦ Family Size Decreasing

Urban Core Losing Children

Escalating Housing Costs◦ Between 1998 and 2008,

Median Home Price Increased almost 90% ($129,900 to $240,000)

Children’s Optimal Health

&

ACCESSAustin Community

Collaboration to Enhance Student Success

Elected Officials’ Membership◦ School Board President & 2

Trustees◦ County Judge & 1

Commissioner◦ Mayor & 2 Council Members

Participating Chief Administrators◦ School Superintendent◦ County Judge◦ City Manager

Taking Collaboration to the Next Level

Leveraging Related Efforts◦ City of Austin: Families &

Children Task Force◦ AISD: Community Committee

on Neighborhoods and Schools

Educational Impact Statement (EIS)

Housing Stability for Students

Connecting the Dots

Literacy Campaign

Judicial Support Services

Impact on Existing Residential Units / Families

# of New Residential Units / Bedrooms

Projected Affordability

Parkland Dedication

Transportation Linkages

Moving to Chase Free Rent Doubling Up Eviction Utility Costs Inconsistent Child Support Job Loss Catastrophic Events Teen Parents – Need

Shelter

Joint Subcommittees Partnership Programs In-Work◦ Academic Rigor and Relevance◦ Workforce Development◦ Reversing the Demographic Trends in the Urban Core

“Imagine Austin” Comprehensive Plan Vision◦ “Education is the hope for Austin’s future…Networks of

community partnerships support our schools and ensure that our children receive the resources and services they need to thrive and learn.”

Grant Opportunities◦ Foundation Communities 21st Century Grant ◦ Austin Achievement Zone

Council Member Laura Morrison

Email:Laura.Morrison@austintexas.gov

Phone:512-974-2258

Address:PO Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767

http://www.cityofaustin.org/council/morrison.htm

Joint Subcommittees Resolution Families and Children Task Force Community Committee on Neighborhoods & Schools Educational Impact Statement Connecting the Dots Community Action Network Dashboard Children’s Optimal Health

Links available at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/morrison_issues.htm