In an extension of the idea to sell the AISD headquarters on W. 6th Street…
Many organizations today (including some very successful ones) are experimenting with being “virtual companies” — maintaining no physical office locations at all. Of course AISD will require some physical facilities and storage facilities, but a very large number of administrative employees could work full-time from their homes or other remote locations with very little overhead other than their AISD-issued computers and a stipend to help pay for their phone and internet service.
Mayor Leffingwell supports keeping schools open, so we may convince the city to allow the AISD to hold its Board meetings in the City Council chambers, a well-suited space for these types of meetings.
This idea might sound a little crazy to some people, but compared to the idea closing multiple exemplary schools, hopefully it won’t sound quite as outlandish to most.
Another benefit of this plan could be that it’d put AISD in the national spotlight as bold, innovative, daring, etc. — anyone know of a school district of comparable (or any?) size that’s done this?
Don’t forget this would also probably eliminate many employee sick days.