On Tuesday night, the state of Texas did something historic – it flipped blue.
\nA slate of Democrats won statewide offices for the first time in decades. Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat and Austin state representative, unseated incumbent Greg Abbott. James Talarico beat Ken Paxton for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Vikki Goodwin defeated Dan Patrick in the race for lieutenant governor, and even more Democrats won powerful seats in the Texas government.
\nThese wins signal a new wave of leadership on the horizon – but what does a flipped Texas mean for Rundberg?
\nAustin ISD and Takeovers
\nFor months, the fate of the Austin Independent School District has remained in limbo.
\nThree schools, including Dobie Middle School, have been under turnaround plans due to low state accountability scores. Earlier this year, Webb and Burnet Middle Schools received a fifth consecutive ‘F’ rating. That rating triggered a state law that requires the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency to either close the schools or replace the entire district’s elected board, also described as a state takeover. How exactly a state takeover looks depends on the current education commissioner, Mike Morath.
\nMorath was appointed as the education commissioner by Governor Greg Abbott in 2016. Since then, he’s implemented the takeover of 11 school districts, including Houston. With Austin schools on line, it seemed highly likely Austin ISD would soon be under state control.
\nBut that all changed on Tuesday night.
\nHis reign as commissioner depends on getting re-appointed by the governor, but, now, a new governor enters the equation.
\nNew Governor, New Commissioner
\nFor years, Dr. Allen Weeks, executive director of Austin Voices for Education and Youth, and his organization have provided resources for Rundberg families and pushed for investment in public education. They even led families down to the capitol to protest against school vouchers last year. He says Hinojosa’s appointment could change Austin ISD’s future.
\n“I’ve talked a lot about how this election was make or break,” Week says.
\nHinojosa ran on a campaign to “save” public schools, reiterating promises to fire Mike Morath in her acceptance speech.
\n“In case you have not heard, on day one, I will fire Mike Morath, and we will work tirelessly to repair the damage of the Texas vouchers scam and end an era in which our schools are sold for parts,” Hinojosa said to supporters.
\nAlongside promises to fire Morath, Hinojosa says she wants to end state takeovers.
\n“She has said she's going to put a pause on that system and the sanctions that are part of that,” says Acacia Coronado, education reporter for the Austin Current.
\nHowever, Coronado says there is still a small window where Morath could enact changes. Final accountability ratings for schools are finalized in December, just a month before the governor-elect enters office.
\n“There is a gap between when these ratings become final and when a new commissioner might come into place,” Coronado says. “There is a chance that he could enforce the law in any specific way that he chooses until he is no longer in that position.”
\nHowever, she says policy experts have said that “they don't believe that that would happen” because of the instability it could cause schools and the district.
\nLegal experts have told Coronado that a new commissioner will still have to take some action with Austin ISD– it would still be required by state law. But, now, there’s a lot of room in how to carry out that mandate
\n“Austin has triggered this law, but with a new education commissioner, how that law is interpreted and how that plays out could look very differently than what we might have seen under a different administration.”
\nIn the short-term, state intervention at local schools could look very different than it might have a week ago. Long-term, Weeks hopes Hinojosa and new state leadership will get rid of a term that’s already upended Dobie Middle School - reconstitution.
\n“Where you say ‘we're going to remove half the teachers, we're going to remove the principal,’ and then you've got one year, you've got two years we still have this reconstitution practice going on,” Week says. “And it's why Dobie and Webb and Burnet and other schools have had to change really good principals and good staff have had to leave.”
\nHe says the current model in place is “constantly destabilizing schools.”
\nDobie, Webb and Burnet all saw massive amounts of staff turnover when they entered into turnaround plans, which required teachers to meet certain criteria to work there. But Hinojosa and the new lieutenant governor Vikki Goodwin ran on a platform centered on education reform.
\n“The governor elect was very clear in her campaign that education is a huge focus for her. She actually started her political career in Austin as a trustee for Austin ISD,” Coronado says. “And so, I think this is going to have some pretty big ramifications for what public education looks like in the state.”
