91ֱ��’s next school building has been intentionally designed to not look like a school.

“We want it to actually look like a corporate learning environment where they’re going to work every day,” said 91ֱ�� Superintendent Dr. Matt Smith.

That’s the vision for the district’s future 18 PLUSS center, a facility that will serve special education students who have completed their high school requirements and are now in a one-to-three-year program that teaches job skills to help them start their careers.

“The biggest thing about 18 PLUSS is working on specially-designed instruction in the area of vocation and employability,” said Brenda Cupps, the curriculum coordinator for the 18 PLUSS program. “We specialize in working on finding them a job that fits their needs.”

But it’s not all about just finding a job. It’s also about teaching independence.

“Our job is to help prepare them for life,” Smith said. “We are excited about this job.”

The district is also excited about what the new 18 PLUSS center will do for students. The schematic design – designed by – for the new facility was approved by the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees last week and will be funded by the 2026 Bond program. ��

“The schematic design for the new 18 PLUSS center��will enhance the educational experience for our 18 PLUSS students,” Cupps said. “This new space has been thoughtfully designed to provide meaningful opportunities that promote independence, skill development, and community engagement.”

The new center will be built on the site of the former Blanton Elementary School. The plan involves demolishing much of Blanton but will keep and renovate the newer portions of the former school building. It will also feature a 43,500-square-foot addition that will completely reinvent the campus.

The design includes spaces for classrooms, vocational-training areas, collaboration areas, a makerspace, a gym/storm shelter, a fitness area, and a district science materials warehouse.

“The idea is that all of these spaces have multiple uses and can be used for different things at different times – trying to really activate every bit of this building to get the most use out of it as possible,” said VLK principal architect Marty Sims.

The new school will also house a café and spirit shop open to the public that will be run and staffed by the 18 PLUSS students.

“The idea is to create programming where students can learn in real life about how to function outside of a school setting,” Smith said.

He envisions the facility hosting community meetings while 18 PLUSS students operate a coffee shop for attendees.

Outside, the schematic design includes a basketball court, garden, greenhouse, and outdoor classroom.

“The addition of the garden will provide students hands-on experience planting, growing, and harvesting fresh produce,” Cupps said. “The garden will serve as an outdoor classroom, allowing students to develop vocational skills, learn about healthy nutrition, practice teamwork, and build responsibility through the care and maintenance of the garden.”

Watch the schematic design presentation at the July 30 school board meeting:

[embed]https://youtu.be/m_HN4VpjtCs?si=jqeMJPgQbG6hq1Db&t=5921[/embed]

A game changer.

That’s how Foster Elementary principal Jacquelyn Burden described the school’s new gym built through the 2019 Bond program.

Three new gyms – all funded by the 2019 Bond – recently opened at Foster, Miller, and Johns elementary schools.

At Miller, the school celebrated last week during their Open House with a special ribbon cutting.

“The look on our students' faces as they entered the gym for the first time was priceless,” said Miller principal Angela Robinson. “They have been so excited for this project to be completed, and they are even more excited now that our P.E. classes are taking place in their new gym.”

They are just as excited at Johns, where the principal has big plans for the new space.

“Our new��gym��is more than just a facility for physical activity,” said Johns principal Grecia Lopez. “It’s a space where our entire school community can come together. We’re excited to give our students a brand-new place to learn, play, and grow, while also creating opportunities to host events that bring families and the community onto our campus.”

The new gyms replaced older, much smaller facilities at each school. Each new gym is more than 5,000 square feet and includes six basketball goals with striping for basketball and volleyball, two restrooms, an office, and storage space.

“The space has been well thought out and will enable our P.E. teachers to offer more games, activities, and sports instruction to our students,” Robinson said.

The gyms were also designed to serve as storm shelters, large enough to accommodate the entire student and staff population.

“The fact that our new gym it is also a tornado shelter gives us peace of mind, knowing that our students and staff will be safe in case of a major storm,” Robinson said.

Meanwhile, the former gyms are being renovated into new classroom space. Miller already has new pre-K classrooms in what used to be their old gym, and Johns’ renovated space will be ready soon. Lopez plans to use the new rooms for pre-K 3, early childhood special education, and music next year.��

The new gyms at Johns, Foster, and Miller aren’t the only new elementary gyms built by the 2019 Bond. Crow, Duff, Key, and Pope have also received new gym and storm shelters.

Learn more about the 2019 Bond here.

91ֱ��’s Capital Needs Steering Committee (CNSC) convened for its sixth and final meeting this week, marking the culmination of months of research, collaboration, and community-driven analysis to shape capital investment recommendations for the district’s future bond consideration.

Throughout the process, committee members reviewed extensive districtwide data, including facility conditions, instructional and programmatic needs, safety and security priorities, enrollment trends, and financial considerations. Meeting 6 focused on final deliberations, as members reviewed combined bond project submissions, evaluated levels of consensus, and worked collaboratively to confirm recommendations for presentation to the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees.

During the meeting, committee members examined aggregated results from individual submissions representing 55 proposed projects across academics and career and technical education, athletics, fine arts, technology, facility projects, safety and security, and transportation. Through structured table discussions led by the committee co-chairs, members reviewed each project to determine consensus. Ultimately, the committee agreed the combined responses would form one option to recommend to the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees.

The committee also engaged in table discussions and deliberations to develop an additional proposal for consideration. Each committee member cast a vote on all 55 proposed projects, resulting in a second option that reached consensus and will be presented to the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees for review and discussion.

Meeting 6 concluded with confirmation that consensus had been reached, as well as an overview of next steps. Committee co-chairs will present two recommendation options to the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees later this month. Board members will review the committee’s work alongside community survey results before determining whether to call a bond election.

“I am grateful to the Capital Needs Steering Committee for the time, expertise, and collaboration they dedicated to this process,” said Superintendent Dr. Matt Smith. “Their work reflects a balanced, community-informed approach and will help guide the Board of Trustees as we evaluate next steps for 91ֱ��.”

91ֱ�� extends sincere appreciation to the Capital Needs Steering Committee members for their dedication, thoughtful dialogue, and commitment to supporting safe, modern, and effective learning environments for all students. Community members are encouraged to remain engaged, review meeting materials, submit feedback, and follow the Board’s next steps in the bond planning process.��

Additional information is available on the 91ֱ�� Capital Needs Steering Committee webpage at.

91ֱ��’s Capital Needs Steering Committee (CNSC) held its fifth meeting this week, marking a key transition from research and assessment to the collaborative prioritization of potential projects for consideration in the district’s next bond initiative.

Over the past several weeks, committee members have engaged in an in-depth review of districtwide data, including facility condition assessments, instructional program needs, safety and security considerations, enrollment trends, and demographic projections. With this comprehensive foundation established, Meeting 5 focused on synthesizing these findings to begin determining which capital improvements should be elevated as priorities for future investment.

During the session, members participated in a structured workshop designed to support the analysis and consolidation of identified needs. Working in small groups alongside district leadership, the committee evaluated project categories across multiple dimensions such as urgency, impact on teaching and learning, equity, operational sustainability, and long-term benefit to students, staff, and the broader community.

“The CNSC is working hard to give the Board fiscally appropriate recommendations for future bond needs, using community engagement, collaboration, and research,” said committee member Nick Heizer. “We all share the common goal of making AISD the district of choice.”

The committee’s discussions emphasized the importance of aligning capital priorities with both facility realities and program-specific requirements, while also reflecting community values and the district’s strategic commitment to safe, modern, and supportive learning environments. No final recommendations were made at the meeting, however the work completed represents a significant step toward shaping a refined set of proposals for consideration in the upcoming bond planning process.

91ֱ�� extends its appreciation to the members of the Capital Needs Steering Committee for their continued dedication, thoughtful deliberation, and service to the district.

Community members are encouraged to continue following the committee’s progress, review meeting materials, and share feedback throughout the process. All information is available on the 91ֱ�� Capital Needs Steering Committee webpage at .

CNSC reviewing district conditions and needs

The 91ֱ�� Capital Needs Steering Committee (CNSC) continued its work on Monday, Dec. 8, with a special school-bus tour of six 91ֱ�� schools. The site visits were designed to demonstrate how facility conditions, program requirements, and learning environments vary across the district.��

The tour began at 91ֱ��’s Career and Technical Center (CTC) and continued on to Rankin, Blanton, and Crow elementary schools. At each facility, district leaders and staff highlighted building age, conditions, space utilization, accessibility considerations, program-specific requirements, and ongoing maintenance challenges. These observations will play a key role in the committee’s work as they begin identifying priorities for long-term capital planning. The school-bus tour continued with a drive-by of Berry and Johns elementary schools, as well as Rodriguez Junior High.��

The opportunity to walk the halls, explore learning spaces, see interior and exterior conditions, and hear directly from campus personnel provided valuable context as the committee moves toward shaping its list of recommended projects. Their work will culminate in a data-informed proposal of priority needs to be presented to the Board of Trustees in January, a key step as the district considers a potential future bond program.

The campuses toured were chosen because they demonstrate the range of conditions that exist across 91ֱ�� facilities. Some schools visited have received recent extensive upgrades from the 2014 and 2019 Bonds, while others only minor upgrades.��

Committee members acknowledged the insights they gained from seeing campuses firsthand. They expressed that the tour was extremely valuable and showed how improving facilities – even incrementally – can translate to better experiences for faculty, staff, and students.��

The CNSC will reconvene for its fifth meeting next week, and members will begin synthesizing their findings, reviewing project priorities, understanding the status of the 2019 Bond program continuation, and ultimately preparing to finalize their recommendations to the school board.

Community members are encouraged to follow the committee’s progress, review meeting materials, and share feedback throughout the process. All information is available on the 91ֱ�� Capital Needs Steering Committee webpage at.

Meeting covers finances and facility assessments

91ֱ��’s Capital Needs Steering Committee (CNSC) reconvened on Monday, Nov. 17, for the second of six scheduled meetings as the district continues its work to assess long-term facility and capital needs. Nearly 40 volunteers representing parents, staff, civic leaders, business owners, and other community members gathered at Arlington’s South Davis Elementary School to tour the campus and dive deeper into district-level data that will inform potential future bond planning and long-range strategies.��

The evening’s agenda centered on building the committee’s understanding of the district’s financial position, bond capacity, and facility conditions. 91ֱ��'s Chief Financial Officer, Norberto Rivas, along with the district's financial advisor, George Williford, provided an overview of the district’s financial and debt-repayment history, current tax rates, and the funding mechanisms that support major capital projects. As part of this overview, the district also walked committee members through a series of frequently asked questions about school bonds, including what bonds are, how they are repaid, the anticipated repayment period, and how interest rates and taxable value growth affect the district’s long-term financial planning. This information helped ground the committee in the financial realities and opportunities that accompany large-scale capital initiatives.��

A major focus of the evening was the 91ֱ��’s comprehensive Facility Conditions Assessment (FCA), a multi-phase evaluation of every 91ֱ�� campus and support facility. Staff explained how the assessment analyzes short-term needs within the next three years, along with priorities projected over five- and ten-year timelines. Committee members learned how FCA findings help determine which buildings require renovation, modernization, or potential replacement in order to maintain safe, equitable, and future-ready learning environments.��

As part of this discussion, the district introduced the Facility Condition Index (FCI), an industry-standard metric that compares the cost of needed repairs to the full replacement cost of each facility. Understanding FCI helps the committee evaluate where reinvestment is most urgent and how facility conditions intersect with enrollment, instructional needs, and program delivery.��

Assistant Superintendent of Facility Services Kelly Horn reinforced the importance of the committee’s work in guiding the 91ֱ��’s future.��

“We rely on this committee to ensure the community’s voice is reflected in our planning through our data collection,” Horn said. “Our committee's questions and perspectives help us fully articulate both the needs and the priorities of 91ֱ��.”��

Committee member Niña Henderson emphasized how the evening’s discussions helped demonstrate the needs – and potential – that exist in 91ֱ��.��

“Our second meeting, and especially the tour of South Davis Elementary, allowed us to dig deeper into the data and begin connecting the dots between program needs and facility realities,” Henderson said. “The data presented was brilliant, and it made me look forward to having even more information. It’s exciting to learn and discern what will help make 91ֱ�� the district of choice for students.”��

Throughout the meeting, members participated in discussions, reviewed preliminary campus-level facility summaries, asked clarifying questions, and shared early observations. Their conversations helped illuminate priorities related to modernization, fine arts spaces, transportation, safety and security, technology needs, and long-term enrollment trends.��

Community members are invited to follow the committee’s work, review presentations, and submit feedback throughout the process. All information is available on the 91ֱ�� Capital Needs Steering Committee webpage at .

