September 29, 2025 Newsletter
September 29, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 39
Highlights:
* Mayor's Town Hall is on Tuesday.
* The Field Square redevelopment boondoggle is still tabled and refuses to die.
* AISD Board meeting on Thursday.
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:
Tuesday, September 30: Mayor's Town Hall meeting, Boles Junior High School, 3900 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd.
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.)
Wednesday, October 8: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
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.)
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 met last Wednesday, September 24. 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-and-zoning-regular-session-9-24-2025.pdf . There were two zoning case public hearings on the agenda. The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=10&clip_id=5251 .
(3:53) Public hearing #1 was for Z03-56/P03-56R1, a revision to the existing development plan at 915 E. Randol Mill Road (staff report). It appears that Wal-Mart wishes to add solar panels. It was approved, 9-0.
(22:01) Public hearing #2 was for PD15-05R1, a revision to the existing development plan at 5301 W. Pioneer Parkway (staff report). The original plan called for Phase II to add 9788 sq. ft. of building space. The applicant wants to increase Phase II to 23,000 sq. ft. It was approved, 8-0.
AISD School Board
The AISD School Board will meet this Thursday, October 2. The agenda should be posted on Monday.
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Last month 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/ .
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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
JPS Lower Tax Rate Approved
Two 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. This week 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 .
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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