Arlington Chamber Board of Directors supports school district bond election
The Board of Directors of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce has enthusiastically endorsed the first bond proposal in 10 years from the Arlington Independent School District.
The $197.5 million proposal is heavily weighted toward replacing outdated equipment, repairing facilities and expanding campuses that have seen dramatic increases in student enrollment but no increases in places to put them.
“This bond program is critical to the future of our school district,” said Jeff Williams, chairman of the board of the Chamber of Commerce. “We must equip our teachers and students with the essential educational tools they desperately need.”
In particular, and a great concern to the business community, is the current status of the district’s technology education tools. Many of the classroom computers are more than eight-years old and are not capable of running most current software. Technology development is a major emphasis of the Chamber’s efforts toward building a sustainable community, and a sound technology education at all levels is key to maintaining that effort.
The technology component is $60 million of the proposal, which also includes $115 million in facility repairs, expansions and upgrades, including one new elementary school and expansions at two other East Arlington elementary schools to relieve over-crowding, a classroom addition at Lamar High School to eliminate use of some temporary buildings and additional classrooms and a cafeteria expansion at Arlington high School. Science lab additions are planned at all high schools to accommodate new state requirements that students take four years of science.
The other two major components of the bond program are $13 million to replace the oldest elements of an aging bus fleet – and propel them with propane. The district has been unable to fund bus replacements from its operating budget for the last two years because of constraints imposed by funding from the State of Texas.
The last item, and by no means the least in significance, is $8.2 million to upgrade instruments, uniforms and equipment for Fine Arts programs throughout the district. Many of the current instruments used by bands in the AISD are more than 20 years old and not in good shape. Fewer students are able to purchase their own equipment than in past years, so the provision of instruments by the district is critical to keeping these students involved in Fine Arts programs and perhaps critical to keeping them in school. The AISD has some of the most competitive and honored arts programs in the state and this funding is necessary to help the district maintain those programs.
Band uniforms in the district are on a 10-year replacement cycle and drill-team uniforms are on a five-year cycle.
“The Fine Arts programs of the AISD have a rich heritage of excellence and are an important part of our children’s education,” Williams said, “but we must provide the necessary support.”
The bonds would be sold and projects phased in over the next six or seven years. Owners of a $100,000 home in the AISD would see their school taxes gradually increase by a total of $40 between 2011 and 2017.
“This is an overdue investment in our community,” Williams said, “it’s worth the cost for our economic future and the future of the next generation of children attending the AISD.”
The bond election is on the ballot along with proposed state Constitutional Amendments November 3. Early voting for this election begins Monday, October 19 and runs through Friday, October 30. More information on both of these elections, as well as voting locations, can be found at www.voteforarlington.com.
More information regarding the bond election can be found here:
