Bond News – ��ɫ��TV

New Arlington High library is almost ready

Ryan PIERCE — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 14:00:02 +0000

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.

Construction of the future Glaspie Field athletic venue tops out

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 14:16:21 +0000

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, ��ɫ��TV’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 ��ɫ��TV school.

Glaspie Field will give ��ɫ��TV 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 set to open in January

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 20:25:40 +0000

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 ��ɫ��TV’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.

Design finalized for future ��ɫ��TV support services center

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 19:55:48 +0000

��ɫ��TV support services center bidding now

��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV 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.

See inside the Arlington High School addition

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 15:56:37 +0000

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, ��ɫ��TV 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.

��ɫ��TV’s Former Administration Building demolished

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:54:49 +0000

Former Administration Building opened in 1964

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

��ɫ��TV’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 ��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV 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, ��ɫ��TV 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, ��ɫ��TV assistant superintendent of facility services. “Its ultimate use has not been fully determined.”

Author John Schu visits Duff Elementary’s new library

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 15:42:06 +0000

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.��

New Martin High School band hall under construction

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:42:34 +0000

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.”��

Bond oversight committee tours Short Elementary

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 14:13:24 +0000

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, ��ɫ��TV’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 ��ɫ��TV 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.

Busy summer of bond construction wraps up

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 19:53:59 +0000

Many bond constrution projects will continue into the fall

The marathon Bond 2019 construction projects at schools throughout ��ɫ��TV 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, ��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV, 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, ��ɫ��TV’s director of facilities planning and construction.

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

Sam Houston High School library getting renovated

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 14:52:56 +0000

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.

Steel going up for future Rodriguez Junior High School

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:32:41 +0000

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.

See inside the Arlington High School addition

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 14:12:27 +0000

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 .

[caption id="attachment_182312" align="alignright" width="500"] New library at Arlington High[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_182311" align="alignright" width="500"] New cheer and drill room at Arlington High[/caption]

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.

Duff Elementary’s bond project nears completion

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 14:00:21 +0000

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 ��ɫ��TV 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.”

Major construction project at Bailey Junior High gears up for summer

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 10 May 2024 15:07:55 +0000

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 ��ɫ��TV 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.”

[caption id="attachment_179445" align="alignright" width="500"] Classroom addition at Bailey Junior High[/caption]

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 ��ɫ��TV 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.

[caption id="attachment_179446" align="alignright" width="500"] Outdoor corridor at Bailey Junior High is getting enclosed[/caption]

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, ��ɫ��TV 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.

See the new playgrounds at all ��ɫ��TV elementary schools

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 03 May 2024 13:56:44 +0000

Playgrounds now open at all 53 elementary schools

Check out about ��ɫ��TV’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.

Board names new school Joey Rodriguez Junior High

Web Services — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:34:15 +0000

Joey Rodriguez Junior High

��ɫ��TV'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 ��ɫ��TV 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."

��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV. "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.

New playgrounds open at all ��ɫ��TV elementary schools

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 16:07:02 +0000

Playgrounds funded by the 2019 Bond

All 105 new playgrounds in the ��ɫ��TV are now open.

The years-long project – funded by the 2019 Bond – to make sure every single ��ɫ��TV 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.

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, ��ɫ��TV’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 ��ɫ��TV 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.”

New Arlington High School softball field opens

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 15:09:11 +0000

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, ��ɫ��TV 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.

Watch new 2019 Bond construction update video

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 17:39:03 +0000

Construction Update Video - February 2024

Check out the latest 2019 Bond construction update below.

[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.

Old Roark Elementary building nearly demolished

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 15:23:54 +0000

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 ��ɫ��TV made with the City of Arlington. ��ɫ��TV got what used to be , 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.

Bond oversight committee tours Arlington High School project

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 18:13:22 +0000

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 ��ɫ��TV 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.”

��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV 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 of Duff Elementary’s library starts

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:58:58 +0000

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 Elementary renovations are nearly complete

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 21:53:08 +0000

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.

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.”

��

Take a virtual tour of new Thornton Elementary

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 14:00:27 +0000

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.

District uses holidays for construction and maintenance

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 14:00:49 +0000

Update on bond construction projects

Not everyone in the ��ɫ��TV 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, ��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV. It is an honor to lead such fine people in an amazing school district.”

Take virtual tour of new Berry Elementary

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 15:36:08 +0000

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.

Old Knox Elementary building demolished

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 15:02:01 +0000

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 . ��ɫ��TV acquired the park from the City of Arlington by giving the city its nearby and now-closed Roark Elementary site.

��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV 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.”

New web page gives overview of Bond 2019 construction progress

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:35:04 +0000

Construction is the largest part of the 2019 Bond

It’s not easy to keep up with all the construction projects included in ��ɫ��TV’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.��

[caption id="attachment_175955" align="alignright" width="500"] Screenshot from new webpage[/caption]

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.

