Concerns raised after ‘used needles’ found on AISD playground

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Concerns are rising after “two used needles” were found on an Austin ISD playground during recess, according to a letter sent out by the district.

“It just said that there were needles found in the school grounds,” said a parent KXAN spoke to who wished to remain anonymous.

Joslin Elementary School Principal ChaoLin Chang sent a letter to parents following the incident, saying “Our immediate concern was for the students who discovered the needles. We promptly communicated with their parents and provided them with resources.”

“It was surprising to know,” the parent said. “I am like how did it get in there. It is a little weird because it is fenced in.”

The parent who wished to remain anonymous told KXAN the added security features like fences and an officer on campus are a welcome site, but she does have concerns with the nearby Sunrise Homeless navigation center being so close to the campus.

“It would be ideal if they do move, but like I said, I think the precautions around that are satisfactory to me,” she said.

The Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center has been talked about by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the past. Last year, Paxton filed a lawsuit against the south Austin navigation center “for operating as a common nuisance in violation of Texas law”.

The Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center is located near Menchaca Road and Ben White Boulevard. It offers services like connecting people experiencing homelessness to food and housing help.

Paxton also sought an emergency temporary restraining order before the school year after a stabbing at the homeless center, according to a press release from his office. But when the request did not happen he released this statement:

“It it’s disgusting that this leftist judge would jeopardize the safety of these elementary students by allowing a hotspot for drugged-out, violent vagrants to continue operating as the school year starts,” said Attorney General Paxton. “If Texas kids being stuck by needles or endangered by violent vagrants isn’t an ‘emergency,’ then what is? I will continue to defend Texas schoolchildren when others fail to protect them.”

Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center’s director responded to the press release from Paxton with this statement:

“Unfortunately, the Attorney General’s press release omits important details. This misguided lawsuit had been pending for over 8 months without a single request for a temporary restraining order. The two requests for an emergency TRO that the AG’s office made in the past 8 days (both of which were not granted) came on the heels of a court ruling that the AG’s office failed to properly identify the relief it is seeking in the lawsuit. Although both of the incidents the AG’s office raised over the past 8 days are unfortunate, the AG’s office offered no evidence that they have any connection to Sunrise’s services. In fact, in addition to the school incident happening inside of a gated, publicly-inaccessible area, Sunrise has never and will never distribute needles. Sunrise continues to offer support for our great partners at Joslin Elementary School as well as other nearby partner schools and the neighborhood, including daily cleanups of the immediate area by our Ambassadors,” said Mark Hilbelink, Executive Director, Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center.

“It is concerning, but I feel like as a parent you have to assist the school in teaching your kids if you see this don’t touch it.”

KXAN reached out to Austin Travis County Judge Aurora Martinez-Jones for a comment following Ken Paxton’s statement. She sent us a statement saying she is not allowed to comment on any pending or active cases.

New location?

The controversial homeless resource hub in south Austin — the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center — will be relocating, according to Austin City Council Member Ryan Alter in a recent KXAN report.

Alter, whose district encompasses the navigation center, said the city is “acquiring a property which will serve as a new navigation center in a more appropriate location.” Alter said the city is “zeroing in” on exactly where that will be.

“The idea is for pretty much all the services to move,” Alter said. “We’re still in those conversations. One of the things that has come up is they provide some family services and certain families have their address actually at the navigation center, so their kids are enrolled at Joslin. Doesn’t make sense to uproot those kids.”