New stadium funded by the 2019 Bond

Nearly 35 years ago, Michael Glaspie made history as the first Black trustee elected to the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees.

“I ran, got elected; the rest is history,” Glaspie said Thursday night as he stood on the new athletic field that now bears his name.

91ֱ�� honored Glaspie and officially opened Glaspie Field with a ribbon-cutting ceremony before Seguin High School’s football game.

Looking back on his decision to run for the board, Glaspie shared what motivated him decades ago.

“I had three kids going to this school district,” he told the crowd. “One entering elementary, one entering junior high, and one entering high school. There was nothing going on in this district that I was not concerned about.”

Glaspie went on to serve nearly two decades as a trustee and later as a member of the Arlington City Council. He reflected on his lifelong commitment to public service by quoting Shirley Chisholm:

| “Service is rent we pay for the life we live on this earth.” |

“That’s one thing I’ve been trying to do is pay my rent while I’m on this earth,” Glaspie said.

Glaspie has paid more than his share of rent. His decades of leadership and community impact are why the district chose to name its new, state-of-the-art stadium in his honor.

Funded by the 2019 Bond, Glaspie Field features seating for about 10,000 spectators, modern LED lighting, a large press box, locker rooms, restrooms, and concessions, along with a turf field and all-weather track.

“Glaspie has been years in the making, so it’s a joy to finally be standing here under the lights with all of you,” said 91ֱ�� trustee Leanne Haynes before introducing Glaspie to the crowd.

Located on the Martin High School campus where the school’s practice field once stood, Glaspie Field now serves as the home stadium for both Martin and Seguin high schools. It gives 91ֱ�� a third competition venue for its six traditional high schools. The district’s other two stadiums – Wilemon Field at Sam Houston High School and Cravens Field at Lamar High School – will soon be completely rebuilt to match Glaspie Field.

“This is such a wonderful facility,” Glaspie said. “It’s hard to believe.”

New school funded by the 2019 Bond

It was a night filled with pride, memories and community spirit as 91ֱ�� officially dedicated Joey Rodriguez Junior High School on Wednesday evening.��

Board members, superintendent Dr. Matt Smith, former superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, and members of Joey Rodriguez’s family all joined students, staff, alumni, and community members to celebrate the opening of the district’s newest campus and honor the legacy of the beloved coach and educator.��

“The work we’re doing here today is so special,” Smith said. “I am excited to be a part of this amazing day.”��

The dedication ceremony featured remarks from district and city leaders, along with heartfelt reflections from those who knew Rodriguez best. Each story highlighted his lasting impact – both on and off the field – and the deep sense of purpose he inspired in his students.��

Rodriguez’s twin daughters shared moving tributes to their father during the ceremony.��

“Our dad was passionate about everything he did,” Lola Rodriguez said. “He wanted every student to know they had a purpose and ability to make a difference. He taught us that leadership isn’t about being in charge but about lifting us up. May every student who walks through these halls feel the power to dream big, serve others and believe the way he believed in us.”��

Her sister, Mila Rodriguez, emphasized how the new school reflects their father’s vision for every student.��

“Our hope is that this school carries the same spirit,” she said. “That it becomes more than just a place to learn, but a place where students feel supported, inspired and follow in the same steps as our dad. A place where they discover their strengths, believe in themselves and care for each other.”

Adding to the celebration, guests were treated to performances by the Joey Rodriguez Junior High Band and Orchestra, the Sam Houston High School Mariachi (with some mariachi musicians from Rodriguez as well), and a special ballet folklórico performance by Thornton Elementary. These performances highlighted the rich arts programs and student talent that will continue to flourish on the new campus.��

Located in east Arlington, the new 155,000-square-foot junior high replaces the former Carter Junior High, standing as a testament to the values Coach Rodriguez instilled in his students – hard work, perseverance, and community. From the school’s design to its mission, the campus embodies the spirit of mentorship and teamwork that defined his career.��

Following the ceremony, attendees joined together for an official ribbon cutting before touring the facility. Guests had the opportunity to explore the modern classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, and vibrant halls that are filled with students continuing Coach Rodriguez’s legacy every day.��

The 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees called for a volunteer Capital Needs Steering Committee at last week's board meeting. The purpose of the 2025 Capital Needs Steering Committee will be to provide recommendations to the school board for prioritized facility and identified capital needs through 2029 to support the district’s strategic plan.

If you would like to serve on the committee and help develop plans for a potential future bond, please fill out an application��here.

Old gym converted into pre-K classrooms

91ֱ��’s 2019 Bond program is a lot more than the big noticeable projects, like the brand-new Rodriguez Junior High School or the new Glaspie Field stadium that opens later this week.

The bond program is also making huge improvements at schools that have served the Arlington community for decades. Like Miller Elementary, which opened in 1981, and has had construction ongoing at the campus for over a year. You won’t notice much different if you drive by Miller, but the district’s volunteer Citizens Bond Oversight Committee got to go inside last week and see what’s been done.

And it’s a lot.

The committee started their tour in what used to be Miller’s gym. The entire space has been renovated and converted into four pre-K classrooms.

“It’s been an amazing journey into the new classrooms,” said Miller principal Angela Robinson. “Those kids that have been here are amazed to see what was once their gym has turned into four amazing classrooms.”

Then throughout the building, the school received new ceilings and lighting, along with new paint in the hallways, brightening the school and giving it a fresh, happy feel. Plus, 44-year-old restrooms have been completely renovated.

After walking through the school, the committee left the main building and went outside to the see biggest project – a new gym. It’s not done yet – they’re targeting the end of October for completion – but it’s looking good.

“They’re all so excited about our new gym,” Robinson said about Miller’s students. “It’s going to be so much bigger than what they’ve had, and it’s state-of-the-art. They deserve this. They’re excited and it’s really pumped them up for a great school year.”

The new gym is worth being excited about. At 5,000-square-feet, it will have six basketball goals with striping for basketball and volleyball, two restrooms, an office, and storage. Plus, the new gym is a storm shelter, sized to accommodate the entire student and staff population.

of the construction progress at Miller.

Miller isn’t the only school getting a new gym in the 2019 Bond. In fact, Duff, Key and Pope elementary school already have new gyms, and new gyms will open soon at Johns and Foster elementary schools. Construction for a new gym will start soon at Swift Elementary.

New gyms funded by the 2019 Bond

Brand new gyms at Key and Pope elementary schools aren’t just beautiful, according to Pope principal Yolanda Railey.

“Our theme this year is 'Level Up,' and our new gym is more than just a beautiful space – it’s a place where our students can ‘Level Up’ in fitness, teamwork, and school spirit,” Railey said. “Here, they’ll build healthy habits, challenge themselves, develop confidence, and celebrate achievements together. This space will allow us to expand our physical education program, host school events, and inspire our students to reach new heights, both on and off the court.”

The new gyms were much needed and replace old, tiny gyms at the school. Funded by the 2019 Bond��– both are over 5,000-square-feet, have six basketball goals with striping for basketball and volleyball, two restrooms, an office and storage. Plus, the new gyms were built as storm shelters, sized to accommodate the entire student and staff population.

At Key, the students are loving the extra space to run and move.

“Our Key Colts are enjoying their new gym,” said Key principal Dr. Angela Eaton. “This learning space provides opportunities for students to engage in innovation, enhanced collaboration, and teamwork. The sounds of laughter and excitement continue to foster the culture of AISD and the Key community."

The gyms at Key and Pope aren’t the only new gyms in the district. Duff’s new gym opened last year, and three others will open later this fall at Johns, Foster and Miller elementaries.

Foster principal Jacquelyn Burden is ready.

“The new gym at Foster will be a game-changer for our students,” she said.

Project funded by the 2019 Bond

91ֱ�� celebrated the start of construction on the future 91ֱ�� Service Center with a groundbreaking ceremony last week.��

It’s a big project that includes new construction, renovations, demolition and added parking, and will transform much of the district’s current Service Center.

Home to the district’s bus barn and facilities and security departments, the 91ֱ�� Service Center is sandwiched between Arkansas and Colorado lanes in central Arlington.��

The new construction already underway is the future Building A, a facility that will house the transportation, security and health services departments. It will include offices, a large dividable training room, multiple conference rooms and two break rooms. It will also contain a secondary data center for the district in a storm-protected space.

The entire project is about providing facilities that enable district support employees to thrive and do their jobs in a way that best supports students.

“This is a community project, and I’m grateful for a community that supports all facets of education,” said 91ֱ�� superintendent Dr. Matt Smith at the groundbreaking ceremony. “It takes all of us to do great for kids.”

91ֱ�� Board president Justin Chapa reminisced about playing ball as a kid across the street at the Central YMCA and remembered that the current service center facilities still look the same as they did back then.

But now, that is finally changing.

“This is a good example of our community appreciating the work that folks do behind the scenes every day to make sure that our kids are safe, that they’re healthy and that they get to where they need to be,” Chapa said.

A long time coming

“It is a long time coming,” Chapa said about the new building under construction.

The current transportation building opened in 1983 and has been too small for decades. It lacks enough space and restrooms to accommodate the district’s bus drivers.

The new building will fix that, but the current building isn’t going away. The old office space will be completely redone with a new floor plan and new flooring, paint and light fixtures. The garage – where school buses are serviced – will also get renovations with new epoxy flooring and new overhead motorized doors and finishes.

Nearby, a couple of the old district buildings, Annexes I and II, will be demolished to make way for new parking.

See renderings of the future Building A��here. And see more photos from the groundbreaking .

The project is funded by the 2019 Bond program.

The 91ֱ�� is now accepting applications for positions on the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC).

The CBOC provides transparency and enhances public confidence in the use of proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by 91ֱ�� voters on Nov. 5, 2019. The purpose of the committee is to provide findings and recommendations to the Board of Trustees relating to the expenditure of bond proceeds authorized in the 2019 Bond election, the progress of the 2019 Bond program and ways the district can maximize the potential of the 2019 Bond program.

The committee has a maximum of 15 voting members appointed by the Board to serve two-year staggered terms. Terms may extend for one- or two-year terms based upon approval by the Board.

Read the Board’s charge to the Committee.

Duff has a new library

Duff Elementary is still Duff.

That’s what the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee found out when its members toured Duff and had their quarterly meeting in the school’s cafeteria this week. They were there to see the 2019 Bond renovations and addition that brought some significant changes to the school.

