Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz will kick off the new year while visiting students and staff at 16 campuses Aug. 21 and 22.

Campus visits will highlight back-to-school events and programs throughout AISD, including the tie-tying ceremony at the Gus Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy, solar eclipse viewing and the distribution of Chromebooks for LBJ Early College High School students.

The first day of school press conference will be held Aug. 21 at 9:45 a.m. at Covington Middle School, 3700 Convict Hill Road.

Media will also have the opportunity to visit key programs within AISD campuses, a detailed list is outlined below. Cruz will be handing out books on every campus as part of AISD's focus on literacy.

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Detailed Itinerary and Timely Information

Editor's note: The order of locations will not change, however the times below are tentative. Please contact Tiffany Young at (979) 450-1969 or Cristina Nguyen at (512) 406-1550 to coordinate visits with Superintendent Paul Cruz on his tour of various AISD schools.

 Aug. 21

7 a.m.–7:40 a.m.: Govalle Elementary School, 3601 Govalle Ave.
Visuals: Cruz will serve as the campus crossing guard to ensure students get to school safely on the first day of school.

• Available for Interviews
  • Cruz

Timely Information: Govalle is included in AISD's proposed 2017 Bond as one of the 16 potential new or modernized facilities. The $32.5 million project would increase campus capacity to house 622 students, a 100 student increase.

8–8:25 a.m.: Lee Elementary School, 3308 Hampton Road
Timely Information: Lee partners with Lettuce, an urban farming company, to host a farm share program. Lettuce works with Lee to teach students about crops being grown on the campus and Lee receives 10 percent of the proceeds from food sold.

8:55–9:25 a.m.: Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, 2206 Prather Lane
Timely Information: Ann Richards is included in AISD's proposed 2017 Bond as one of the 16 potential new or modernized facilities. The $70.4 million project would include nine projects, including the demolition and reconstruction of athletics, fine arts, cafeteria and kitchen, media center and high school academic wing.

9:45–10:30 a.m.: Covington Middle School, 3700 Convict Hill Road
Visuals: AISD will host a press conference to highlight the inaugural year of the Covington Dyslexia Program. The specialty program will offer intensive dyslexia support to 25 sixth-grade students.

• Available for Interviews
  • Cruz
  • Covington Principal Shannon Sellstrom
  • AISD Assistant Director of 504/Dyslexia Services Rachel Robillard

Timely Information: Covington could receive an academic reinvention project for fine arts in addition to facility and technology improvements as part of the 2017 Bond.

11:10–11:40 a.m.: Lanier High School, 1201 Payton Gin Road

12:20–1:15 p.m.: Palm Elementary School, 7601 Dixie Drive
Visuals: Cruz will view the solar eclipse with students. The solar eclipse will occur at 1:10 p.m.

• Available for Interviews
  • Cruz
  • Palm Principal Rhoda Coleman
  • AISD Science Administrative Supervisor Charlie Gutierrez

1:45-2:15 p.m.: Crockett Early College High School, 5601 Manchaca Road
Timely Information: Crockett is one of the latest campuses in Austin ISD to offer an Early College High School program, in partnership with Austin Community College. Students who graduate as part of the program earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree. Crockett is home to a construction technology building, which was completed in 2016 and funded through the 2013 bond program.

2:35 p.m.: Bowie High School, 4103 W. Slaughter Lane
Visuals: Cruz will be visiting the Bulldog Bakery where students learn skills needed to be successful in a culinary arts career.

Timely Information: Bowie is included in AISD's proposed 2017 Bond as one of the 16 potential new or modernized facilities. The $91 million project includes 11 projects, including a new parking garage, campus master planning and full modernization of the current campus.

Aug. 22

7:15-7:45 a.m.: Doss Elementary School, 7005 Northledge Drive
Timely Information: Doss is home to the first AISD Mandarin Chinese immersion program. This is the fifth year students have participated in the program, which teaches students both English and Mandarin each day.

Doss is included in AISD's proposed 2017 Bond as one of the 16 potential new or modernized facilities. The $43.1 million project would expand the existing facility and improve computer labs.

8:15–9 a.m.: Gus Garcia YMLA, 7414 Johnny Morris Road
Visuals: Dr. Cruz will participate in the annual Tie-Tying Ceremony where students learn how to properly wear their school uniform. Community partners throughout Austin will work with students to ensure students feel successful walking into school each day with a perfectly tied tie.

• Available for Interviews
  • Dr. Cruz
  • Garcia Principal Sterlin McGruder

9:10–9:40 a.m.: LBJ Early College High School, 7309 Lazy Creek Drive
Visuals: Each student will receive a Chromebook through the campus' 1:1 technology initiative. Students will also participate in a training on digital citizenship.

• Available for Interviews
  • Cruz
  • LBJ Principal Sheila Henry
  • AISD Technology Officer for Learning and Systems Kevin Schwartz

Timely Information: A Health Sciences Career Launch program will start this year at LBJ in partnership with Seton Healthcare. The program invites students to complete a six-year program to earn both a high school diploma and associate's degree, all with a professional mentor for support. Upon graduation from the program, students will be guaranteed an interview with Seton Healthcare.

LBJ could receive an academic reinvention project for their medical high school program as part of the 2017 Bond.

9:40-10:10 a.m.: Liberal Arts and Science Academy, 7309 Lazy Creek Drive
Timely Information: LASA earned all five available distinctions in the latest Texas Education Agency accountability results. The campus could move into the Eastside Memorial Early College High School campus as part of the 2017 Bond.

10:20-10:50 a.m.: Winn Elementary School, 2500 Susquehanna Lane
Visual: Winn is home to the first Montessori program in Austin ISD. The program will launch this year with 96 students in Pre-K and kindergarten.

• Available for Interviews
  • Cruz
  • AISD Early Childhood Director Jacquie Porter

Timely Information: The library was recently renovated with funds from the 2013 bond program.

11:10-11:40 a.m.: Eastside Memorial Early College High School, 1012 Arthur Stiles Road
Timely Information: Eastside Memorial is one of the latest campuses in Austin ISD to offer an Early College High School program, in partnership with Austin Community College. Students who graduate as part of the program earn both a high school diploma and an associate's degree. Eastside Memorial is included in AISD's proposed 2017 Bond as one of 16 potential new or modernized facilities. The $80.7 million project would build a fully modernized school at the Original L.C. Anderson campus.

Noon–12:30 p.m.: Barrington/T.A. Brown elementary schools, 400 Cooper Drive
Visuals: Dr. Cruz will have lunch with the students of Barrington and T.A. Brown elementary schools. The two campus communities have come together this year as AISD plans for the reconstruction of T.A. Brown.

• Available for Interviews
  • Dr. Cruz
  • T.A. Brown Principal Veronica Sharp
  • Barrington Principal Gilma Sanchez

Timely Information: T.A. Brown is included in AISD's proposed 2017 Bond as one of 16 potential new or modernized facilities. The $30.8 million project would build a new campus for the T.A. Brown community.

1:20 p.m.: Murchison Middle School, 3700 North Hills Drive
Timely Information: Murchison is celebrating its 50th year educating students in Austin ISD. Murchison is home to the middle school AISD Mandarin Chinese immersion program, which teaches students both English and Mandarin each day.

Murchison is included in AISD's proposed 2017 Bond as one of 16 potential new or modernized facilities. The $25.3 million project would include Phase 1 of a modernization for the facility.