��ɫ��TV breaks ground for new Glaspie Field

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 20:39:48 +0000

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 ��ɫ��TV 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.

��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV Board of Trustees. Glaspie, the first African American elected to the ��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV 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.

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 ��ɫ��TV 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.”

Phase two of new playgrounds complete

Web Services — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:45:12 +0000

Bond 2019 moves on to last phase

Two phases down, one to go.

The new getting installed at all 53 ��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV’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.

��ɫ��TV breaks ground for new junior high school

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:28:17 +0000

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 ��ɫ��TV 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]

��ɫ��TV 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. ��ɫ��TV acquired the park from the City of Arlington by giving the city its nearby and now-closed Roark Elementary site. ��ɫ��TV 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.

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.

Thornton Elementary Tigers dedicate their new school

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 18:24:42 +0000

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]

��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV 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 .

��ɫ��TV architect Richard Flores talks about Hispanic Heritage Month

Ryan PIERCE — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 20:21:54 +0000

Flores oversaw construction of the Career + Tech Center

We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by spotlighting several ��ɫ��TV staff members about their Hispanic heritage. This week we caught up with Richard Flores, ��ɫ��TV 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 ��ɫ��TV? 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.

Demolition of old Knox Elementary underway

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 15:50:12 +0000

Old Knox building opened in 1958

It’s demo day.

Actually, it’s demo days at the ��ɫ��TV’s old Knox Elementary School. It takes more than a day to tear down an old school.

The building that also served as a temporary Thornton Elementary for the last two years is now officially being torn down to make way for what’s next.

A new junior high school to replace the old Carter Junior High.

The new school is a��2019 Bond��project needed because of Carter’s age. Opened it 1958, Carter wasn’t built for modern technology, HVAC, lighting or today’s education models. In addition, the original Carter site is undersized, and erosion in the adjacent creek impedes site use. There is no room for a track around the football field or ample parking.

That will all change with the new state-of-the-art junior high facility. Plus, the new site is more centrally located to the Carter student population and large enough to accommodate all program offerings.

It’s large enough thanks to a trade with the City of Arlington. ��ɫ��TV acquired Wessler Park, adjacent to Knox, and is adding it to the new junior high property. In return, ��ɫ��TV is giving the city its nearby and now-closed Roark Elementary site. ��ɫ��TV will demolish the Roark building soon, too, and then build a new splash pad in the school’s place to replace the one that was at Wessler Park.

Once demolition of the old Knox building is complete, construction on the new junior high will begin. Look for the early stages of construction – moving dirt around – to begin next month.

The new junior high school, designed by , will be built by and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025. It is the last of four aging schools to be replaced by the 2019 Bond. The other three – now all open – are Webb, Berry and Thornton elementary schools.

Year two of construction at Arlington High School underway

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 18:33:50 +0000

Year two of construction at Arlington High School looks a lot different than the first.

“The difference this year is that we can actually see the progress,” said AHS principal Stacie Humbles. “This summer, we got to see the structure go up and work is being done everywhere.”

It was a busy summer of construction that has continued right into the school year.

“This year, we look forward to watching the cube grow and take shape,” Humbles said.

The cube is what Humbles calls the biggest part of the 2019 Bond-funded construction project. It’s 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.

If you drive by the school on Cooper or Park Row, you can see the cube going up. Work on the underground utilities, concrete foundations and structural steel is ongoing.

While the vertical steel for the cube 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 and athletic fields. Some of this work was completed over the summer.

The transformer for the school was relocated in time to ensure power to the whole building before school started. A new central plant for the chilled water systems was installed over the summer and is up and running. The football field was replaced, and the track was resurfaced. And new restrooms were opened at the field house for use during games. Later this year, the bleachers will receive upgrades.

Nearby, work is also underway to convert the softball practice field into a .

While all of the construction will be worth it in the long run, it is creating some temporary challenges for the school in the meantime.

“Inside the building, we've had to make some adjustments due to losing space and even hallways,” Humbles said. “We've done a lot to prepare our kids for the hallways and they've been extremely flexible and cooperative ... probably because we added two minutes to our passing periods, so now they have nine minutes between classes!”

and learn more about all projects in the 2019 Bond.

The addition and renovations at Arlington High School were designed by VLK Architects, and the construction is being managed by Joeris General Contractors.

Sir Earl Toon turns Berry Elementary dedication into a celebration

Ryan PIERCE — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:30:25 +0000

New Berry funded by the 2019 Bond

It was a party Monday evening at Berry Elementary School.

“Mr. Celebration” himself, Sir Earl Toon of Kool & the Gang, turned the dedication of the new elementary school into a celebration. In front of a packed cafeteria – full of Berry students, parents, teachers and alumni – the Grammy Award-winner performed several songs, including his hits “Celebration” and “Get Down on It.”

The new Berry is definitely worth celebrating.

