Arlington ISD’s Board of Trustees held its first meeting of November last night, and here are a few of the highlights.
The evening started with a board workshop focused on two important topics related to communications and marketing.
First, the board learned more about customer service training developed by Arlington ISD’s Family and Community Engagement team. They’re now rolling out that training across the district and are excited about the work being done to make sure every family has a positive experience with Arlington ISD.
Trustees also learned more about the progress of the district’s rebrand and had an opportunity to share their thoughts about what’s important when it comes to the look and feel of Arlington ISD.
Once in the regular meeting, the board started by recognizing Arlington ISD’s November Student of the Month, Lennyx Afalava, a senior at Arlington Collegiate High School.
Congratulations, Lennyx!
Next, the board heard committee and staff reports. The first was from Dr. Priscila Dilley, chief academic officer, and Dr. Bret Champion, chief schools officer.
They shared the results of beginning-of-the-year literacy and numeracy assessments given to students in kindergarten through third grade. These assessments happen three times a year and help teachers understand where students are academically so they can tailor instruction and provide the support students need to reach grade-level proficiency.
Dr. Dilley also gave an update from the calendar committee, which is working on next year’s academic calendar. The committee is prioritizing student achievement by including opportunities for high-quality staff professional learning while also incorporating input from staff and community. They expect to finalize the calendar in January.
Did you know we’re only about two months away from the start of the next Texas legislative session? This is going to be an important session for public education, and the board discussed a draft of legislative priorities. They will continue the discussion at the next meeting.
These priorities call on the Texas Legislature to fully fund public schools and make the needs of Texas students and educators a top priority.
The board also approved Targeted Improvement Plans and Turnaround Plans for several schools. These plans outline important steps to help schools improve, with a strong focus on curriculum and instruction. District administrators have put together strategies designed to provide the support and intensive focus these schools need to move forward.
Finally, the board approved the procurement methods for projects included in the first three phases of the 2026 Bond program. If you’d like to see what’s included in the bond, visit aisd.net/bond2026.
And you can already see work getting underway at the old Blanton Elementary building. Crews are preparing much of the existing building for demolition to make way for a brand-new 18 PLUSS Center.
Those are just a few of the highlights from the meeting. If you’d like to hear more about everything that was discussed, you can watch the full meeting.
And remember, you’re always welcome at board meetings. The next one is Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Arlington ISD Administration Building.