October 6, 2025 Newsletter
October 6, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 40
Highlights:
* AISD approves for a committee and charge for the next bond election
* The Field Square redevelopment boondoggle is still tabled and refuses to die.
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_14.html
Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_11.html
Arlington is a city where citizens are relegated to being spectators, rather than players on the field. The SPECTATOR helps citizens know what is happening on the field. Only a few of the in-house team members are allowed to play ball in Arlington. The SPECTATOR helps citizens understand the game.
GAME SCHEDULE:
Thursday, October 2: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
Tuesday, October 7: National Night Out.
Wednesday, October 8: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at 4:45pm.)
Monday, October 13: Columbus Day. Banks and Post Office are closed.
Tuesday, October 14: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Thursday, October 16: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
Monday, October 20: Early Voting Starts, 8:00am – 5:00pm.
Wednesday, October 22: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
Tuesday, October 28: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Friday, October 31: Early Voting Ends, 7:00am – 7:00pm.
Friday, October 31: Halloween.
Sunday, November 2: Daylight Savings Time Ends, fall back an hour, 2:00am.
Tuesday, November 4: Election Day.
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The city council will meet next on Tuesday, October 14.
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Leftovers: On August 26 the powers at large tried to get the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation to fund the Field Square redevelopment project. It required a ¾ majority vote to modify the grant agreement in existence. They only got a 6-3 majority. So, at the September 2 meeting those council agenda items for this project were tabled. They remained tabled for the September 9 and September 16 meetings as the “powers” continue to look for funding [from our pockets].
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Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We do not know the date of the next EDC Board meeting. Best guess, October 21.
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Upcoming Public Hearings
On Tuesday, October 14, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-12 at 700-odd Dugan Street/302 Weeks Avenue/ 700 South Street. They wish to update/change their planned development on the 1.605 acres.
On Tuesday, October 14, the city council will hold a public hearing on zoning case ZA25-3 at 1225 California Lane. They are requesting a change from Landmark Preservation Overlay-Planned Development (LPO-PD) to Light Industrial (LI) at the rear of the property.
On Tuesday, October 14, the city council will hold a public hearing on Z03-56/PD03-56R1 at 915 E. Randol Mill Road. They wish to revise their development plan on the 3.750 acres for light industrial uses.
On Tuesday, October 14, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD15-05R1 at 5301 W. Pioneer Parkway. They wish to revise their development plan on the 7.168 acres for light industrial uses.
P&Z Commission
P&Z will meet this Wednesday, October 8. The agenda/packet can be found at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/planning-and-development-services/documents/planning-amp-development-boards-amp-commissions/planning-and-zoning-commission/posted-agenda/planning-zoning-regular-session-agenda-10-08-2025.pdf . There are NO zoning case public hearings on the agenda.
AISD School Board
The AISD School Board met this past Thursday, October 2. The agenda can be found at: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2978?meeting=708281 Mrs. Richarson attended virtually. All other board members were present. The board meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_9GB3m7nBA .
The board started with a workshop at 5:00pm. The workshop was on Marketing and Engagement and can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46wN66APw5w .
The closed executive session was to discuss personnel, potential and pending litigation, and board annual self-reflection.
(0:00) Start of the meeting. The recognitions included student performance, student of the month, Sequin High Youth winner, and Community Partner Award.
(27:52) Open forum for agenda items. There were no speakers for agenda items, but non-agenda item speakers were heard at this point. The first speaker had an issue with the interpreters. The second and third speakers had issues with their daughter's special needs.
Committee and staff reports (5)
(41:32) A. Governance Committee. They are in the preliminary stage of possible tweaking of some local policies. They also started looking at the next legislative agenda.
(43:18) B. AP Participation and Performance Report. About 1:07:51 it was opened to the board for comments/questions.
(1:21:10) C. Safety and Discipline Report. About 1:32:40 it was opened to the board for comments/questions.
(1:43:55) D. Beginning of Year Transportation Report.
(1:52:36) E. Employee Childcare Program Report. They have been looking at this potential benefit for employees. They are looking at 6 weeks old – 3 years old. The average monthly cost is $1250. They want something with a cost of about $850. The estimated costs and revenues can be viewed at: http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_98.html . About 2:02:00 it was opened to the board for comments/questions.
(2:13:09) Action items (3).
A. Approval of Capital Needs Steering Committee. The motion to form the committee was approved, 7-0.
B. Approval of Capital Needs Steering Committee Charge. The staff-produced charge was approved, 7-0.
C. Approval of 2025-2026 Key Progress Measures. This discussion started at about 2:15:30. About 2:30:23 it was opened to the board for comments/questions. These measures were approved, 7-0. [There is a Chris Moss article link further down.]