On the same site as the original Berry, which opened in 1955, the new Berry looks a lot different.

The two-story building with nearly 105,000 square feet features pre-K-sixth grade classrooms, a media center, fine arts classrooms, STEM labs, makerspace, collaboration spaces, outdoor areas and more.

“This is about ensuring all of our students – all of our Berry Bears – have a great school that prepares them for the 21st century,” said ��ɫ��TV board president Melody Fowler at the dedication ceremony.

But while the building looks different, some things haven’t changed – like the spirit and love that makes Berry Berry.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duqbWOj5-vk&t=1061s[/embed]

“It’s a building designed to match the spirit and love that are so strong here,” ��ɫ��TV interim superintendent Dr. Steven Wurtz said during the dedication ceremony. “It’s that spirit and love that will turn these incredible modern spaces into a place where kids thrive, grow and build wonderful futures.”

That spirit was alive and well as Sir Earl Toon got everyone grooving to his 1980 hit song and shouting “Woo hoo!” Before long, Berry principal Rose Ravin and her teachers were up dancing around the cafeteria in a long train.

“It was very inspiring,” Ravin said. “It was such an honor to have Sir Earl here to help us open and have our dedication here today.”

Toon, who lives in Dallas, knows Berry assistant principal Manuel Triana and has great respect for what he and Ravin are doing at Berry.

“I figured if they are going to do what they set out to do with these kids and involving the parents, how could I not be here,” Toon said. “It’s not only about the children; it’s about the parents and the school because when you put all of those things together, united we stand.”

It was a natural fit for Toon, who lives to help people celebrate and is a founder of the non-profit , which provides new winter coats to kids in need and benefits many in the DFW area.

This year, he is planning to provide coats to many of the same kids who watched him sing Monday night.

After the singing ended, the party continued. The Sam Houston High School Tex-Anns drill team, who joined the celebration and welcomed everyone when thy first arrived, continued cheering as the building was opened for tours. And it didn’t end there. An ice cream social back in the cafeteria was the encore for the show.

“It’s a huge blessing for this neighborhood, this community and these kids,” said Lisa Benjamin, who just retired from ��ɫ��TV where she was the administrative assistant for outgoing superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos. Berry holds a special place in Benjamin’s heart because this is where she started her journey in the ��ɫ��TV – as a student when she was a little girl.

“It gives them new opportunities and a beautiful place to call home,” she said.

Berry is one of four aging schools being replaced by the��2019 Bond��program. A��new Webb Elementary��opened in January, the new Thornton Elementary just opened, too, and a replacement for Carter Junior High will start construction later this year.

Citizens Bond Oversight Committee tours new Thornton Elementary

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 18:37:21 +0000

The ��ɫ��TV’s��Citizens Bond Oversight Committee kicked off its first meeting of the school year this week with a tour of the new Thornton Elementary School. The new Thornton, funded by the 2019 Bond, just opened last week.

Following the tour, the committee members met in the Thornton media center to receive updates on the 2019 Bond program from Kelly Horn, assistant superintendent of facility services. The presentation included updates on bond-funded projects for facilities, fine arts, technology, security and transportation.

There’s a lot to talk about right now, especially with construction. In addition to Thornton, a brand-new Berry Elementary also just opened. Construction on a replacement school for Carter Junior High will start this fall. A major addition is underway at Arlington High School, renovations inside Short Elementary have transformed that school, a new band hall at Martin High School is coming soon, Sam Houston High School has ongoing renovations, and on and on.

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

The committee meets quarterly and then develops a report of its findings and recommendations.

“The review and oversight of project and financial documents can be laborious, but the inside look at projects in-progress is a lot of fun for the team,” Horn said.

See the presentation from this week’s CBOC meeting.

New Berry Elementary dedication will be a celebration

Ryan PIERCE — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 18:07:38 +0000

Celebrate good times, come on!

“There’s a party going on right here!”

Right here in Arlington this Monday, Aug. 28, at the new Berry Elementary School. It’ll be a celebration to dedicate the brand-new school.

In fact, “Mr. Celebration” himself, of Kool & the Gang, will be there to perform several of his hit songs, including “Celebration.”

Then after the ceremony, the school will be open for tours followed by an ice cream social in the cafeteria.

It’s going to be a good time. If you’d like to come see the new school, get your groove on and celebrate good times, . The ceremony starts at 5 p.m.

The new Berry is definitely worth celebrating.

The new two-story school building with nearly 105,000 square-feet features five classrooms for each grade (pre-K-6), a media center, fine arts classrooms, STEM labs, makerspace, collaboration spaces, outdoor areas and more.

Designed with input from the community, teachers and students, the new Berry is intended to breathe new life into the east Arlington community and give all students access to unlimited educational opportunities in the best possible, state-of-the-art facilities.