\n__Passed Propositions __
\nOn the local level, even more changes can be coming to neighborhoods in Rundberg.\nVoters approved two multimillion dollar bond measures that will add parks and libraries across Austin.
\nPart of Proposition A included allocating $65.5 million for improving park and recreational facilities, including the Gus Garcia Recreation Center. Some of those improvements include building a new senior wing, which staff say they need the space.
\n“We see such a large influx of numbers here, just because of the location that we’re at,” says Ally Medina. Medina oversees the senior programs at the Gus Garcia Rec Center. When we spoke with her earlier this summer, she said the Gus Garcia Rec Center is a hub for a variety of services, including free groceries through Austin Public Health, a congregate site for Meals On Wheels, as well as hosting special events and field trips.She said their seniors programs are in high demand and more space means they can welcome more people in a rapidly aging city.
\n“Being able to be a congregate site, knowing that they're going to have a guaranteed meal, things like that, that draws a lot of people that other sites don't see for that reason.”
\nProp A also includes funds to improve pools like the Walnut Creek Municipal Pool. Proposition B, another bond measure, also passed. It will fund park improvements across the city, including securing park space for areas that may be \"park deficient.”
\nWhat now?
\nThese are just a few immediate ways the election will impact Rundberg.
\nNew leadership at the local, state and national level could mean even more changes from cost of living to immigration enforcement. Some changes, like a new education commissioner, will happen pretty fast. Others, like improving rec centers, will take more time.
\nBut all those changes started with voters across the country and in the Rundberg community making their voices heard.
","excerpt":"On Tuesday night, the state of Texas did something historic – it flipped blue. A slate of Democrats won statewide offices for the first time…"}},"tags":[{"id":"a4988135-e489-5e01-947e-a0ae76ce392d","title":"Politics","slug":"politics","post":[{"title":"“Worse Than You Think:” How Immigration Courts Have Changed"},{"title":"What does a flipped Texas mean for Rundberg?"},{"title":"Translating Information Into Voter Turnout"},{"title":"What's Happening With ICE In Austin?"},{"title":"Breaking Down Austin's 2026 Ballot Propositions"},{"title":"What Happened To Anthoneil Williams II?"},{"title":"Rundberg Has One Of The Highest Rate Of Officer-Involved Shootings In Austin"},{"title":"“We’re people too:” The Impact Of Homeless Camp Sweeps"},{"title":"\"Don't Know Where I'm Going\": Homeless Camp Sweeps In Rundberg"},{"title":"A 'Grand Scale' Of Fear: Rundberg One Year Later"},{"title":"Immigration Fears Are Keeping Kids At Home"},{"title":"How State Laws Team Up ICE And Local Police"},{"title":"Election Returns In Rundberg"},{"title":"What Does Prop Q 'Buy' Rundberg?"},{"title":"Is Rundberg Safe?"},{"title":"Jails, Not Jobs"},{"title":" How Will This Sweeping New Bill Impact Rundberg?"},{"title":"Into The Melting Pot"},{"title":"Texas must build hundreds of thousands of homes to lower housing costs, says state comptroller"},{"title":"Audit cites lack of progress on homelessness strategies issued five-plus years ago"},{"title":"Council OKs raising property tax, adding funds for homeless services in new $5.9 billion budget"},{"title":"Want to buy a mid-priced home in Austin, Dallas or Houston? You'll need to earn over $100,000."