“There’s a lot of nostalgia when you have a 60-year-old building,” said Duff principal Cindy Harbison about the school that opened in 1961.

She told the CBOC that some in the Duff community were a little concerned that the bond project might mess up that special something that Duff has.

“But when we came this summer and saw the paint and the lights, it was amazing,” Harbison said. “It still has that community school feel, but the renovations have been great.”

Duff is still Duff – just a little better.

In fact, Duff got more than new paint, new ceilings and new LED lighting throughout much of the campus. It also got an expanded, completely renovated library.

“The library is awesome,” Harbison said. It’s very functional.”

Something the old library was not.

And next week, the biggest part of the bond project at Duff will open for students. The new gym is finally ready.

The new 5,030-square-foot gym addition is replacing Duff’s tiny gym that was demolished before construction began. With six basketball goals, striping for basketball and volleyball, two restrooms, an office and storage, the new gym is a vast improvement over the old, tiny gym. Plus, the new gym has been constructed as a storm shelter, sized to accommodate the entire student and staff population.

more Duff photos.

Citizens Bond Oversight Committee

Following the tour of Duff, the committee members met in Duff’s cafeteria to receive updates on the��2019 Bond��program from Kelly Horn, 91ֱ��’s assistant superintendent for facility services. The presentation included updates on bond-funded projects for facilities, fine arts, technology, security and transportation. (See the presentation.)

The CBOC’s charge is to follow the district’s bond program progress and annually report its findings and recommendations to the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees (read the CBOC’s charge).

Addition funded by the 2019 Bond

The big addition at Arlington High School is scheduled to open Jan. 8.

But Arlington High’s librarian, Maryjane O'Halloran-Beane, is already moving in, getting the new library ready to welcome students. The fine arts programs – like band and orchestra – have gotten a jumpstart, too.

Is it going to be ready on time?

“Absolutely,” O'Halloran-Beane said.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “I’ve been the librarian for 30 years. For the first time in 30 years, I have windows.”

O'Halloran-Beane is excited about a lot of things. Just ask her, and she can give you a long list.

And for good reason. The open-concept library evokes a university feel and is eye-catching with towering ceilings and modern lighting. ����

Those are just some of the things O'Halloran-Beane likes. There are the lights and the wood strip ceiling that absorbs sound. There are quiet study areas, lots of seating, plugs and projectors. And there are multiple collaboration spaces – or “think areas,” as O'Halloran-Beane calls them – “areas where kids can come and work and collaborate.”

One of the think areas has a bunch of chess sets.

“I have a huge amount of chess players,” O'Halloran-Beane said.

And another area will include the Lego sets that are a huge hit with students.

“The new library gives the students more options, places to work, places to study and hopefully places to read,” O'Halloran-Beane said.

There’s just one thing O'Halloran-Beane doesn’t like.

“There’s not enough green in here,” she said.

But she’ll fix that. Green chairs are coming, and O'Halloran-Beane will add green with artwork and antique busts of famous authors that have a green tint.

Get a sneak peak of the library and the entire addition with .

The addition includes way more than the library. There’s a new front entrance, new classrooms, a new orchestra room, a new band hall, a new art room, a new art studio, a new dance studio and more – all funded by the 2019 Bond.

Glaspie Field funded by the 2019 Bond

The future Glaspie Field at Martin High School topped out last week. That means they hung the last beam of the steel structure.

That also means it’s starting to really look like the athletic venue is under construction.

“We are very excited about Glaspie Stadium,” said Eric White, 91ֱ��’s director of athletics.��“We realize the work has been going on for a while, but it comes alive when the work is above ground. When you can see the buildings, press box and bleachers taking shape it becomes tangible and creates more energy about playing there next year.”

The 2019 Bond project is converting Martin’s athletic field into the district’s third competition venue and will serve as the home field for Martin and Seguin high schools.

The new��Glaspie Field��will include approximately 10,000 seats, a larger press box, locker rooms, restrooms and concessions.

Architects were careful to consider the campus’ existing layout, neighbors, traffic flow – cars, school buses and pedestrians – and parking in their design. They have included a landscape buffer and fencing between the stadium and neighboring homes and will utilize modern LED lighting. The LED lighting is significantly better than traditional lighting in that it can be directed into the stadium and onto the playing surface more efficiently, has considerably less spillage from the venue and can be turned on and off quickly.

See the Glaspie Field renderings.

The design also features the ability to transform the stadium according to which school is using it. With lighting, signage and technology, the stadium will shift to reflect the home team for that event, whether it’s Seguin, Martin or any other 91ֱ�� school.

Glaspie Field will give 91ֱ�� the three competition venues it needs for its six traditional high schools. The other two are Wilemon Field at Sam Houston High School and Cravens Field at Lamar High School, which will both receive renovations as part of the 2019 Bond, too.

The district used to rent UT Arlington’s football stadium for its third stadium until it became unavailable and currently plays many football games at Choctaw Stadium.

See more .

Sam Houston High School renovated library

Sam Houston High School is about to unwrap a big Christmas present.

A completely renovated library.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of our newly renovated library in January 2025!” said Sam Houston principal Juan Villarreal. “This state-of-the-art facility will be an invaluable resource for students and teachers, providing a dedicated space for enrichment activities and collaborative learning.”

The renovations funded by the 2019 Bond include new carpet, paint, ceiling and light fixtures. Plus, the roof above the library was replaced.

The library also includes��a versatile meeting area for school events and programs, and Sam Houston’s College and Career Center will be conveniently located in the room adjacent to the library, offering students essential resources for their future planning.

The construction is basically complete, so you won’t find too many construction workers there anymore. But you will find 91ֱ��’s library sciences team – like the district’s library services coordinator Lesley Cano and library specialist Alicia Vandenbroek – there working to get the library and all the books ready to welcome students.

“The school library is the center of learning in any school, and the updated library at Sam Houston will ensure just that,” Cano said. “It will offer students a warm and inviting space designed to spark learning, foster collaboration and encourage creativity… This makeover is part of a broader initiative to provide students with top-tier resources, including new books that will be arriving soon. With its refreshed appearance, the library remains a hub for exploration with its diverse collection of books, advanced digital resources and thoughtfully designed collaborative spaces.”

Villarreal agrees.

“Once completed, these upgrades will significantly enhance our learning environment, further supporting the growth and success of every Long Tall Texan at Sam Houston High School,” he said.

Learn more about the 2019 Bond here.

91ֱ�� support services center bidding now

91ֱ�� is getting a new support services center to house transportation, security and health services.

Planning for the 2019 Bond project is now complete, and bidding is open until Dec. 4 for a general contractor. The architect is . The district hopes to start construction in February.

It’s a big project that includes new construction, renovations, demolition and added parking, and will transform much of the district’s current Service Center. Home to the district’s bus barn and facilities and security departments, the 91ֱ�� Service Center is sandwiched between Arkansas and Colorado lanes in central Arlington. And it’s old.

While the transportation department has done its best to make do with what it has, it really outgrew the aging facility decades ago. It lacks enough space and restrooms to accommodate the district’s bus drivers.

The new construction planned for the project is the support services center building that will house the transportation, security and health services departments. It will include offices, a large dividable training room, multiple conference rooms and two break rooms. It will also contain a secondary data center for the district in a storm-protected space.

A couple of the old district buildings near the new center will be demolished. Annexes I and II will be razed to make way for new parking.

However, the current transportation building isn’t going away. The office space will be completely redone with a new floor plan and new flooring, paint and light fixtures. The garage – where school buses are serviced – will also get renovations with new epoxy flooring and new overhead motorized doors and finishes.

The project will require phasing as the transportation and security departments will continue to operate out of the location. Once a general contractor is hired, the phasing plan will be finalized.

See more renderings of the future support services center here.

Addition funded by the 2019 Bond

When you drive by the addition at Arlington High School, there’s usually a bustle of activity on the outside. The same is true on the inside.

The race is on to finish the addition so students and teachers can move in after the winter break. In fact, the first delivery of furniture is scheduled for next week.

Are you curious to see inside the Arlington High School addition? Get a sneak peek with these photos taken earlier this week.

“The finish line is quickly approaching, and there is a lot of work to do,” said Shane Strawderman, 91ֱ�� senior project manager. “Amazing progress is being made on a daily basis, and we are not slowing down. Final clean is around the corner for the interior of the building, which will nicely wrap up the new addition. As you can see on the outside, we are finishing up landscaping and working on the final touches for what will be a remarkable new feature at the corner of Cooper and Park Row.”

The Cube

The addition – dubbed the “Cube” by AHS principal Stacie Humbles – is the biggest part of the 2019 Bond-funded construction project at the school. It will house new classrooms, a new open-concept library, a new band hall, a new orchestra room, art rooms, gallery space, a black box theater and more. It will also provide accessible passage between the school’s two existing gyms.

While the addition is the most noticeable part of the construction project, there’s a lot more that has been done, including renovations for the existing building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Outside, the athletic field was replaced with new turf and the track was resurfaced, the tennis courts were resurfaced and the softball team got a new competition field.

In the existing building, new flooring and ceilings have been installed in Halls A, B and C. The culinary room was also renovated, and the former wrestling room has been converted into a cheer and drill room, complete with renovated locker rooms and restrooms. Wrestling moved to an updated building near the field house.

Learn more about all Bond 2019 projects here.

Former Administration Building opened in 1964

It turned 60-years-old this year, but now it’s gone.

91ֱ��’s former James W. Counts Administration Building on Pioneer Parkway has been demolished. All that’s left to do is tear out the foundation and remove the rubble.

"It’s bittersweet to see this building being torn down,” said Cameron Garcia, an 91ֱ�� administrative assistant in research and accountability who worked in the old admin building for eight years. “What I’ll miss most is the camaraderie and team spirit we shared in the northwest hallway."

The building opened in 1964 and was renamed J.W. Counts in 1986 after the former superintendent. Counts was also a basketball coach at Arlington High School before he became the principal at Speer Elementary in 1951. The WWII Navy veteran served as the district’s superintendent from 1979-1985

J. W. Counts will be memorialized at the new 91ֱ�� Administration Building along with other retired facility namesakes like Guy C. Hutcheson (junior high school), Veda Knox (elementary school), Maude V. Roark (elementary school) and Jack and Alexa Roquemore (elementary school).

The Counts Administration Building – home to the district’s board room and central administration offices for decades – had actually been empty for several years. The building had become much too small and too old, and 91ֱ�� moved the majority of its administrative offices and board room to the current Administration Building on Lamar Blvd. in the fall of 2021.

The district already owned the current Administration Building – known as Enterprise Centre prior to the move – and used funds from the 2019 Bond to renovate it and add a boardroom. The new location is much larger than the Counts Building and allows for most academic services departments to reside in the same location.

Though the old admin building is gone, 91ֱ�� plans to hang on to the property on Pioneer Parkway.

“While the building is in the process of being razed currently, the existing site has incredible value to the district,” said Kelly Horn, 91ֱ�� assistant superintendent of facility services. “Its ultimate use has not been fully determined.”