“We are excited about what this is going to bring to our community,” Berry principal Rose Ravin said nearly two years ago at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new school. “Not just for our district but especially in our east Arlington area. We know this building will provide opportunities for our east Arlington students. We are excited because they will be a part of making new history, new memories, new learning, new designs and new creations.”

The new school replaces the original Berry, built in 1955. It was demolished in 2021 and was rebuilt over the last two years on its original site.

Berry is one of four aging schools being replaced by the 2019 Bond program.

New Berry and Thornton elementary schools open

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 21:31:06 +0000

New schools replace buildings from the 1950s

The line outside the front door was long as students and parents waited to get in early Wednesday morning.

But the wait didn’t dampen their enthusiasm to see the new Thornton Elementary School.

The new Thornton and the new Berry Elementary opened for students for the first time on Wednesday to wide eyes and big smiles.

“We’re excited watching them walk through the doors,” ��ɫ��TV interim superintendent Dr. Steven Wurtz said at Berry on Wednesday morning. “All their smiling faces was really motivating.”

Both schools were originally built in the 1950s, both were demolished in 2021 and both were rebuilt over the last two years on their original sites.

After two years of waiting and holding school in temporary locations, the first day couldn’t come soon enough.

“I’m super excited,” Thornton principal Alicia Rodriguez said. “I couldn’t wait for the first day of school. Families were so happy. Students were so happy. It was just nice to see everybody today.”

Funded by the 2019 Bond, both facilities are about 105,000 square feet with two floors and feature pods for each grade with five classrooms (pre-K - 6), a media center, fine arts classrooms, STEM labs, makerspace, collaboration spaces, outdoor learning areas and more.

See photos of the new and .

Opening day for each school represented the culmination of years of planning. It was truly a labor of love, intended to improve the learning opportunities for students in east Arlington and enhance their communities.

“A school is a hub of the neighborhood,” Wurtz said at Berry. “Families come not only to learn, but they come to congregate, to make friends, build relationships and to volunteer. It’s a center were lots of activity happens, and so to be able to do that in a facility that is brand new speaks to how important they are and how much we in ��ɫ��TV love them and want them to join us in our work.”

Even among all the newness, some things hadn’t changed.

“What reminds me of the old Thornton – my old Thornton – is the tree,” Rodriguez said.

The huge trees that have welcomed families to both schools for decades are still there, carefully preserved.

“We tried to preserve the uniqueness of the site and make their facility live and breathe this community,” said Kelly Horn, ��ɫ��TV’s assistant superintendent of facility services.

The other thing still there is the most important thing.

“What really makes the school ‘school’ is families and students,” Rodriguez said.

They were – and still are – the heart of the school.

“This community is all about heart,” Wurtz said. “I think these schools are expressions of love. You have this brand-new building that kids can come to with lots of really unique spaces for them to learn in. And everyone is welcome.”

Berry and Thornton are two of four schools being replaced by the 2019 Bond program. A new Webb Elementary opened in January, and a replacement for Carter Junior High will start construction later this year.

Bond 2019 construction underway at Sam Houston High School

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 17:00:26 +0000

Construction is Underway at Sam thanks to Bond

When construction started at Sam Houston High School during the 2014 Bond program, you knew it. There were cranes and all kinds of construction vehicles and materials outside.

The 2014 bond-funded additions and renovations were major construction projects that changed the footprint of Sam Houston.

There was the new entrance, a new ninth-grade classroom wing, the new cafeteria. Plus, they gutted the old cafeteria to build new classrooms. And the theater was updated, along with many other renovations throughout the campus.

This summer, the 2019 Bond projects for Sam Houston got underway. If you drove by though, you wouldn’t know it. No cranes this time. And much less noise.

The Sam Houston facility isn’t growing with this bond program. But there are important renovations being done throughout the campus.

“The renovations will greatly improve the learning environment, creating a modern and state-of-the-art space for students to thrive,” said Sam Houston principal Juan Villarreal.

And even though you can’t see construction on the outside right now, if you walked in the door today and looked up, you’d see it.

Most of the ceiling tiles are gone – on their way to being replaced. And there are hallways and offices whose floors have been ripped out.

“One area that will particularly benefit from the renovations is the halls of SHHS,” Villarreal said. “With upgraded lighting and new floors, the halls will look even better than before. The new lighting will provide students with a greater sense of pride in their school.”

The new flooring and new ceiling tiles are slated to be installed before the start of school.

But renovation work will continue through the school year and all of 2024.

In addition to the new ceilings and new flooring, the scope of work includes:

- mechanical, electrical and plumbing improvements that includes replacing the boilers, electrical switchgear and transformers,
- replacing light fixtures and painting selected areas of the building,
- accessibility improvements, including hardware replacement and ramps,
- restroom renovations, including replacing fixtures in selected restrooms
- site Improvements that include drainage upgrades in the courtyard
- fine arts renovations in the auditorium, including replacing the light fixtures, enclosing the control booth and adding a ramp to the stage,
- gym and locker room renovations,
- safety and security enhancements that include hardware upgrades, a new interior keying system and additional card access doors.