(2:47:43) Consent agenda. Nothing was pulled. Nothing was discussed. It was approved, 7-0.
(2:48:30) End of meeting reports.
The Board Brief by Trustee Fowler may be viewed at: https://www.aisd.net/district-news/watch-board-brief-from-school-board-meeting-on-oct-2-2025/ .
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The AISD Board and Superintendent have established written goals, including student improvement on the STAAR testing. The Chris Moss article in the Arlington Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/10/01/arlington-isd-school-board-sets-goals-and-expectations-for-new-school-year/ .
In August there was a decision made in the Citizens Defending Freedom lawsuit. The judge dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, see: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/texas/txndce/4:2024cv00585/391344/81/ .
Now there is an anti- “Ten Commandments” lawsuit against most Tarrant County ISDs, including Arlington and Mansfield. Jacob Sanchez of the Fort Worth Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/09/22/tarrant-county-schools-sued-over-texas-ten-commandments-law/ .
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The release of the new accountability numbers for 2024 and 2025 became public on Friday, August 15. In an article by Chris Moss of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report he reports on the A-F Accountability scores for the past two years. His report is for the AISD, MISD, and KISD and can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/08/15/heres-how-arlington-area-schools-fared-in-texas-a-f-ratings/ . The AISD article on the new numbers: https://www.aisd.net/district-news/accountability-update-arlington-isd-doubles-a-rated-campuses-and-reduces-f-ratings/ .
TEA Accountability Data:
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In 2020, the AISD was tied for the highest M&O rate of all the school districts in Tarrant County. Since then, there has been NO tie. The AISD HAS the highest M&O rate in Tarrant County. [school district tax rates]
Top 5 of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs M&O Rates
1. Arlington ISD $0.812800
2. Birdville ISD $0.786900
2. Fort Worth ISD $0.786900
2. Godley ISD $0.786900
2. Mansfield ISD $0.786900
Teacher Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html [Arlington ISD easily pays the highest salaries, thus creating ISD inflation.]
AISD Declining Enrollment
Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/05/28/arlington-isds-enrollment-could-shrink-by-2032-heres-whats-driving-the-decline .
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Other News
November 4 Election
Voters will have their say on 17 constitutional amendments. Early voting starts Monday, October 20 and ends on Friday, October 31. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4.
Texas for Fiscal Responsibility staff has an article on the 17 amendments and whether they are pro- or anti- taxpayer: https://texastaxpayers.com/the-2025-proposed-amendments-to-the-texas-constitution/ .
JPS Lower Tax Rate Approved
Three weeks ago, two county commissioners [including our commissioner, Alisha Simmons] were not present for a vote on the JPS (hospital) tax rate causing a delay on voting for that lower tax rate. Two weeks ago that tax rate was approved, 3-1, as one of the two absent commissioners attended the specially called meeting. Miranda Suarez of KERA News has an article at: Tarrant County commissioners pass tax rates after Democrats broke quorum last week | KERA News .
Local Government Games
The staff of Texans for Fiscal Reponsibility (TFR) has written this article of how local governments claim tax cuts, while greatly increasing spending: https://texastaxpayers.com/the-games-local-governments-play/ .
HELPFUL CONTACTS
The Spectator: www.ArlSpectator.mysite.com
to be added/deleted to/from the mailing list e-mail: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com
We can be found on Facebook at ArlSpectator.
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
City of Arlington website: www.arlingtontx.gov
e-mails of mayor and council:
.................... first.last@arlingtontx.gov
mayor = jim.ross
district 1 (north) = mauricio.galante
district 2 (sw) = raul.gonzalez
district 3 (se) = nikkie.hunter
district 4 (west) = andrew.piel
district 5 (central/east) = rebecca.boxall
district 6 (all) = long.pham
district 7 (all) = bowie.hogg
district 8 (all) = barbara.odom-wesley
AISD website ....................... www.aisd.net
McMurrough............ - sarahforaisd@gmail.com
Fowler ................... - fowler.aisd@gmail.com
Mike .................. - larrymike.aisd@gmail.com
Wilbanks .......... - dwilban.aisd@gmail.com
Chapa ...................... - chapa.aisd@gmail.com
Richardson ... - brooklyn.richardson.aisd@gmail.com
Haynes ................... - haynes.aisd@gmail.com
TEA Accountability Data:
ARC Political Watch Committee Reports
includes coverage of Mansfield ISD and national, state, county, & city
Texas Legislative Online:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
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