I had a blast at the district's ninth annual Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, and I wasn't alone. Upwards of 7,000 people attended, according to AISD Police, for the opportunity to access the many resources offered through our schools and partners in the community.
Children and their families received backpacks loaded with school supplies thanks to A+ Federal Credit Union and The Neighborhood. Both partners donated generously to this effort, and then went above and beyond by sending volunteers to help us set up and run the event. We are also grateful to Seton Family of Hospitals for allowing us to provide immunizations, as well as Dell Children’s Hospital for providing 200 free safety seats that were distributed free to families, and the Esselor Foundation for supporting free eye exams.
AISD students travel to and from school in a variety of ways – the district transports about 22,000 students each way, while many of the rest walk, bike or get dropped off by their parents or guardians. No matter how our kids get back and forth from school, we rely on everyone in the community to help keep them safe. At the Back to School Bash, City of Austin staff and City Council Member Laura Morrison helped me and AISD Police Chief Eric Mendez remind our community about school safety. A group of Mathews Elementary students learned safety tips to follow when they go back to school.
For one thing, this means never passing a school bus when the flashing lights are on, which indicates that kids are getting on or off the bus, leaving them vulnerable to traffic. Always stop for the flashing lights – it’s not only a good idea, it’s the law. We also recommend that parents and guardians accompany all children under the age of 10 to and from schools and bus stops.
Thanks to everyone involved for helping our students kick the new school year off right! Special thanks to the City of Austin for their support of our families and schools. All told, more than 100 AISD departments and community organizations set up tables and exhibits to inform students and their families about valuable services and programs available to them.
What a great way to kick off the new school year!