“Although construction projects can present temporary challenges like limited access to certain areas or increased noise levels, it is important to remember the long-term benefits these improvements will bring the school,” Villarreal said. “The patience and understanding of students, staff and the community during this period will be rewarded with a transformed educational space that will serve future generations.”

of the renovations underway at Sam Houston. And learn more about all the projects in the 2019 Bond at aisd.net/Bond2019.

Old Duff Elementary gym demolished

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 18:42:40 +0000

Duff getting a new gym

That didn’t take long.

Demolition of the gym at Duff Elementary started this week – and finished.

The structure is gone.

That’s good, because building a new gym will take a lot longer than a few days.

The new gym is part of the 2019 Bond-funded project just getting started at Duff. The whole project includes a series of renovations and improvements.

The new 5,030-square-foot gym addition will connect to the existing building at the southwest corner. The old gym was a separate structure. 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.

Another big project at Duff is expanding the library. One adjacent classroom will be absorbed into the library, and the entire combined space will be renovated.

There are also a bunch of other renovations planned for Duff, too. Highlights 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!”

South Davis

Work on the 2019 Bond project at South Davis Elementary kicked off this summer, too. While the scope of work doesn’t include new construction like at Duff, it does include important upgrades.

Much of the building, inside and out, will be repainted, and carpet and mini blinds throughout the building will be replaced. The kitchen’s walk-in cooler and freezer will be replaced as well. Ceiling tile will be replaced in the library, in the corridor adjacent to the cafeteria and in six classrooms. The stage is being improved, too, with new lighting and new tan curtains. Plus, the stage’s original wood floor will be sanded and refinished.

Learn more about all the construction projects in the 2019 Bond at aisd.net/Bond2019.

Citizens Bond Oversight Committee presents annual report

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 14:00:35 +0000

Committee chair presents to Board of Trustees

The��Citizens Bond Oversight Committee gave its annual report at the last ��ɫ��TV Board of Trustees meeting. Charles Finicum, the committee’s chair, presented at the June 29 meeting and offered observations and recommendations related to the district’s 2019 Bond program.

Read the report��or��watch the presentation��below.

[embed]https://youtu.be/FiBIugXHmvQ?t=148[/embed]

“I want to first extend our gratitude to you for your service,” interim superintendent Dr. Steven Wurtz said at the meeting. “As you know, they help us in our decision-making when it comes to the implementation of our 2019 Bond.”

The CBOC was established to provide transparency and enhance public confidence in the use of proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by ��ɫ��TV voters on Nov. 5, 2019. The 2019 Bond package includes $966 million to improve facilities, provide access and equity for all students and build on the progress recognized through the��2014 Bond program. This bond package is addressing needs in four areas: facilities; transportation; safety, security and technology; and fine arts.

The CBOC accomplishes its charge by following the district’s bond program progress and reporting its findings and recommendations to the ��ɫ��TV Board of Trustees (read the CBOC’s charge). The oversight committee meets on a quarterly basis to receive updates on implementation progress and tour bond construction projects and then develops its annual report.

This was the second annual CBOC report for the 2019 Bond.

Learn more about the 2019 Bond.

Bond construction projects start at Short, Hale and Adams elementary schools

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:00:43 +0000

Short Elementary looks like a mess

Short Elementary students who wrapped up the school year just a few weeks ago might not recognize their school if they walked inside today.

It’s a mess.

Much of the flooring and ceiling, along with some of the walls, have been demolished.

But the mess is making way for a better school thanks to the 2019 Bond program.

of the construction at Short.

“Our classrooms are gaining new flooring and ceilings, brightening and beautifying the learning environment to best support students and teachers,” said Short principal Betsy Berkebile.

The construction project at Short includes a lot of renovations that will enhance the learning environment. Highlights include replacing the ceiling tiles, fluorescent lighting and much of the flooring. Restrooms are being renovated, and hardware, along with some doors, are getting replaced. Roofing will be replaced where needed, and paint will be touched up inside where needed. The gym is getting improvements as well, and the kitchen is getting a new freezer/cooler.

Plus, the school is getting some new graphics inside.

“The bond-funded renovations will give our students both roots and wings,” Berkebile said. “One-a-kind branding graphics inside the building will spark students’ interest in community history as they walk along the Shorthorn Trail. Areas of campus will be labeled with names like ‘Beatrice Short Trail,’ after our school’s namesake who came to teach in Arlington in 1921, and ‘Johnson Station Trail,’ commemorating the first school in the area. The designs proudly incorporate Short’s school colors – blue and yellow.”

Outside, some sidewalks have been demolished and will be repoured, and some additional parking is being added.

Much of the work at Short will be completed over the summer, and everything is scheduled to wrap up by December.