Duff Elementary's new library now open

How do you mark the grand opening of Duff Elementary's new library? With a special guest visit of course! ��

Renowned educator and storyteller helped celebrate the newly renovated library with the Mustangs by sharing his enthusiasm��for literature.��

“This is such a huge deal,” said Duff librarian Stacie Farr. “When we were opening this new space, I knew we were never going to have another opportunity to open a new library and bring John Schu.” ��

Schu, who spends 300 days a year traveling the globe to spark a love for reading, captivated the audience with his energy and passion, gifting over 100 books to students and staff.��

“The thing that’s wonderful to me is that everywhere I go it’s like the first day of school,” Schu said. “We get to meet, we get to come together, we get to celebrate story and we get to go on a journey through story.”��

In fact, this was Schu’s second visit to the school after leading a professional development session with staff back in August. ��

As a teacher, librarian, writer, lecturer and ambassador of school libraries, Schu does it all.��

“No matter where I go, people are hungry for connection and moments of joy,” he��said. “I get to experience those things all because of story.”��

And that’s exactly what he brought to Duff. ��

“The kids have loved it,” Farr said. “What an awesome gift to bring to the teachers and the students as we open up our new library.”��

The new library – funded by the 2019 Bond –��was created after the original library was demolished along with an adjacent classroom. Those spaces were combined and completely renovated into a bigger, better library.��

Orchestra will take over old band hall

The construction noise at Martin High School sounds like music. At least to some. That’s because the addition currently under construction is going to be a much-needed new band hall.

The project, funded by the 2019 Bond, started in the spring but recently went vertical, which means the walls are now going up.

The 10,000 square-foot addition��will house the new band hall, practice rooms, a percussion room and band offices.

“The band program is ecstatic about the new additions to the fine arts facilities at Martin High School,” said Babatunde Onibudo, Martin’s director of . “The band students and staff are extremely excited about the new band hall and cannot wait for its completion.”

While their wait will continue through the year – the new addition should open this summer 2025 – choir and orchestra students are already enjoying renovations to their facilities that were done over the summer.

“The��Martin��Choir received a new HVAC System, new risers that offer versatility to accommodate our different sized groups, raised ceilings to enhance the acoustics, new acoustical tiles to improve sound quality, new flooring and fresh paint,” said Jocelyn Epley, Martin’s director. “We are thrilled for these upgrades and look forward to seeing how these enhancements will contribute to our incredible choir program.”

The orchestra room received renovations, too, with new carpet and paint. But they’re also waiting for the new band hall to open.

That’s because Martin’s current orchestra space is not big enough. The school has two orchestras that meet at the same time for three of four class periods a day. So, one orchestra class has to meet on the auditorium stage, which has many disadvantages to a standard rehearsal room.

But when the new band hall is built, the original band hall will be renovated and orchestra will take it over, giving the program two fully functioning classrooms. The renovations will be done next summer.

“Having two viable rehearsal spaces will be huge for us,” said Jamie Ovalle, Martin’s director of . “It means we can offer an equitable experience for every kid in the Martin orchestra. This will improve our kids’ ownership over their learning space and help us be better teachers by having access to technology and standard orchestra room resources we have not had before. It is an addition we have been looking forward to for quite some time. We are grateful for the support of our principal, Mrs. Roddy, and AISD.”��

Short looks like a new school

It’s an old school that looks and feels new.

That’s what the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee saw on Tuesday when its members met for their first meeting of the year at Short Elementary School. The meeting started with a tour of Short to see all the renovations at the school funded by the 2019 Bond.

“It’s like having a new school without building a new school,” Short principal Betsy Berkebile told the committee. “We love it.”

Even though they didn’t build a new school, the renovations required a major a construction project.

The inside of the school has been transformed. Kelly Horn, 91ֱ��’s assistant superintendent of facility services, walked the CBOC members through the halls pointing out all the renovations – like the new ceilings, new lighting and new tile wainscoat on the corridor walls. The wainscoat makes the walls more durable and much easier to clean.

Horn also highlighted the new luxury vinyl tile flooring, or LVT, which is better than tile or vinyl composite flooring (VCT). It is safer and more environmentally friendly because it doesn’t require chemicals to clean. Plus, it’s more durable.

When the tour group reached the gym in the back of the building, Berkebile described what it used to look like. The gym was dark, and the floor was concrete. Now, the gym has a new floor, new wall graphics and much better lighting.

“It’s like night and day,” Berkebile said.

Not only does the whole school look great now, but it’s also unique. One-of-a-kind graphics in the building inspire and welcome students.

Wall graphics in the main hallway and cafeteria feature trees, birds and cattle and give students the feeling that they are walking along the “Shorthorn Trail.” Then each hallway has a name that recalls something from community history, like Beatrice Short Trail – named for the school’s namesake – or Johnson Station Trail – named for the first school in Arlington where Beatrice Short taught for decades. Some of the other hallway names include California Lane Trail, Cattle Trail and Ranger Station Trail.

Following the tour, the committee members met in Short’s cafeteria to receive updates on the��2019 Bond��program from Horn. The presentation included updates on bond-funded projects for facilities, fine arts, technology, security and transportation. (See the presentation.)

The CBOC’s charge is to follow the district’s bond program progress and report its findings and recommendations to the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees (read the CBOC’s charge).

“The Citizens Bond Oversight Committee is incredibly important to the successful implementation of the 2019 Bond program,” Horn said. “The committee reports directly to our Board of Trustees to help steward the bond program and communicate any recommendations in the form of an annual report. Further, they help the district to disseminate information to the community about upcoming and on-going projects.”

of the renovations at Short.

Many bond constrution projects will continue into the fall

The marathon Bond 2019 construction projects at schools throughout 91ֱ�� have turned into sprints.

With only a few days left before school starts, construction crews and district facility services teams have been racing to get the buildings ready.

“This is one of the busiest times of the year for us as we button up construction projects, move furniture into new or renovated spaces and get the schools cleaned and ready for students and staff,” said Kelly Horn, 91ֱ�� assistant superintendent of facility services.

It’s not that they are necessarily finishing up the construction projects. Many of the projects take months or years. So, most will continue into the fall – but with work done after hours, on weekends and during holidays.

But some of the tasks are being finished quickly to welcome students. For example, Key, Pope, Speer, Atherton, Foster and Johns elementary schools are all getting at least a couple of restrooms renovated. They’ll be ready for school next Wednesday. At Key, they also received new carpet, ceilings and lights over the summer.

At Martin High School, renovations are done in the orchestra and choir rooms. At Arlington High School, they’ve been wrapping up renovations in C Hall to welcome students. The huge addition going up at the school is still under construction and should open in early 2025. At Duff Elementary, the new library is close to completion, and the new gym will open up shortly after the start of school. Sam Houston High School’s library is getting renovated, too, but that work will last until October. And South Davis Elementary has a new freezer-cooler that is almost ready for use.

One of the biggest projects opening for students next week is at , where they now have an expanded cafeteria and kitchen and a new addition that includes 10 classrooms and a new administrative office area. The addition includes a new secure entrance for the school, so it’s a big change. The addition also means that Bailey will no longer have portable buildings.

One project that doesn’t have to get ready for students and teachers this year is the new Joey Rodriguez Junior High School. But construction on the new junior high that will replace Carter Junior High is making good progress as steel and masonry are going up. That project will welcome students and teachers next school year.

It’s been a busy summer of construction for 91ֱ��, but now it’s time for construction crews to give the schools back to students and teachers. That doesn’t mean their work will stop though. There’s still a lot to do.

“While we’re wrapping up a number of projects soon – like Bailey, Duff and Sam Houston – a number of others have a long way to go. And we still have quite a few other projects in the design phase that are scheduled to start over the course of the next year,” said Michael Parkos, 91ֱ��’s director of facilities planning and construction.

Keep up with all of the bond projects at aisd.net/bond2019.

Library scheduled to open in October

Most of the work originally planned for the 2019 Bond project at Sam Houston High School is complete.

New ceilings, new flooring and more are all installed.

But the project is still going because of some work that was not in the original plan. When construction crews did planned roof work, they discovered problems with some of the gypsum decking above the library and determined it needed to be replaced.

So, this summer, work started to replace that decking and put on a new roof over the library. Plus, now the entire library is getting renovated with new carpet, paint, ceiling and light fixtures. All this added work is scheduled to wrap up this fall, and the library is scheduled to open back up in October.

The construction has required Sam Houston principal Juan Villarreal and his administrative team to relocate to another campus for the summer months. It’s an inconvenience, he said, that will be worth it in the end.

“The project is progressing well, and the contractors have kept me informed throughout the process,” Villarreal said. “They've assured us that the school, including the front of the building, will be ready for use by the start of the school year. Once completed, these improvements will create a better learning environment, ultimately supporting our students' success at Sam Houston High School.”

While the library won’t be open on Aug. 14 when school starts, the rest of the work in the 2019 Bond project at Sam Houston will be done. The renovations included replacing the ceilings, light fixtures and flooring in most of the corridors. Selected restrooms were renovated, portions of the building were re-roofed and the��electrical switchgear and boiler were replaced. The courtyard was re-graded and new sidewalks and turf were added. The last remaining work in the original scope is replacing selected doors and hardware, and that should be done by the start of school.

of the construction project at Sam Houston.

Rodriguez JH will replace Carter JH

The future Joey Rodriguez Junior High School has gone vertical.

That means the steel is now being erected for the frame of the facility. After lots of preparations – grading, installing utilities, drilling piers, pouring grade beams and more – it’s starting to look like a real building. The masonry walls for the gymnasium and storm shelter are also going up.

“Seeing the framing and building begin to take form is bringing life to the ideas and plans that we have made over the course of the last two years,” said Carter Junior High principal Elena Lopez. “We are all eagerly anticipating the completion of the project and looking forward to the positive impact Rodriguez Junior High will have in our community.”

When it opens, Rodriguez will replace Carter Junior High, which first opened in 1958 and has become old and too costly to maintain. Plus, the site it sits on is undersized, and erosion in the adjacent creek impedes site use. There is no room for a track around the football field or enough parking.

That will all change with the new building and location. The new school is on the site where the former Knox Elementary once stood, a site that is more centrally located to the Carter student population and large enough to accommodate all program offerings.

The new building will be approximately 155,000 square feet and will range in height from the three-story classroom blocks on the north to a single-story administration office space and a one-and-a-half-floor media center. The new facility will include 48 classroom spaces, including CTE classrooms, break-out and collaboration spaces, teacher workrooms and offices. There will be performing arts classrooms for band, orchestra, drama, choir and art, along with rooms for SPED programs, science labs and a storm shelter. Outdoor spaces include a new entry plaza and canopy, a regulation synthetic turf football field with a four-lane track, bleachers, press box, concessions and restrooms.

The construction of the new junior high school is funded by the 2019 Bond and started in the fall of 2023. Completion is scheduled for the summer of 2025.

of the Rodriguez construction.

Photos give glimpse of huge addition

The addition at Arlington High School looks big when you drive by. But wait until you see the inside. It’s huge.

You can’t walk in yet – there are several more months of construction left – but you can see some photos taken earlier this week. Check them out .

The addition – dubbed the “Cube” by AHS principal Stacie Humbles – is the biggest part of the 2019 Bond-funded construction project at the school. It will house new classrooms, a new open-concept library, a new band hall, a new orchestra room, art rooms, gallery space, a black box theater and more. It will also provide accessible passage between the school’s two existing gyms.

While the addition is the most noticeable part of the construction project, there’s a lot more that has been done, including renovations for the existing building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Outside, the athletic field was replaced with new turf and the track was resurfaced, the tennis courts were resurfaced and the softball team got a new competition field.

In the existing building, new flooring and ceilings have been installed in Halls A and B, and they are wrapping up renovations in C Hall right now. The culinary room is also currently getting renovated, and the former wrestling room is getting converted into a cheer and drill room, complete with renovated locker rooms and restrooms. Wrestling moved to an updated building near the field house.

