AUSTIN, Texas — In the wake of school shootings across the U.S, including in Texas, a former Austin Independent School District (AISD) is shifting to become a short-term law enforcement training area.
On Jan. 24, AISD announced that the old Rosedale School building will soon become a temporary space for up to 750 officials to prepare in the event of a shooting incident.
Officials from the AISD Police Department and Travis County constables are set to participate in this series of trainings.
Since 2017, Rosedale students have attended a new, updated campus while the previous building has been left unoccupied at 2117 West 49 St.
Five other AISD campuses are also in the midst of the repurposing process, which involves community members, stakeholders and the Board of Trustees working together to decide what to do with the buildings. Specifically, repurposing an AISD school involves four distinct steps: real estate analysis, financial and economic analysis, presentation and implementation.
The first phase of analysis involves assessing the nearby area to determine the overall value of housing, retail and other businesses in the vicinity. During the second phase, financial factors are considered to analyze a balanced spending amount.
Finally, a strategy is created and a Request for Proposal is considered by the Board of Trustees.
For now, AISD wants to keep those in the Rosedale area informed about the temporary changes.
"If you live in or around the Rosedale neighborhood, don't worry when you see law enforcement around the campus," the district said. "This is a temporary use while the engagement process continues to find a permanent use for the facility."