Hale

Hale Elementary is getting improvements this summer, too. Though its projects may not be as noticeable as the ones at Short, they are still important for the facility.

Inside highlights include repainting metal doors, replacing the gym floor, refinishing the custodial closets, replacing the flooring in the teacher’s lounge and replacing the ceiling in the kitchen.

Outside, project highlights include replacing fallen concrete sidewalks and patio, installing a swale at the front for better drainage, regrading and sodding around the building and replacing the marquee with a new digital one.

Adams

Adams Elementary was one of only two schools that didn’t get any renovations in the 2014 Bond program, but that was because Adams was new at the time. The school first opened in 2013.

Now ten years have passed, and the 2019 Bond program does include a few improvements for Adams. Inside, exterior doors are getting new hardware, and the kitchen dock is getting a new generator connection. Outside, Adams is getting a new digital marquee, along with nearby landscaping, and the baseball field backstop will be replaced.

And of course, Adams – along with all elementary schools in the district – is getting two new playgrounds with accessible equipment, rubber surfacing and shade structures.

The old Webb Elementary is going, going, gone

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 14:00:23 +0000

Old school replaced by the 2019 Bond

Webb Elementary School is gone. The old one that is.

The old Webb, built in 1960 as Nichols Junior High, became Webb Elementary in 1993 after Nichols moved north of I-30 to its current location. The old building served students well for more than 60 years, but it was worn out and had reached the point that it needed to be replaced.

When a new Webb, built right next door as a part of the 2019 Bond, opened in January, the demolition process for the old building began. By April, heavy machinery arrived and started knocking down the walls.

Now, nothing is left.

While the empty expanse of dirt is sure to stir some nostalgia for some, the incredible new Webb facility and what will go in the old building's place is more than enough to make up for it.

The empty field that once held the old school will become an activity field for the students at the new Webb. The field will be re-graded with a gentle slope and then fenced. A new east-west lane will also be added south of the new Webb building.

The new Webb does much more than just replace an old school building. It equips every single student for success today and for decades to come. The state-of-the-art facility is full of 21st-century learning spaces - including collaboration areas for every grade - modern technology, fine arts rooms, STEM labs, covered playgrounds with equipment accessible for every child, and special education facilities.

��of the new Webb.

The new Webb is the first of four school replacements funded by the��2019 Bond, an effort to modernize the district's schools and revitalize their neighborhoods. It's all about providing generations of students with the opportunities they need to succeed in the 21st century. The next two new replacement schools - Berry and Thornton - will open for students in August.

All of this - the new schools, renovations at existing schools, new fine arts instruments, new school buses and so much more - is only possible because of the support of the community through the bond program. So, thank you.

Learn more about all of the projects in the 2019 Bond.

Get a sneak peek of new Thornton Elementary School

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 14:00:47 +0000

Furniture delivery started this week at Thornton

You know a new building is almost complete when they start moving furniture in.

That’s exactly what started on Wednesday at the new Thornton Elementary School, where they began rolling in the new library furniture.

The new Thornton, under construction since the groundbreaking ceremony in December of 2021, is now more than 90% complete. But there’s still a lot of work going on – from installing all kinds of finishes to landscaping and cleaning – to get it ready for teachers and students to start the 2023-2024 school year there this August.

The new 105,000-square-foot Thornton, funded by the 2019 Bond, includes five classrooms for each grade (pre-K-6), a media center, fine arts classrooms, STEM labs, makerspace, collaboration spaces and more. Outdoor spaces include a new entry plaza with a canopy, an outdoor learning courtyard, a paved court for basketball and a play field.

The original Thornton, which first opened in 1956, was demolished in the fall of 2020 to make way for the new building that is now almost ready. In the meantime, Thornton’s students and teachers were housed in a temporary location, at the building that was formerly Knox Elementary.

But temporary Thornton closed two weeks ago when school let out for the summer. Now, it’s almost time to move back home – to the new building on the original site.

This is a move the Thornton community couldn’t be happier about.

“There are so many things that our students, staff and parents are excited about the new Thornton,” said Thornton principal Alicia Rodriguez. “Our students love that the school is two stories high, and they look forward to the new playground and having the soccer goals to play soccer. Our staff is ecstatic about the new spaces, including the collaboration spaces and workroom spaces for each grade level.”

They are also excited about some old trees.

Construction crews took special care to preserve the two massive oak trees that have graced the Thornton site for decades. Architects designed the building to make sure the trees are located prominently near the front entrance.

“For those staff members who have been at Thornton for decades and watched students have recess and field days by the old oak trees, those will continue to stand tall in the beautiful and grand new Thornton to witness the improved opportunities and experiences for our students, staff and families,” Rodriguez said.

The new Thornton is going to open for school this August thanks to the ��ɫ��TV community through its support of the 2019 Bond, which includes funds to replace four aging schools. Along with Thornton, a new Berry Elementary will also open in August. A new Webb Elementary opened in January, and construction of a new Carter Junior High will start in a few months.