Most of the renovations in the existing building will be done next month in time for students to return to school. Construction on the addition should wrap up by the end of the calendar year, and then the “Cube” is scheduled to open in January 2025.

Learn more about all Bond 2019 projects here.

New Duff gym will open early in school year

Duff Elementary School is busy today, but there’s not a teacher or student in sight.

The school is full of construction workers busy finishing up the 2019 Bond project there.

“All work within the existing school is on schedule to complete prior to the return of teachers,” said 91ֱ�� project manager Jim Owens, who is overseeing the major construction project at Duff. “The work on the gym/storm shelter is scheduled to complete shortly after the students return.”

The new 5,030-square-foot gym addition, which is replacing Duff’s tiny gym that was demolished last summer, is now fully bricked. The roofing is wrapping up this week and will be followed with the installation of the roof-top HVAC units.

With six basketball goals, striping for basketball and volleyball, two restrooms, an office and storage, the new gym will be a vast improvement over the old, tiny gym. Plus, the new gym has been constructed as a storm shelter, sized to accommodate the entire student and staff population.

There’s a lot of work going on inside the existing building, too, from restroom renovations to new ceilings in all the corridors and the cafeteria. The new ceilings are nearly complete. Plus, a new sprinkler system has been installed throughout the school and some new light fixtures have been installed in some classrooms.

The new library is coming along, too. The old library was demolished along with an adjacent classroom which is being absorbed into what will be a bigger, better library. And now the entire space is being completely renovated. The ceiling grid is going up now and the sheetrock is almost complete.

“It will be great to have an updated 21st-century media center for our 21st-century learners,” said Duff librarian Stacie Farr when the library construction started over last winter break. “Our school is one of the oldest elementary buildings in the district and it is wonderful that this bond will provide all the necessary updates for our students. What is amazing about this update is that it will impact every student and staff member. We will all benefit from this new and improved space.”

.

Bailey getting 10 new classrooms

When the Citizens Board Oversight Committee met at Bailey Junior High recently to start preparing its annual report for the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees, they first got a tour of the big ongoing construction project at the school.

The 2019 Bond project at Bailey is bringing major changes to the campus, but the project takes time.

“They’re doing as much as they can when we’re not here – so Christmas, Thanksgiving … they even worked over Easter,” said Bailey principal Jason Davis to the CBOC committee members. “They’re trying to find every available minute they can. The work list for the summer is long, so they’re trying to reduce as much of that as they can right now.”

A lot has been done since the project started over a year ago. Two large additions are nearly dried in (meaning the roof is on and the inside is protected from the weather), and the redone drive and parking lot out front was completed last summer. Buses now use the drive and no longer have to cue on Winewood Lane, which has improved traffic.

Student traffic in the cafeteria is going to improve once the project is done. One of the additions is expanding the cafeteria and kitchen, which will allow the school to move from three lunch periods to two. Seating will increase by 100, and the larger kitchen will provide a bigger freezer/cooler, expanded prep area and bigger service area. The increase in size is much needed as the number of students who get school meals is much larger now than when Bailey originally opened in 1968.

The cafeteria/kitchen addition will also include a concession stand and restrooms to serve the students and families using the track and field. Other 91ֱ�� junior highs are getting a freestanding concession/restroom building for their tracks and fields. But Bailey’s athletic facilities are closer to the building than at other schools, so including the concession stand and restrooms in the cafeteria/kitchen addition makes sense.

If you’ve been to the Bailey cafeteria, you know that you have to walk outside to get to the entrance. The outdoor covered corridor that provides access to the lunchroom and circles the building’s interior courtyard is getting enclosed in this construction project. Students and staff won’t have to go outside anymore to get around campus.

The other addition at Bailey is giving the school a new front entrance at the southeast corner of the campus along with 10 new classrooms and an ADA elevator. It also includes a storm shelter that can accommodate the entire student and staff population. Outside, the parking lot on the east side of campus is also being redone.

The construction this summer won’t just focus on the additions. The existing building will get improvements as well, with new ceilings, lighting, doors, hardware and sprinkler system.

“It’s going to be freshened up and look good,” said Kelly Horn, 91ֱ�� assistant superintendent of facility services. “Of course we’ll leave the terrazzo [floors].”

Much of the construction and renovations will be done in time for students to return to school in August, but the entire project will last into the fall.

of the additions.

Playgrounds now open at all 53 elementary schools

Check out about 91ֱ��’s new playgrounds, open now at all 53 elementary schools.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj__YXBEZlg[/embed]

Every elementary school received two new playgrounds, one for pre-K through first grade and the other for second through sixth grade. Kooken Education Center was the only exception with just one playground because all of its students are 3- and 4-year-olds.

The playgrounds were designed with��teacher and student input��and include shade structures, accessible play equipment and rubber surfacing. While the equipment is standard from campus to campus, each school got to make its own color selections.

Gone for good are wood chips, pea gravel and aging play equipment.

The playgrounds were all funded by the 2019 Bond and installed during the last three years. McNutt Elementary’s playgrounds were the last to open earlier this year.

Learn more about the 2019 Bond.

Joey Rodriguez Junior High

91ֱ��'s newest school will honor the legacy of beloved soccer coach Joey Rodriguez.

The future Joey Rodriguez Junior High School is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025. The new school is funded by the 2019 Bond and will replace the aging Carter Junior High, which opened in 1958.

By a unanimous vote of 7-0, the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees approved the naming Thursday night.

The school namesake was a soccer coach who excelled on the sidelines, taking Sam Houston High School to the playoffs in all 12 years he coached the Texans. His teams reached the state tournament for the first time in school history in 2015 and again in 2017.

But his impact went far beyond the field. The married father of twin girls and a son was also once named Teacher of the Year and District Coach of the Year. Everyone who knew him loved him, and his profound impact on young athletes and students continues to inspire and resonate across Arlington.

On October 17, 2021, Rodriguez died after a battle with COVID-19, leaving a trail of heartbreak statewide but a legacy larger than his life.

"Joey was a true leader at Sam Houston High School, a North Star," said Sam Houston High School principal Juan Villarreal. "He mentored thousands of kids who looked up to him, many seeing him as a father figure. The loss we still feel is immeasurable."

91ֱ�� athletics director Eric White knew and loved coach Rodriguez.

"His impact on students can't be understated,” White said. “So many kids wanted to play soccer for coach Rodriguez that we had to hire another coach. Joey was humble; he would have never seen a school being named after him as a reality, but he deserves it."

Celebrating the moment with the Board of Trustees were Rodriguez's widow and children, family members and friends .

The Sam Houston Mariachi greeted people as they entered the building Thursday and performed along with the Tex-Anne’s drill team.

The crowd shed many tears, reminders of the tragic loss, followed by tears of joy knowing that Rodriguez's legacy will live on for generations.

"Joey didn't lead and serve for a salary; he did it to help young people and he did it excellently," said his widow Lena Rodriguez. "This will allow him to continue to help hundreds of thousands because the students that attend his school will be zoned to attend Sam Houston High School, where he spent his last years coaching and changing lives. This couldn't be better."

Board president Melody Fowler said they were honored that coach Rodriguez chose to live out a part of his life's mission with the 91ֱ��. "Because of what he gave us, we want to ensure his legacy lives on by naming our newest school Joey Rodriguez Junior High."

of Rodriguez and the board meeting.

Playgrounds funded by the 2019 Bond

All 105 new playgrounds in the 91ֱ�� are now open.

The years-long project – funded by the 2019 Bond – to make sure every single 91ֱ�� elementary student has access to a fun playground wrapped up last month when McNutt Elementary’s new playgrounds – the last two – finally opened.

As fun as they are, the playgrounds also play a critical role in education.

“Recess is a crucial component of the academic success of students,” said Speer Elementary principal Stephanie Savala. “It plays a significant role in improving focus, physical activity and student engagement in class.”

Every elementary school got two new playgrounds, one for pre-K through first grade and the other for second through sixth grade. Kooken Education Center was the only exception with just one playground because all of its students are 3- and 4-year-olds.

The playgrounds were designed with��teacher and student input��and include shade structures, accessible play equipment and rubber surfacing. While the equipment is standard from campus to campus, each school got to make its own color selections.

Gone for good are wood chips, pea gravel and aging play equipment.

Smiles all around

“The kids are loving it!” said Pope Elementary principal Celina Kilgore about Pope’s recently opened playgrounds. “Our playground is located in the center of our track, so it's a pretty unique location. There were lots of smiling happy faces when we were able to open the playground for students.”

The smiles are still there with so many features that make the playgrounds extra special. This is the first time every school in the district has had covered playgrounds. The rubber surfacing is soft to run on and cushions every fall. And there are so many play elements – from ropes and climbing walls to slides and musical instruments.

“Oh my goodness!” yelled a third-grader, streaming her thoughts aloud when she stormed Pearcy STEM Academy’s playgrounds for the first time. “This is awesome! Awesome. So many choices!”

Butler Elementary’s principal Mark Basham feels the same way.

“The accessibility, the opportunities, the amount of swings, the shade. I mean it doesn’t get any better than this,” he said. “The space for the kids is spread out and there is no competition or fighting over who gets what. The kids just all have fun. We hardly have any behavior incidents out here because it’s just about having fun.”

Fun for every student

It’s about having fun for every student. That’s why the playgrounds were designed from day one to be accessible for all.

“For the first few years after joining the district, I received emails and telephone calls from parents and principals alike asking me what I could do to help our students with special needs and disabilities to enjoy our playgrounds with their fellow students and friends,” said Kelly Horn, 91ֱ��’s assistant superintendent of facility services. “Even our newest playgrounds [at the time] at schools like Adams and Patrick elementary schools were not fully ADA accessible. It would break your heart to see the pictures and hear their stories.”

So, Horn made accessible playgrounds one of his biggest priorities during the planning stages for the 2019 Bond. And then the community delivered, supporting the bond and making what every school now has a reality.

“My class loves the new playground and the accessibility for all,” said Jamie Topp, who works in alternate curriculum at Beckham Elementary.��“It has made recess an option for everyone … It is such a joyous time for our class to be able to enjoy recess/outdoor time just like our peers.��For my students and their families, it means so much that everyone can play at recess and enjoy the playground.”

Trina Bristol, a special education teacher at Beckham, remembers four years ago when her students got to vote on what equipment should go on the new playgrounds. Now, her students are swinging and sliding on what they once only imagined.

“My ISPD Special Education class enjoys our adaptive playground as they are able to enjoy swinging either in their wheelchair in a swing that allows for their wheelchair to rest on a platform or with a supported seatbelt in an adaptive swing. I also have a couple of ambulatory students who enjoy the slides. It is wonderful for both students and parents to feel the inclusion that we offer here on our playground.”

Worth It

It took years of planning and work – with a disruptive pandemic in the middle – to make the dream of new accessible playgrounds a reality at every 91ֱ�� elementary school.

But it was worth it.

“Of all the things I get to do, opening an accessible playground has to be the highlight,” Horn said. “For all the kids to be able to play really makes your heart feel good.

“A big ‘Thank you’ to our community for making the dreams of so many a reality for everyone.”

Colts softball team takes new field

Play ball!

That’s what they’re doing at the new competition softball field at Arlington High School. The brand-new field is now open for practice, and the team is loving it.

“Having a brand-new home field is amazing,” said senior Isbell Priddy, No. 9 on the softball team.

And long overdue, according to Arlington High softball coach Valarie Henry.

