Board of Trustees accepting applications for Citizens Bond Oversight Committee - 3/22/10

The Arlington Independent School District (“AISD”) Board of Trustees (“Board”) is accepting applications for a Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (“Committee”). Applications must be completed on line and will be accepted through April 9th and until all Committee members have been appointed by the Board.

The purpose of the Committee is to provide findings and recommendations to the Board related to the expenditure of the $197.5 million bond proceeds authorized by AISD voters on November 3, 2009, the progress of the 2009 bond program, and ways the District can maximize the potential of the bond program. The Committee is being established to provide transparency and enhance public confidence in the use of bond proceeds.

Bond proceeds will be used to purchase buses, fine arts equipment and uniforms, and technology; to construct one new elementary school in east Arlington and additions at two east Arlington elementaries and Lamar High School; to expand the cafeteria at Arlington High School; and to provide safety, security and facilities upgrades throughout the district.

Members will serve staggered two-year terms over the life of the Committee with half of the members appointed to initial one-year terms. The Committee is designed to exist during the five-year bond program and will end when the program is completed. The Committee will meet up to five times per year after the initial organizing meetings. The Committee will periodically report its findings and recommendations to the Board.

The Board’s Charge to the Committee may be viewed here.

Individuals interested in serving on the Committee must apply on line and may click here and complete the application form.

Please contact AISD Trustees Peter Baron or Bowie Hogg at their email addresses with any questions you have regarding the Committee.

Voters Approve Bond Package - 11/4/09

Voters approved the $197.5 million bond election earlier today. Proceeds of the bond issue will be used by the AISD to purchase buses, fine arts instruments and uniforms, and technology hardware; to construct one new elementary in east Arlington and classroom additions at two east Arlington elementaries and Lamar High School; and to expand the cafeteria at Arlington High School. Bond proceeds will also be used for safety and security upgrades and facilities upgrades throughout the district.

“We’re very pleased that the voters supported these improvements, and we are eager to get started,” Superintendent Jerry McCullough said. “After eliminating capital needs from the district’s operating budget for two years due to limits imposed by the current state funding system, the needs funded by the bond package will help us better provide all students a high quality education in a safe, secure and
comfortable learning environment.

2009 Bond Package
Tuesday, November 3rd
$197.5 Million

AISD's most recent bond election was10 years ago in 1999.

The AISD Board of Trustees appointed a 2009 Bond Advisory Committee on March 12, 2009 and charged the Committee to independently:

• Analyze, prioritize, and recommend to the Board funding needs through 2015 for Transportation, Advanced Technologies, and Facilities.
• Assess and recommend to the Board funding needs for other capital items through 2015.
• Conduct on-site campus and facility visitations as necessary to assess capital needs through 2015.

32 Citizens from across the AISD were appointed and served on the Committee logging 22 separate meetings and visiting 22 AISD campuses.

The Committee's comments to the AISD Board of Trustees:

• All identified needs are basic and required by 2015
• All capital needs have been eliminated from the AISD operating budget for two years due to current state funding system and deferred to a future bond election.
• AISD must provide a high quality education in a safe, secure, and comfortable learning environment.
• AISD must provide the tools to students and staff needed to achieve campus and district goals.

After a works session when the Committee and two public meetings, the Board of Trustees met on August 30, 2009 in a Special Meeting and took the following action:

• Called a Bond Election for November 3, 2009
• $197,500,000
• All needs identified by the Committee were placed together on a single ballot proposition.

For further details (click here).