},{"title":"City exploring private real estate for homeless shelters ahead of Marshalling Yard closure"},{"title":"With new platform, Texas Democrats may find common ground with Republicans on housing affordability crisis"},{"title":"“There Needs To Be Some Changes”: Austin City Council Passes HOME Phase 2"},{"title":"Planning Commission wants housing for older adults on city land near transit lines"},{"title":"Austin enacts sweeping reforms to cut down housing costs"},{"title":"Rents in the Austin area have been falling for a year"},{"title":"City could revive idled homelessness prevention programs with its next budget"},{"title":"Austin approves additional property tax breaks for seniors and people with disabilities"},{"title":"East Austin organizers push for equity/anti-displacement overlay to address affordability"},{"title":"Pro and con: HOME 2 brings out the speakers"},{"title":"After city lost case on development rules, it’s been ordered to pay attorneys’ fees"},{"title":"Committee hears about need for more rental assistance money"},{"title":" ‘Where Do They Go?’: Voucher Holders Struggle To Find Housing"},{"title":"City Budget Writers Outline Some Rate Increases"},{"title":"Social Services, Housing Policies Seen As National Challenges In Addressing Homelessness"},{"title":"Adjusted density bonus program pushes housing, affordability on commercial properties"},{"title":"Phase One Of The HOME Initiative Starts "},{"title":"City seeing mixed results halfway through Strategic Housing Blueprint"},{"title":"Homelessness In Texas On The Rise Amid High Housing Costs, Federal Estimates Show"},{"title":"Council seeks financial assistance for homeowners looking to add units to properties"},{"title":"‘The Status Quo Is Just Not Sufficient’: Austinites On HOME And Affordability"},{"title":" New Mural Commemorates Historic 2013 Flood"},{"title":"HOME proposal draws a crowd of speakers, both pro and con"},{"title":"City Council Advances Air Conditioning Resolution"},{"title":"Austin will try again to tame its housing affordability crisis with zoning reforms. Can it do it this time?"},{"title":"The Goodness You Show"},{"title":"Finding Connection On The 271"},{"title":"Decibel Tries New Outreach Initiatives For Upcoming Elections "},{"title":"'What Is The Future … For Our Growing Pflugerville?': Residents Pose Questions To Candidates"},{"title":" ‘There’s Some Exciting Things Coming’: Mayor Discusses The Future Of Pflugerville"},{"title":"Chain Reaction"},{"title":"El Jinete"},{"title":"Drained"},{"title":"‘They Don’t Show Up’: Del Valle Talks Complicated Relationship With Police"},{"title":"Ranch Life "},{"title":"‘It’s Kind Of Stressful’: Del Valle Parents Struggle With School Traffic"},{"title":"Far East Residents Team Up To Face Development Surge"},{"title":"'Do You Have Space?': Searching For Day Care In Del Valle"},{"title":"Defining Del Valle"},{"title":"‘There's No Partnership With The Communities’: Del Valle Talks COTA Impact"},{"title":"‘I Experience Being Asian American Way Differently Than My Peers’"},{"title":" ‘I Thought I Was The Only Asian American DACA Recipient Out There’"},{"title":" Becoming The Rouser"},{"title":"Calling For Action "},{"title":"Leading By Example"},{"title":"We Asked Asian American Voters About The Upcoming Election"},{"title":"We Hosted Our First Community Conversation. Here's What We Learned"},{"title":"Guardian de las Voces"},{"title":"Amigas"},{"title":"Freehand Arts Project"},{"title":"You Need A Yes"},{"title":"You're Part Of This: Transgender Military Ban"}]}],"externalCanonicalLink":null},"allContentfulPost":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"8f0d93ee-c318-5742-8017-f96b0083f16b","title":"“Worse Than You Think:” How Immigration Courts Have Changed","slug":"worse-than-you-think-how-immigration-courts-have-changed","author":"Blair Waltman-Alexin","heroImage":{"fluid":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/iipze6i9stu1/1OIyof0rEgMl7AjaqsSmeT/2965ef7200623055b0ce14a9fc345515/immigration_lawyers_thumbnail.jpg?w=800&q=50"}}}},{"node":{"id":"287c0e07-7a7f-5c71-9bf6-0602937a3753","title":"Translating