“Thirty years to be exact, and these young women deserve it,” Henry said. “Taking the players out to the field for the first time was like Christmas morning, seeing the smiles on their faces and wonderment in their eyes.”

Arlington High’s softball team – and all district softball teams – play their games at a softball complex near Workman Junior High. But the 2019 Bond program called for each high school to get its own competition field so the softball teams can host their home games on their campuses.

Arlington High’s field is the first in the district to open and was done in conjunction with the larger bond construction project currently underway at the school. The field that was the team’s old practice field was completely renovated with new grass and dirt, plus new dugouts, bleachers, concessions, press box and scoreboard.

The one thing still missing is lights. But once the lights can be installed, the Lady Colts will start hosting their home games on campus.

And that’s a big deal.

“It means that we can have the feel of what a real home game is,” Priddy said. “It also means that we might get more school-related fans since they no longer have to travel to a different location for a ‘home game.’”

Martin High School’s field is next and will be built in conjunction with the Glaspie Field and band hall addition construction project just getting started at the school. Work on Bowie and Seguin high schools’ fields will start this summer. And Lamar and Sam Houston high schools’ fields will be built in late 2025 at the same time that their stadiums – Cravens and Wilemon – are renovated.

Watch Bond 2019 construction update

Check out the latest 2019 Bond construction update��.

Kelly Horn, 91ֱ�� assistant superintendent of facility services, reviews the 2019 Bond construction progress made during the fall and highlights the projects in 2024. See video and photos from three new elementary schools, new playgrounds, groundbreaking ceremonies, renovations at Short Elementary, construction at Arlington High School and Bailey Junior High, and more.

Construction Update Video - February 2024

Check out the latest 2019 Bond construction update below.

Kelly Horn, 91ֱ�� assistant superintendent of facility services, reviews the 2019 Bond construction progress made during the fall and highlights the projects in 2024. See video and photos from three new elementary schools, new playgrounds, groundbreaking ceremonies, renovations at Short Elementary, construction at Arlington High School and Bailey Junior High, and more.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLNvivg5Etc[/embed]

For more bond construction progress updates, visit the construction status webpage.

The 2019 Bond program is a $966 million five-year capital program that includes new construction, renovations and facility condition improvements, along with capital purchases for technology, fine arts and transportation.

Roark site traded to the City of Arlington

The old Roark Elementary building is almost gone. Most of it has been demolished to make way for a new city park.

Opened in 1961 near the General Motors plant in east Arlington, the Roark school closed 60 years later in May of 2021. The building then became the temporary Berry Elementary while the original Berry building was torn down and rebuilt – all part of the 2019 Bond program.��

When the new Berry opened at the beginning of this school year, the old Roark building was left vacant. Demolition started after the holidays and is now nearly complete.��

What’s next?

So, what happens to the site once all the rubble is removed?�� It becomes a park, complete with a splash pad.

It’s part of a trade 91ֱ�� made with the City of Arlington. 91ֱ�� got what used to be Helen Wessler Park, and the City of Arlington gets the old Roark site for a new Helen Wessler Park.

The old Wessler Park is now part of the site where construction has started on a new junior high school that will replace Carter Junior High. The construction site also used to house the old Knox Elementary building, but that was demolished in the fall.

The new junior high, also a 2019 Bond project, will be more centrally located to the current Carter student population and large enough to accommodate all program offerings – something the current Carter site can’t. Thanks to the inclusion of the former Wessler Park, the new school will include a track and adequate parking.

Plus, the new building will be a huge improvement over the current Carter facility. The new school will be state-of-the-art, high-tech and full of learning spaces designed to help students thrive and succeed in the 21^st century.

Helen Wessler Park

The City of Arlington is currently designing the future Helen Wessler Park. Tentatively slated to open around May of 2025, it will feature:

• Splash pad
• Covered playground
• Loop trail
• Large lawn
• Fitness stations
• Shade structures
• Benches
• Restrooms
• On-site parking

Visit the 2019 Bond webpage to keep track of all bond projects.

Progress always comes with growing pains.

That was an underlying theme as the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee toured Arlington High School this week.

The committee was scheduled to tour the major addition under construction at Arlington High on Wednesday evening before its quarterly meeting. But the rain made the construction site unsafe for visitors.

So, the tour took a detour. Arlington High principal Stacie Humbles showed the committee��areas of the existing building that are receiving renovations and areas where students and teachers are making the most of the upheaval caused by the construction.

The construction, funded by the 2019 Bond, is going to provide incredible improvements for the school. The project includes an addition with new classrooms, a new library, a new band hall and more. It will help provide the space needed for the future fine arts and dual language high school academy that opens next school year at Arlington High and will ultimately add around 800 students.

While the huge addition is the most noticeable part of the project, there’s a lot more going on, including renovations for the existing building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, the athletic fields and more. Over the winter holiday, new flooring was installed in Halls A and B, and C Hall will be done over the summer. Ultimately, the project will mean significant upgrades for all students.

But in the meantime, there is a lot of transition. Programs have had to move to temporary locations and make do with the limited space.

“There are so many aspects of a build like this that take thoughtful planning,” Humbles said.

She has been engaged throughout the project in that thoughtful planning along with the project manager, general contractor, architect and campus and district staff.�� Together they are constantly coordinating everything from program adjustments, parking changes, egress changes, temporary signage and so much more.

While the many changes can be inconvenient, everyone is making the best of it.

Like the choir program. Choir had to move out of its original room and carved out practice space on the stage of the auditorium. The auditorium itself has become a bit of a catch-all as a classroom and storage room, full of costumes and props for drama and theater.��

Band lost its old room, too, and has moved to a gym that previously housed wrestling.

Humbles praised her faculty and 91ֱ�� fine arts director Dr. Christopher Anderson and his department for going above and beyond to make sure that the temporary fine arts spaces – like choir on the stage in the auditorium and band in the old wrestling gym – were optimized as much as possible. In the temporary band hall, for example, the wrestling mats were replaced with carpet, sound panels, curtains and instrument storage that transformed the space into a highly functional music room.

“In the meantime, we have really important kids,” Anderson said. “We have to take care of the kids who are in there and ensure they are having a first-rate experience even if it’s in a temporary location.

“The good news is that when these program land, it should be pretty spectacular.”

91ֱ�� assistant superintendent of facility services Kelly Horn shared a similar thought as the tour wrapped up.

“There’s sacrifice, but the gain is going to be significant.”

See of the construction at AHS. And see of the new softball field at AHS, also funded by the 2019 Bond.

Citizens Bond Oversight Committee

The Citizens Bond Oversight Committee’s charge is to follow the district’s bond program progress and report its findings and recommendations to the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees (read the CBOC’s charge). The committee meets quarterly and then develops a report of its findings and recommendations that it presents to the Board of Trustees in or around June.

Demolition started over the winter break

It was noisy at Duff Elementary over the winter break.

That’s because demolition of Duff’s library kicked off over the holidays and work continued on a new gym for the school. It’s all part of the 2019 Bond project at Duff.

The demolition in the library and adjacent areas will allow for a bigger, better library. One adjacent classroom will be absorbed into the library, and the entire combined space will be entirely renovated.

“It will be great to have an updated 21st-century media center for our 21st-century learners,” said Duff librarian Stacie Farr. “Our school is one of the oldest elementary buildings in the district and it is wonderful that this bond will provide all the necessary updates for our students. What is amazing about this update is that it will impact every student and staff member. We will all benefit from this new and improved space.”

Outside, there will be no renovations for the gym. Instead, they are starting over. The very small old gym was demolished during the summer, and now the concrete slab for a new gym has been poured and the walls are starting to go up.

Unlike the old gym that was separate from the main building, the new 5,030-square-foot gym addition will connect to the existing building at the southwest corner. With six basketball goals, striping for basketball and volleyball, two restrooms, an office and storage, the new facility will be a vast improvement over the old, tiny gym. Plus, the new gym will be constructed as a storm shelter, sized to accommodate the entire student and staff population.

“The impact for our students will be tremendous,” said Duff’s P.E. teacher Matt Bostick. “Not only are we receiving a larger space, but having a storage closet for all of our equipment will maximize the space we can utilize for skill practice and fitness development. In addition, the new up-to-date flooring will be more conducive to our needs and will put our students' safety first. I anticipate an immediate and dramatically positive impact for all our Duff Mustangs.”

The new gym will be great, but this year, Duff is having to make do without one. But Bostick is making the best of it. He teaches his P.E. classes on one side of the cafeteria.

“While it might sound like an inconvenience, I consider myself fortunate to have a dedicated space for our students to learn in when the weather does not allow us to go outside,” Bostick said. “A big shout out to the district for putting temporary walls up between myself and the main cafeteria. This has really made it seem like a ‘gym’ for this school year. However, we are all super excited to have our new ‘real’ gym next school year!”

The new gym and renovated library aren’t the only projects at Duff. Additional renovations include HVAC upgrades, replacing fluorescent lighting with LEDs, new ceiling grid and tiles, renovating six restrooms and accessibility improvements.

“We know that construction is a process, and I’m so thankful to our staff and community for the patience during this challenging project, but we all know the outcome will be so worth it when all is complete,” said Duff principal Cindy Harbison. “We are super excited to have a beautiful new gym and library along with the upgrades throughout the building!”

Short looks completely different inside

From the sidewalk, Short Elementary looks pretty much like it has for decades – apart from new sidewalks and landscaping. And there are in the back.

But inside, Short looks completely different.

The renovation project funded by the 2019 Bond started last summer and is just about done. They’re still waiting for new interior doors to arrive, but the rest of the major tasks are complete.

Not only does it look great, but it’s also unique. One-of-a-kind graphics in the building are meant to inspire and welcome students.

Wall graphics in the main hallway and cafeteria feature trees, birds and cattle and give students the feeling that they are walking along the “Shorthorn Trail.” Then each hallway has a name that recalls something from community history, like Beatrice Short Trail – named for the school’s namesake – or Johnson Station Trail – named for the first school in Arlington where Beatrice Short taught for decades. Some of the other hallway names include California Lane Trail, Cattle Trail and Ranger Station Trail.

Berkebile said students and staff were so excited when they saw the graphics for the first time.

"It was inspiring to hear the students and staff chat excitedly when they first entered the building after Thanksgiving," she said. "Everyone was amazed to see the creative ways that Short Elementary’s history and school spirit were incorporated into new, custom wall graphics."

��

As cool as the graphics are, they were just a small part of the overall project. The renovations replaced the ceiling tiles, hallway wall tile, fluorescent lighting and much of the flooring. Restrooms were renovated, roofing was replaced where needed and paint was applied in many areas. The gym got some improvements as well, and the kitchen got a new freezer/cooler.

��

“New floors, carpet, bathrooms and lighting are providing comfortable spaces that contribute to a positive learning environment, promoting concentration and overall well-being,” Berkebile said. “Our staff, students and parents are extremely grateful to the community for reinvesting in our campus through the bond program so that children learn in an updated school.”

��

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See what the new Thornton looks like

If you’ve driven on Park Row near 360 anytime this school year, you couldn’t help but notice Thornton Elementary. It’s an eye-catcher and doesn’t look a thing like the old Thornton school building that used to be there.

It doesn’t just look amazing from the outside. The inside does, too, and you can check it out with our new virtual tour building of the new school.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fKHYIkXVLA[/embed]

The new Thornton, one of the transformational projects in the 2019 Bond program, replaced the original Thornton, which opened in 1956. The new state-of-the-art facility opened in August and is all thanks to the support of the community. (Read about the dedication.)