Berry Elementary teachers and staff visit their new school

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 20:36:00 +0000

Berry construction almost complete

It was finally time to go home.

Principal Rose Ravin’s head popped up out of the sunroof of a pickup truck idling in front of Berry Elementary School - or what was Berry Elementary School for the last two years.

Behind Ravin were cars filled with all of Berry’s teachers and staff. And in front were Arlington police cars ready to provide the teacher caravan a police escort for their move back home.

It was a short drive – less than a mile to the original site of Berry, where the school first opened in 1955. But Berry moved out of the original building in 2021 to a temporary location – to the campus that had been Roark Elementary. In the meantime, the original Berry building was demolished and construction of a new Berry began.

Construction is now nearing completion, and last Friday, Berry’s teachers and staff got to see inside their brand-new school for the first time.

“Welcome home! Welcome home!” Ravin shouted as the teachers and staff made their way from their car caravan to the front entrance.

“This is so exciting! I’m so excited,” one teacher said out loud to no one in particular.

Even the escorting police officers were excited and hung around to see the building.

As everyone gathered at the front door, anxious to go in, Jaime Garcia, the ��ɫ��TV project manager who oversaw the design and construction of the new Berry, greeted everyone.

“To get you oriented,” he said, “over here is the admin area …”

But that was as far as he got.

“No, no, no!” interrupted Ravin.

The principal had other plans.

“I could take you around on a tour,” she told her staff. “But you won’t be listening.”

She figured the excitement would be too distracting.

So, she sent the entire staff on a scavenger hunt to locate each part of the building and get familiar with their new home.

Even with the scavenger hunt, the excitement was still a bit too much for some.

Jennifer Neher, Berry’s longtime art teacher, could barely contain herself.

“I can’t handle how exciting this is!” she said as she walked through the library. At that point, she hadn’t even seen her art room yet.

Down the hall, Berry’s orchestra teacher was more reserved in his excitement.

Philip Friend stood in his new strings room quietly assessing how to set it up. He is used to teaching young musicians in a portable building and having to move multiple times.

“Just to have a permanent place in the building will be so nice, he said. “And we don’t have to move again.”

The new Berry will open for students in August. It is one of four school replacements funded by the 2019 Bond. A new Thornton Elementary is also under construction and will open along with Berry in August. A new Webb Elementary opened earlier this year in January, and a new Carter Junior High has been designed and will be built soon.

Learn more about the 2019 Bond.

Bailey Junior High construction kicks off over the summer

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 26 May 2023 15:41:32 +0000

Bailey Junior High’s new parking lot off Bowen Road is complete. But that’s just the start of the 2019 Bond project at Bailey. Now that school is out for the summer, work on the transformational project will really get going.

It’s a large, complex project that won’t wrap up until the end of 2024. With construction on different parts of the campus planned for the next 16 months at least, some flexibility and patience on the part of Bailey’s teachers, staff, students and parents will be required, but the improvements to the school will make all the inconveniences more than worthwhile.

“The bond package will benefit Bailey by adding 14 classrooms, enhance our security and upgrade our cafeteria,” Bailey principal Jason Davis said. “Although there will be some challenges with traffic and parking during the construction, the school upgrades will be an opportunity to unlock student potential.”

Bailey Scope

The project includes a large addition that will add 10 new classrooms – to replace all of the portable buildings – expand the kitchen and dining space and add a new secure main entry and administration suite. The old administration area will be converted into three regular classrooms and one science lab. The addition will also provide a storm shelter for the campus.

The existing building will also receive renovations, including a new fire sprinkler and fire alarm system. And the majority of ceilings and lighting, along with existing doors and frames, will be replaced. Athletic lockers will be replaced as well, and the north gym will get a new scoreboard and AV system, and the south gym will get new bleachers. Plus, the existing courtyard’s covered walkway will be enclosed to provide better interior student circulation for the campus.

Outside, in addition to the new parking lot on the west side of campus, the eastern parking lot will be replaced and expanded to improve traffic circulation and provide additional parking. The athletic field will also get new concessions and restrooms incorporated within the new kitchen addition. A concession counter with a roll-up shutter will open toward the athletic fields.

Summer Work

With school out, work on the addition is starting. First, the porch at the site of the addition will be demolished and then the new crawl space dug. Then comes piers and work on the foundation, including installing utilities.

Work will also start on the kitchen upgrades. That involves clearing out the kitchen and putting two serving lines in the existing dining space. A temporary wall will be built to separate the kitchen from the student area. The kitchen will then be gutted, so the remodel and expansion can begin. The kitchen work will last until the late spring of next year.

Inside the existing building, roughing for the new fire sprinkler will begin this summer, some classroom ceilings will be replaced and the campus will be connected to the district’s new fiber optic network.