Information Into Voter Turnout","slug":"translating-information-into-voter-turnout","author":"Blair Waltman-Alexin","heroImage":{"fluid":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/iipze6i9stu1/3SSKrzkEuHWso44qMqctaW/e3fcfe6cdc662dc200c09c3421f8e70f/translating_voter_guides_tn_2.png?w=800&q=50"}}}},{"node":{"id":"6c8b26f5-9e2d-5d11-9d98-a02d86d48ced","title":"What's Happening With ICE In Austin?","slug":"whats-happening-with-ice-in-austin","author":"Jackie Ibarra & Blair Waltman-Alexin","heroImage":{"fluid":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/iipze6i9stu1/lZBazxMcHRr6r2aexuBLA/38317dac325064fd7432974e2741c482/ice_explainer_perez_2.jpg?w=800&q=50"}}}}]},"contentfulSlideshow":{"title":"Testing Slideshow Function","images":[{"title":"Slideshow Test Image 1","photo":{"title":"elliot-paris- d1ezIJSbas-unsplash","description":"Snow covered mountain peaks","file":{"url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iipze6i9stu1/3tU1kRjqFX0mmGbt7daPHz/370af620386e7135f000c9d5ac7421c9/elliot-paris-_d1ezIJSbas-unsplash.jpg"}}},{"title":"Slideshow Test Image 2","photo":{"title":"kym-mackinnon-DDyw4XRzojA-unsplash","description":"Moon peeks over snow covered mountains","file":{"url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iipze6i9stu1/1yVZaKCgz9eiiEtFlvoA2P/050d6dc75e6147be976c9f38ef437c26/kym-mackinnon-DDyw4XRzojA-unsplash.jpg"}}},{"title":"Slideshow Test Image 3","photo":{"title":"zongnan-bao-68GOUCjE6Z0-unsplash","description":"Tall mountains over a grassy valley","file":{"url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iipze6i9stu1/3OtMLSQwI0iaM3g6OoLYXO/f9752cc44abbce4f19ce7ba733f0f6ed/zongnan-bao-68GOUCjE6Z0-unsplash.jpg"}}}]},"allContentfulSlideshow":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"c2343395-0798-5721-b8e6-1884f98524f4","title":"Testing Slideshow Function","images":[{"title":"Slideshow Test Image 1","photo":{"title":"elliot-paris- d1ezIJSbas-unsplash","description":"Snow covered mountain peaks","file":{"url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iipze6i9stu1/3tU1kRjqFX0mmGbt7daPHz/370af620386e7135f000c9d5ac7421c9/elliot-paris-_d1ezIJSbas-unsplash.jpg"}}},{"title":"Slideshow Test Image 2","photo":{"title":"kym-mackinnon-DDyw4XRzojA-unsplash","description":"Moon peeks over snow covered mountains","file":{"url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iipze6i9stu1/1yVZaKCgz9eiiEtFlvoA2P/050d6dc75e6147be976c9f38ef437c26/kym-mackinnon-DDyw4XRzojA-unsplash.jpg"}}},{"title":"Slideshow Test Image 3","photo":{"title":"zongnan-bao-68GOUCjE6Z0-unsplash","description":"Tall mountains over a grassy valley","file":{"url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iipze6i9stu1/3OtMLSQwI0iaM3g6OoLYXO/f9752cc44abbce4f19ce7ba733f0f6ed/zongnan-bao-68GOUCjE6Z0-unsplash.jpg"}}}]}}]},"allContentfulTag":{"edges":[{"node":{"title":"Arts & Music ","slug":"arts-and-music"}},{"node":{"title":"Business","slug":"business"}},{"node":{"title":"Contenido en Español","slug":"contenido-en-espanol"}},{"node":{"title":"Culture","slug":"culture"}},{"node":{"title":"Education","slug":"education"}},{"node":{"title":"Health","slug":"health"}},{"node":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"}},{"node":{"title":"Resources/Recursos","slug":"resources"}},{"node":{"title":"Science & Technology ","slug":"science-and-technology"}}]},"contentfulSponsorsBlock":{"id":"ec28ad3b-30ee-5e12-b18b-14592c0d896a","title":"Sponsors","sponsors":[{"sponsorTitle":"Texas Mutual Insurance","sponsorLink":"https://www.texasmutual.com/","image":{"fluid":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/iipze6i9stu1/3UjgQJYGfkvaVvKTbUQG3z/167e1c018049ded4f2a59a1c8ca053b6/TXMutual-100x100.png?w=800&q=50"}}}]}},"pageContext":{"tag":"politics","tagTitle":"Politics","slug":"what-does-a-flipped-texas-mean-for-rundberg"}}, "staticQueryHashes": ["2731891648"]}