The new school sits on the same site as the original school, which was��demolished��in 2020. Architects and senior district administrators were purposeful in incorporating the culture of the school and its families in the design along with the needs of a 21^st-century education. The two-floor, 105,000-square-foot building features pods for each grade with five classrooms each (pre-K – 6), a media center, fine arts classrooms, STEM labs, makerspace, collaboration spaces, outdoor learning areas and more.

Thornton is just one of the transformation projects in the 2019 Bond. You can also take virtual tours of several of the other projects that are already complete, including the new Berry Elementary and Webb Elementary. Just visit the 2019 Bond webpage here.

Bond 2019 highlights from the year that was

Year four of the 2019 Bond program – or 2023 – brought some major accomplishments.

With $966 million in the 2019 Bond package, there are projects that impact every school, and there is ongoing construction throughout the district. Some bond projects are now done, some are in process and many are still to come.

All of them are designed to give students access to a remarkable education and world-class opportunities. And all of it is thanks to you. Your support makes these bond programs possible and is having a direct impact on tens of thousands of students today and for generations to come. So, thank you!

Here are five of the biggest Bond 2019 stories from the year that was. You’ll notice the top three are all similar.

1. New Webb Elementary opens

The first of four school replacements opened in January. The brand-new Webb, built right next to the old Webb, opened for students at the end of last year’s winter break.

2. Sir Earl Toon turns new Berry Elementary dedication into a celebration

When the new Berry Elementary opened in August – replacing the original Berry built in 1955 – Sir Earl Toon turned it into a celebration. The former member of Kool and the Gang performed several of his greatest hits – including “” – during the dedication ceremony.

3 New Thornton Elementary opens

Not far from Berry, another new replacement school opened for students in August. The new Thornton replaced the old – built in 1956 – but preserved the spirit of the original along with its two stately oak trees.

4. Lots of new playgrounds open

The 2019 Bond included new playgrounds for all 53 elementary schools. By January of 2023, 24 schools were complete. By January of 2024, all 53 schools will be complete and every elementary student in the district will have access to incredible new playgrounds.

5. Construction of new junior high kicks off

Construction on the fourth and final school replacement included in the 2019 Bond kicked off at the end of 2023. A groundbreaking ceremony in October got everyone excited about the new junior high school that will replace Carter Junior High.

That top five represented just a few of the projects from 2023, and several others vied to make the countdown. A few of the runner ups included:

• The addition at Arlington High School went vertical.
• Construction started on Bailey Junior High’s addition
• Two elementary schools were demolished (Webb and Knox).
• A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the Glaspie Field project.

Update on bond construction projects

Not everyone in the 91ֱ�� is getting a long winter break.

While most of us circle the holidays on the calendar because we get to take those days off, the district’s facility services team circles those days for a different reason. Those are prime work days.

They take advantage of empty campuses to do maintenance, construction and renovations. And the longer schools are out, the more work they can get done.

“The holidays are still a time for celebration and rest; however, it is also a time for our team to work on special projects and perform critical preventative maintenance,” said Kelly Horn, 91ֱ�� assistant superintendent of facility services. “So, while the students and staff are away on a winter break, custodians are busy sprucing things up and restoring finishes for the spring semester. The maintenance teams are catching up on work orders to repair things that have been damaged or broken and tuning up HVAC systems to prepare them for the colder weather in January and February. And our facility planning and construction team continues to push projects forward to the finish for renovation work, new schools and additions.”

There are a lot of those projects to push forward with Bond 2019 construction projects under construction throughout the district. Some of the holiday bond work includes:

• Arlington High School – Crews will pour concrete for the roof deck of the storm shelter and continue roofing and exterior wall framing on the addition. In the existing building, the corridor flooring in Halls A and B will get replaced.
• New junior high – Work has just begun on the new school that will replace Carter Junior High. Excavation for the building’s crawlspace will be done over the next few weeks.
• Duff Elementary – Library renovations will begin over the break. Construction has also started on a new gymnasium.
• Short Elementary – Short has received significant renovations over much of the last year and the project is nearing the end. New interior doors and hardware will be installed over the break and the electrical panels will be replaced.
• Bailey Junior High – Bailey has a major addition under construction that includes new classrooms and an expanded cafeteria. The concrete slab for the new kitchen is getting poured this week and work on the new parking lot will continue over the break.
• Martin High School and Glaspie Field – The groundbreaking for these projects was held in October, and now it’s really time to get started. The general contractor for the job will mobilize on site over the break.
• Sam Houston High School – The work at Sam started over the summer and will continue into the holidays with renovations in some restrooms and fine arts areas.
• South Davis Elementary – Crews will get some painting done at South Davis over the break, pour a new sidewalk and install some new fencing on the east side of campus.
• Playgrounds – The construction team is pushing to have all of the new playgrounds open by the time students return to school in January. The final four to finish are Speer, Peach, McNutt and Amos.

“I am so very proud of the work that our facility services team performs in such a short period of time at the breaks,” Horn said. “They are amazing people with a servant heart for students and staff of 91ֱ��. It is an honor to lead such fine people in an amazing school district.”

New Berry replaces school built in 1955

If you missed the new Berry Elementary’s grand opening earlier this school year, you missed a party. Sir Earl Toon of Kool and the Gang performed several of his biggest hits, including "," in the school's cafetorium.

While there’s not going to be a repeat of the concert, you can still see what was being celebrated – the amazing new Berry Elementary. Check out the new school through our new virtual tour video.

[embed]https://youtu.be/QBg9ee9m_fg[/embed]

The new Berry, one of the transformational projects in the 2019 Bond program, replaced the original Berry, which opened in 1955. The state-of-the-art facility is all thanks to the support of the community.

Berry is just one of the transformation projects in the 2019 Bond. You can also take a virtual tour of several of the other bond projects that are already complete. Just visit the 2019 Bond webpage here.

Knox building was originally a junior high

Knox Elementary is gone. The school building that housed four different schools in its 60 years has been completely demolished.

The school opened in 1962 as the first Ferguson Junior High and the fourth junior high school in Arlington. It was converted into Venture School 25 years later in 1987. In, 2001, the building became Knox Elementary for the next 20 years. Finally, after Knox closed, the aging facility housed Thornton Elementary for two years while Thornton’s replacement school building was under construction.

Once the new Thornton opened in August, the old Knox building was left vacant. Demolition started soon after is now complete.

The demo made way for what’s next: construction of a new junior high school to replace Carter Junior High.

The location for the new junior high is fitting. The site on Stonegate Street in east Arlington was originally developed as a junior high in the early 1960s, so this is a return to its roots. And the school that is being replaced, Carter, was where Knox Elementary’s namesake, Veda Knox, was a longtime special education teacher.

But the location is fitting for more than just historical and sentimental reasons. The site is more centrally located to the Carter student population and large enough to accommodate all program offerings. The current Carter site is too small for a track or adequate parking.

Plus, the new building will be a huge improvement over the current Carter building, which is even older than Knox was.

Unlike the current Carter, the new school will be state-of-the-art, high-tech and full of learning spaces designed to help students thrive and succeed in the 21st century.

“I am eager to see the impact that the new school will have, not only academically, but the confidence and pride that it will create among our students, staff, families and community,” Carter principal Elena Lopez said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new school in October.

The future 155,000-square-foot building will include 48 classroom spaces, including CTE classrooms, break-out and collaboration spaces, teacher workrooms and offices. There will be performing arts classrooms for band, orchestra, drama, choir and art, along with rooms for SPED programs, science labs and a storm shelter. Outdoor spaces include a new entry plaza and canopy and a regulation synthetic turf football field with a four-lane track, bleachers, press box, concessions and restrooms.

The new junior high site is also absorbing the adjacent Helen Wessler Park. 91ֱ�� acquired the park from the City of Arlington by giving the city its nearby and now-closed Roark Elementary site.

91ֱ�� will demolish the Roark building soon and then build a new splash pad in the school’s place to replace the one that was at Wessler Park.

The future junior high is the fourth of four school replacements funded by the��2019 Bond��program. The first three are all open.��Thornton��and��Berry��elementary schools opened in August at the beginning of this school year, and��Webb Elementary��opened in January.

“This is all about students,” said 91ֱ�� board president Melody Fowler. “It’s all about giving them every opportunity to succeed. And that includes the right spaces. Facilities matter. School buildings purposefully designed to inspire students and equip them to thrive in the 21st century are incredibly important to achieving the outcomes we all want for students.”

Construction is the largest part of the 2019 Bond

It’s not easy to keep up with all the construction projects included in 91ֱ��’s 2019 Bond program. It’s a nearly $1 billion bond package after all that includes projects at every campus, new school buildings, new playgrounds and a whole lot more.�� ��

But a new page on the district’s 2019 Bond website was built to give you a bird’s eye view of all the bond construction that is complete, underway or still to come. With dashboards, photos and videos, you can quickly check out the construction status of the 2019 Bond.

Visit the new page at .

Voters approved the $966 million bond proposal in November 2019. Designed to improve facilities and provide access and equity for all students, the 2019 Bond program is addressing needs in four areas: facilities; transportation; safety, security and technology; and fine arts.

Learn more about the 2019 Bond.

Glaspie Field will be district's third stadium

With cheerleaders, a drumline and a pep band, this groundbreaking ceremony felt more like a pep rally. But that was fitting considering the project 91ֱ�� is about to start.

The district is kicking off construction to convert the athletic field at Martin High School into the district’s third athletic competition venue. The facility will serve as the home field for Martin and Seguin High School.

91ֱ�� needs three competition venues for its six traditional high schools but only has two right now, Wilemon Field at Sam Houston High School and Cravens Field at Lamar High School. The district used to rent UT Arlington’s football stadium until it became unavailable and currently plays many football games at Choctaw Stadium.

But as 91ֱ�� athletic director Eric White pointed out at the ceremony, this new stadium is not just about football.

“Everybody thinks this is a football stadium,” White said. “This is a football stadium, a soccer stadium, a track, a marching field, a place for cheer, a place for drill, a place for community events to come together. It serves everything.”

And it can’t come soon enough.

[embed]https://youtu.be/x-c8dYz7JGc?si=hGOhshlY06MNWrND[/embed]

“This has actually been a long time coming,” said 91ֱ�� interim superintendent Dr. Steven Wurtz. “We’ve needed three competition venues in Arlington for quite some time.”

Even as far back as when the namesake for the future stadium – Michael Glaspie – served on the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees. Glaspie, the first African American elected to the 91ֱ�� school board in 1991, was at the groundbreaking ceremony and recalled the need for a stadium even then.

“It’s good to see Dr. Bernd [former 91ֱ�� superintendent] here because while we were working together – he was superintendent and I was on the board – we had this idea that we needed to put something like this together,” Glaspie said. “Amazingly, it’s being done. But the last thing I expected was that my name would be on it.”

The new Glaspie Field will include approximately 10,000 seats, a larger press box, locker rooms, restrooms and concessions. Architects were careful to consider the campus’ existing layout, neighbors, traffic flow – cars, school buses and pedestrians – and parking in their design. They have included a landscape buffer and fencing between the stadium and neighboring homes and will utilize modern LED lighting. The LED lighting is significantly better than traditional lighting in that it can be directed into the stadium and onto the playing surface more efficiently, has considerably less spillage from the venue and can be turned on and off quickly.

See the Glaspie Field renderings.

The design also features the ability to transform the stadium according to which school is using it. With lighting, signage and technology, the stadium will shift to reflect the home team for that event, whether it’s Seguin, Martin or any other 91ֱ�� school.

