Board adopts 2026-2027 budget
School is out, but there’s still a lot of school business to take care of. Arlington ISD’s Board of Trustees meeting on June 16, 2026, is in the books, and here are a few of the highlights.
The board held a public hearing at the meeting for the proposed school district tax rate. The total proposed tax rate for 2026-2027 will be $1.1029, which reflects the recent passage of Arlington ISD’s Bond Propositions A and B. The final tax rate will be set at the Sept. 10 regular meeting after the Texas Education Agency releases maximum compressed rates in August.
Speaking of 2026-2027, the new fiscal year begins July 1. At the last board meeting, the board approved the compensation plan for the new year, and on June 16, trustees approved the rest of the budget, including the General Fund, Debt Service Fund, Child Nutrition Fund, and Capital Projects Fund. The compensation plan includes the creation of a district health clinic that will allow staff enrolled in a district-subsidized health insurance plan to have access to some medical services without charge.
The board also received a Key Progress Measure Report on staff satisfaction, as part of the district’s ongoing efforts to improve culture. About 6,000 employees responded to the survey, with 79% of staff scoring their satisfaction at a 7 or higher on a 10-point scale, and 46% of staff rated their satisfaction at a 9 or 10. This marks another year in which staff satisfaction increased across the district.
At its last meeting, the board heard a report from the committee that studied whether sixth grade should remain in elementary schools (learn more about the committee). The committee recommended that sixth grade move to the junior high level. Tonight, district administration presented a formal proposal to make that transition, which the board approved. The board asked district administration to ensure that the transition occurs on a timeline that allows purposeful planning and a thoughtful execution of this big change.
Finally, the school board approved the 2026-2027 District Improvement Plan performance objectives. All of the objectives are tied to the district’s five priorities. Now that the objectives have been approved, the district will develop Campus Improvement Plans, establish academic performance targets, and recommend Key Progress Measures to monitor progress and outcomes.
Those are just a few of the highlights from the meeting. If you would like more details on any of these, or any of the items not covered in this Board Brief, you can watch the entire meeting.