“It’s a lot of work, but we’re taking advantage of the summer months to get as much done as possible before students come back in August,” said the project manager and ��ɫ��TV architect Richard Flores. “Much of the work we’ll do during the summer will position us to continue working throughout the next school year.”

The project at Bailey has been designed by , and the construction is being led by .

New playgrounds done at Dunn Elementary

Ryan PIERCE — Fri, 12 May 2023 18:45:49 +0000

Playgrounds under construction at five schools

According to the students at Dunn Elementary, they have a new park on campus.

Their new park is actually a new playground.

“The new playground at Dunn is now affectionately called a ‘park’ by our students,” said Dunn principal Mary Helen Burnett. “They cannot believe it's for them and love everything about it. There is so much to explore and places for everyone to play and grow!”

The new playgrounds are popping up all over the district, with new ones also opening this spring at Burgin, Morton, Rankin and Hill elementary schools. And Blanton is next.

[caption id="attachment_171705" align="alignright" width="500"] New playground at Hill Elementary[/caption]

“Learners at Hill are LOVING the new playground,” said Hill principal Kasie Longoria. “Even our sixth��graders are finding so much joy in true authentic play. Thank you AISD for bringing joy to our kids!”

The new playgrounds are part of the��2019 Bond��program. Every elementary school is getting two – one for pre-K through first grade, and the other for second through sixth grade. 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.

Three phases

The playgrounds are getting installed at all 53 ��ɫ��TV elementary schools in three phases, with 29 schools now complete. The first phase, with 17 schools, is done, and phase two is nearing completion. Schools with playgrounds open in phase two include Burgin, Crow, Ditto, Dunn, Hill, Jones, Farrell, Fitzgerald, Morton, Rankin, Webb and Wimbish.

Work is also underway at the final schools in phase two:

Blanton Elementary’s new playground equipment is in, and the rubber surfacing is being installed this week. The new playgrounds could open as soon as next week.
At Patrick Elementary and Kooken Educational Center, demolition is done. The concrete is now getting poured at Kooken, and the concrete will be poured at Patrick in about two weeks.
Work is underway at Butler and Sherrod elementary schools where they are halfway done with demolition.

Following phase two, construction will start on the third and final phase. Phase three includes Adams, Amos, Atherton, Berry, Foster, Goodman, Hale, Johns, Key, Little, McNutt, Miller, Peach, Pope, Short, South Davis, Speer, Swift and Thornton.

Bond News – ��ɫ����TV

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Addition funded by the 2019 Bond

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Glaspie Field funded by the 2019 Bond

Sam Houston High School renovated library set to open in January

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Design finalized for future ��ɫ����TV support services center

��ɫ����TV support services center bidding now

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Addition funded by the 2019 Bond

The Cube

��ɫ����TV’s Former Administration Building demolished

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New Martin High School band hall under construction

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Photos give glimpse of huge addition

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Major construction project at Bailey Junior High gears up for summer

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Board names new school Joey Rodriguez Junior High

Joey Rodriguez Junior High

New playgrounds open at all ��ɫ����TV elementary schools

Playgrounds funded by the 2019 Bond

Smiles all around

Fun for every student

Worth It

New Arlington High School softball field opens

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Watch Bond 2019 construction update

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Old Roark Elementary building nearly demolished

Roark site traded to the City of Arlington

What’s next?

Helen Wessler Park

Bond oversight committee tours Arlington High School project

Citizens Bond Oversight Committee

Demolition of Duff Elementary’s library starts

Demolition started over the winter break

Short Elementary renovations are nearly complete

Short looks completely different inside

Take a virtual tour of new Thornton Elementary

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Top 5 Bond 2019 stories from 2023

Bond 2019 highlights from the year that was

1. New Webb Elementary opens

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

3 New Thornton Elementary opens

4. Lots of new playgrounds open

5. Construction of new junior high kicks off

District uses holidays for construction and maintenance

Update on bond construction projects

Take virtual tour of new Berry Elementary

New Berry replaces school built in 1955

Old Knox Elementary building demolished

Knox building was originally a junior high

New web page gives overview of Bond 2019 construction progress

Construction is the largest part of the 2019 Bond

��ɫ����TV breaks ground for new Glaspie Field

Glaspie Field will be district's third stadium

Phase two of new playgrounds complete

Bond 2019 moves on to last phase

��ɫ����TV breaks ground for new junior high school

New junior high is funded by the 2019 Bond

Thornton Elementary Tigers dedicate their new school

Bond News – ��ɫ��TV

Design finalized for future ��ɫ��TV support services center

��ɫ��TV support services center bidding now

��ɫ��TV’s Former Administration Building demolished

See the new playgrounds at all ��ɫ��TV elementary schools

New playgrounds open at all ��ɫ��TV elementary schools

��ɫ��TV breaks ground for new Glaspie Field

��ɫ��TV breaks ground for new junior high school

��ɫ��TV architect Richard Flores talks about Hispanic Heritage Month