Funded by the 2019 Bond and designed by , the new stadium is only possible because of support from the community.

“I want to thank the Arlington community,” said 91ֱ�� board president Melody Fowler. “It’s your support of the 2019 Bond that is building new schools, building new playgrounds, buying new musical instruments, purchasing new school buses and improving the district’s technology. And now, it’s building the new Glaspie Field. So, thank you for prioritizing our students.”

Now that the groundbreaking ceremony is out of the way, Glaspie said it best.

“God bless you, and let’s get on with it.”

Bond 2019 moves on to last phase

Two phases down, one to go.

The new getting installed at all 53 91ֱ�� elementary schools – funded by the 2019 Bond – are divided into three phases. The first two phases, each with 17 schools, are now officially complete.

That means all 34 schools in the first two phases now have two new playgrounds – one for pre-K through first grade and the other for second through sixth grade. Plus, 11 schools in phase three now have their new playgrounds open, too.

The playgrounds were designed with teacher and student input and include shade structures, accessible play equipment and rubber surfacing. While the equipment is standard from campus to campus, each school got to make its own color selections. Gone are wood chips, pea gravel and aging play equipment.

One of the last schools in phase two to get the new playgrounds was Butler Elementary, and the school celebrated this week with a ribbon cutting.

Flanked by the entire second grade class and PTA members, Butler principal Mark Basham cut the ceremonial red ribbon with oversized scissors to cheers and smiles.

Then he raved about the new playgrounds.

“The accessibility, the opportunities, the amount of swings, the shade. I mean it doesn’t get any better than this.

“The space for the kids is spread out and there is no competition or fighting over who gets what,” he said. “The kids just all have fun. We hardly have any behavior incidents out here because it’s just about having fun."

However, “the merry-go-round had to get some rules,” he admitted.

Shane Strawderman watched as the ribbon was cut and the students got back to doing what they do best – swinging, climbing, sliding and spinning. Strawderman is the 91ֱ��’s project manager overseeing the installation of all the playgrounds.

“Satisfying,” he said as he watched. “All the hard work and everything that went into it with all the contractors and different troubles … all that hard work to bring it up to where it’s at right now makes it all worthwhile.”

While his work at Butler is done, he’s still busy with schools in phase three.

The first 11 of 19 schools in phase three already have their new playgrounds open. They’re just waiting for new grass to spring up. Those 11 schools include Berry, Thornton, Short, Swift, Miller, Atherton, Little, Key, Foster, Hale and Adams.

Work is underway at six other schools. At Adams, Johns, Amos and Goodman, the new equipment has been installed. Next, they need to pour the rubber surfacing. At South Davis and Pope, work is just getting started.

Work will also start soon at the final three schools – Speer and Peach later this month, and at McNutt in November.

New junior high is funded by the 2019 Bond

This was a little different than an outdoor concert at the Levitt Pavilion.

This outdoor venue featured piles of rubble. And the backdrop for Carter Junior High’s orchestra, band and choir included two huge yellow earth movers. As the student musicians played and sang, the walls of the old Knox Elementary were literally being torn down – almost in concert with the music.

It was the perfect way to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new 91ֱ�� junior high school that will replace Carter Junior High.

“All I can say is wow,” said Carter principal Elena Lopez as she looked around at the unusual scene. “This is just absolutely incredible. What a wonderful opportunity for our community, for our students and for our teachers.

[embed]https://youtu.be/pA_oISPw2iQ?si=xt3w-l-ZFlV3FKUw[/embed]

91ֱ�� interim superintendent Dr. Steven Wurtz helped explain the need for the new school by taking everyone back to 1958 – the year NASA was established and Carter Junior High opened. A lot has changed since then, from space exploration and technology to educational models and the way kids learn.

“Back in 1958, Carter was modern at the time,” Wurtz said. “But as you know, there have been many, many advances since then, and the landscape of education has completely changed.”

Changes in education and technology over the last 65 years aren’t the only reasons why Carter needs to be replaced. Frankly, the building is old, worn out and too costly to maintain. Plus, the site it sits on is undersized, and erosion in the adjacent creek impedes site use. There is no room for a track around the football field or enough parking.

That will all change with the new building. The school will be relocated to the site of the former Knox Elementary, a site that is more centrally located to the Carter student population and large enough to accommodate all program offerings.

The new site is also absorbing the adjacent Wessler Park. 91ֱ�� acquired the park from the City of Arlington by giving the city its nearby and now-closed Roark Elementary site. 91ֱ�� will demolish the Roark building and then build a new splash pad in the school’s place to replace the one that was at Wessler Park.

While a bigger site will offer a big improvement over the old Carter, it’s the new building that will be the biggest game-changer. Unlike the current Carter, the new school will be state-of-the-art, high-tech and full of learning spaces designed to help students thrive and succeed in the 21st century.

“I am eager to see the impact that the new school will have, not only academically, but the confidence and pride that it will create among our students, staff, families and community,” Lopez said.

The new building will be approximately 155,000 square feet and will range in height from the three-story classroom blocks on the north to a single-story administration office space and a one-and-a-half-floor media center. The new facility will include 48 classroom spaces, including CTE classrooms, break-out and collaboration spaces, teacher workrooms and offices. There will be performing arts classrooms for band, orchestra, drama, choir and art, along with rooms for SPED programs, science labs and a storm shelter. Outdoor spaces include a new entry plaza and canopy, a regulation synthetic turf football field with a four-lane track, bleachers, press box, concessions and restrooms.

But not everything will be new.

“We have created incredible memories, established meaningful relationships and built a culture of families and love at Carter Junior High,” Lopez said. “We will take this with us into our new school.”

Those intangibles that Carter will take with them to the new facility are what will bring the new junior high to life.

“While the building will be new, the thing that will remain is the love that the community has and the commitment they show to the students who will learn here,” Wurtz said. “That commitment combined with modern educational spaces is a recipe for an inspiring education that propels our students into a journey that is lifelong.”

The future junior high is the fourth of four school replacements funded by the 2019 Bond program. The first three are all open. Thornton and Berry elementary schools opened in August at the beginning of this school year, and Webb Elementary opened in January.

“This is all about students,” said 91ֱ�� board president Melody Fowler. “It’s all about giving them every opportunity to succeed. And that includes the right spaces. Facilities matter. School buildings purposefully designed to inspire students and equip them to thrive in the 21st century are incredibly important to achieving the outcomes we all want for students.”

Thornton celebrates with singing, dancing and tamales

Tamara Edwards, Thornton Elementary School’s music teacher, lined her choir students up on the stage stairs and then sat down at the piano.

The standing-room-only crowd in the cafetorium, along with the overflow in the library watching the live stream, waited patiently for the students to start singing – even though everyone was eager for what was next on the program – tamales.

“We are Thornton Tigers …” the students sang.

It was a new song – written by Edwards – perfect for the occasion, the dedication ceremony for the new Thornton school building.

These Thornton Tigers are the first to have a new building since the original school opened in 1956. Those original Tigers would hardly believe what their school looks like now.

Same goes for the former Thornton teachers and administrators who came to see the ribbon cutting and tour the new school. One of them opened the ceremony with a prayer and recalled her days walking those halls.

“We think of the new building – and folks it is beautiful,” said Tillie Burgin, executive director of Mission Arlington, former teacher at Thornton and namesake of Bob and Tillie Burgin Elementary.

“I used to walk these halls for many, many years until finally y’all got rid of me,” she joked. “But we love Thornton Elementary School. The beauty you cannot ever change are these kids that are all around us.”

Those kids and this community are what define Thornton.

“What really makes the school ‘school’ is families and students,” said Thornton principal Alicia Rodriguez who hosted the dedication ceremony.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znSEEdt1X3I[/embed]

91ֱ�� interim superintendent Dr. Steven Wurtz agreed.

“It’s the love that you have for each other, the love that you have for learning, that’s made Thornton the amazing school that it is,” he said.

Amazing since 1956 because of the students, teachers and families, Thornton is even better now with a building designed just for them.

“I remember when this building was being designed and we had students, teachers and families talk about their dreams about what the building would look like, the kinds of things that would be here,” Wurtz said. “And today, you can look around and walk the halls, and those dreams that students articulated are real and they are actually alive.”

Funded by the��2019 Bond, the new Thornton sits on the same site as the original school, which was demolished in 2020. Architects and senior district administrators were purposeful in incorporating the culture of the school and its families in the design along with the needs of a 21^st-century education. The two-floor, 105,000-square-foot building features pods for each grade with five classrooms each (pre-K – 6), a media center, fine arts classrooms, STEM labs, makerspace, collaboration spaces, outdoor learning areas and more.

“We know that if we equip you with facilities that match your love and devotion, your potential is limitless,” Wurtz said. “And that’s what this new building is about. It’s about giving every student here every opportunity to succeed and thrive.”

Thornton is one of four new schools being replaced by the 2019 Bond. The new Berry Elementary also opened in August and the new Webb Elementary opened in January. The last of the four rebuilds will be a new junior high school to replace the aging Carter Junior High. Construction is beginning this fall.

“I want to thank our Arlington community who made this possible,” said 91ֱ�� board president Melody Fowler. “This school was funded by you through the 2019 Bond … This is how we ensure Arlington has a great future. Thank you.”

from the dedication.

The new Thornton was��designed by�� and built by .

Flores oversaw construction of the Career + Tech Center

We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by spotlighting several 91ֱ�� staff members about their Hispanic heritage. This week we caught up with Richard Flores, 91ֱ�� architect. Flores has overseen many construction projects in the district and most recently served as the project manager for the new Thornton Elementary School that just opened in August and was dedicated this week.

〉How long have you worked for 91ֱ��? What were you doing before?

It’ll be 20 years this Thanksgiving 2023. Prior to this, I was a firm principal and vice president working in the private sector for most of my years, SHW Architects for a couple of years and McCaslin Architects for about a year in Dallas. I was the project architect on the American Airlines Maintenance Hangar at Alliance, St. Mark’s School of Texas dining hall addition in Dallas, a cargo reservations building for American Airlines in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Holy Rosary Catholic School in Arlington, KHOU TV in Houston office/studio addition, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Keller, historical building conversion to office in the West End of Dallas, K-12 schools in Plano, Frisco, Fort Worth and Northwest and private schools including Hockaday. I was one of the on-site construction managers when American Airlines moved from New York to their present location. My assignment was the Flight Academy Central Plant Expansion serving the new Reservations Office.

〉What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

Hispanic Heritage Month to me is nice but not something especially important to me personally. However, I think it is a very good way for young Hispanics to be exposed to the culture in a positive way and be introduced to historical events, names of those that have made a difference in some way and let them know we are here and many through hard work have made something out of their lives. Positive images to emulate for young people. You can dream and you can achieve just like those you see or hear about. It also serves to share our culture and history with non-Hispanics and help educate about the many accomplishments and stories of the community.

〉How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?

I celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by watching programs or stories on public television, in the press on radio that feature stories of world war heroes, professionals, neighborhoods that were annihilated by commercial development, everyday neighborhood activists. Stories about where we’ve been and where we are going. I enjoy going to festivals and listening to the music or going to theater performances targeting the Hispanic community.

〉What are some of the most memorable projects you've worked on during your time in the district?

Adams Elementary, Patrick Elementary, Career Tech Center, MAC buildings and Thornton Elementary are a few memorable projects I’ve been able to influence the design and manage the projects. I think I’ve been able to push the design envelope since I’ve been here.