oakhillgazette.com
August 13, 2015 Volume 20, No. 16 Southwest Austin’s Community Newspaper Since 1995
AISD Board vacancy to be filled by appointment by Ann Fowler
AUSTIN - The Austin Independent School District (AISD) Board of Trustees voted Monday to fill a vacant position by appointment. The recent death of longtime AISD Board Trustee Robert Schneider leaves an open seat for District 7, representing 13 campuses in
Southwest Austin. With more than three years left of the four-year term, the AISD Board wrestled with the dilemma of how to fill the term at an August 10 meeting. The board lacks the authority to appoint someone to the full term, which ends November 2018. Travis County Clerk Dana De-
Beauvoir told the board the deadline for a November 2015 election was August 11, giving the board little time to decide. The board was told the estimated cost of an election in 2015 would be $123,427. A runoff, if required, would be an additional $236,614. If the board made a one-year
appointment, an election held in November 2016 would not cost AISD anything extra to add the District 7 trustee to the other four positions on the ballot. The board weighed the cost of a special election with the concern that Southwest Austin schools be adequately represented on the board.
Although told prior to the vote that the budget included $450,000 for elections, the board was split 4-4 on two votes, one to hold a special election, the other to make a temporary appointment. Board member Amber Elenz told the Gazette, “Since there was See AISD on back page
LifeAustin venue opens Gatlin Brothers are slated to play by Ann Fowler
Photos: Shannon Lafayette
The controversial LifeAustin Amphitheater opened on July 19th with The Katinas. The Gatlin Brothers are booked for August 28th.
OAK HILL - Pastor Randy Phillips realized a dream when the LifeAustin Amphitheater opened last month. The LifeAustin Church is located on 68 acres on Highway 71 across from the Travis County Precinct 3 offices, and includes a dog park, disc golf and walking trails available for use by local residents. Pastor Phillips said of the amphitheater, “We built this facility with the community in mind,” so it is ironic that local neighborhoods have fought against it. Midwood Parkway resident David VanDelinder feels the venue warrants an amplified sound permit, but Pastor John Capezzuti said, “Under the direction of the city we are able to operate under the rural residential code 9.2.5”—which restricts hours See LIFEAUSTIN on page 22