[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6572462,"mediaKeyId","3048567-44513e35b1d2c61af0688858b92b9fef","parentId",3048567,"title","Arlington ISD trustees ratify two high‑school administrative appointments","audioSeconds",152,"startMs",5616000,"endMs",5768000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048567-44513e35b1d2c61af0688858b92b9fef&start=5616&end=5768","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048567-44513e35b1d2c61af0688858b92b9fef/thumbnail_5616000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6572462/Texas/Arlington-ISD-trustees-ratify-two-highschool-administrative-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572462-f514dbc9ff44ac10ef77e106ab18a02f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820707&Signature=hSGJEV9uciWIfTBU-FaLEF1RejVBqVtS6w9m~69P6ExnHjo7E0ASUaXTEeMAAXgXCMqxZeG1fH227qhB43Q-BcsJxkArCMdtT2pK8uGolBVws6PI-FhtIbOId~X8tqFgspmXeoGzCN77G~HQWWhzEFUMkdRSgtBwFeffjUSJpiBIp2LUej-V0UN9OcjDjzawOQlFNCE~JAxwtupf3rwb70Jy6WXJ-HzyjzbOY1AyzVWBCMdle4vC5kJw4KY8Pe7~dTGuBZ4L6Ap7OZbFGI4m8i04m3O3Askof2bCntntSHsoaeQHj--dM2gKk2ruTG-HL8qdF3TzGK1KGL6zIP03VA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-18T08:34:05.703Z","article","On April 17 the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees voted to ratify two administrative appointments discussed in closed session, approving both appointments unanimously in open session.

The motion to ratify the appointments for an associate principal at Sam Houston High School and an assistant principal at Martin High School was made by Trustee Fowler and seconded by Trustee Wilbanks. \"All 7 trustees voting in the affirmative,\" President Chapa announced as the vote was recorded.

The district introduced Christopher Stroud as the new associate principal at Sam Houston High School. Dr. Smith said Stroud currently serves as principal of Itasca High School and noted his Master of Science in educational administration from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Texas Woman's University. Stroud addressed the board, saying, \"Thank you for this opportunity to be back in Arlington ISD. Look forward to it. Love it.\" He thanked supporters who attended the meeting.

The board also introduced Anne Hartfield as assistant principal at Martin High School. Hartfield, currently dean of academics at South Grand Prairie High School, told trustees she is \"super excited about this move to Arlington ISD\" and looks forward to serving the Martin High School community. The personnel items had been discussed in a substantive closed session earlier in the evening; the board moved a separate administrative appointment for a chief communications officer to the May 1 meeting.

After the introductions, trustees took a brief recess for photographs and congratulations.

Votes at a glance
- Ratification of administrative appointments (associate principal, Sam Houston High School; assistant principal, Martin High School): Motion by Trustee Fowler; second by Trustee Wilbanks; vote recorded as 7 yes, 0 no, outcome approved unanimously.
- Consent agenda approval (consent items listed on the board packet): motion passed; recorded vote 6 yes, 0 no, 1 not voting (approved). The consent motion was made and seconded and passed in open session.

The board paused for a five‑minute recess after the introductions to allow photo opportunities and recognition.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Arlington ISD Board of Trustees Meeting - April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On April 17 the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees voted to ratify two administrative appointments discussed in closed session, approving both appointments unanimously in open session.","taxTitle","ARLINGTON ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",12953,"location","Texas","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6572453,"Hilltop modeling shows bond capacity; trustees favor smaller near‑term package and call for capital‑needs steering committee",860,7776000,8636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048567-44513e35b1d2c61af0688858b92b9fef&start=7776&end=8636","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048567-44513e35b1d2c61af0688858b92b9fef/thumbnail_7776000.jpg","/articles/6572453/Texas/Hilltop-modeling-shows-bond-capacity-trustees-favor-smaller-nearterm-package-and-call-for-capitalneeds-steering-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572453-17478ef7442e9beeb59bc7e9311e3e36/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820707&Signature=ZomxapmDU4nNMLWZsiTKQtQCG9sXF7vn~eJgYLp~kOmu92Hw4aIJ0mDl5VPjffDRR~2PDad-s307FWnMi3lVnHV9FhgDEEbvNSfAaMXaGTF7ocug08Kkg31hNWRj8hupzdAUIDzzgxoOkP7f2V2mR9eeVPPAnPqvq1WEUAGCf07MqMPG3VSEwzE0ECOeKi664J75fBmhuquX3H8n~EB6rSp7LEyhJ35O6oF0FYyrbvjmfzNADuOqomvtJh-YizKmVZk4CXmrBx8k923XpSIj2hE4ef9zfvDe23aOjupoIZ-AtfciXCQWiEkGqgX~EclEpBYvusjlqx0auNZIVFbkNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hilltop Securities presented financial modeling to the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees on April 17 that sketches how various bond packages would affect the district's debt burden, tax rate and rating metrics.

George from Hilltop walked trustees through conservative taxable‑value growth assumptions (5% for two years then lower growth in later years) and two scenarios: an initial authorization of $300 million (or $350 million in an alternative) issued across 2026–2028, followed by a larger authorization in a later cycle (modeled as $650–$750 million issued across four years). Under Hilltop's models the district could maintain the district's 29.07¢ I&S tax rate while issuing an initial $300–$350 million, assuming the modeled taxable‑value growth; larger subsequent authorizations would require sustained average annual value growth (roughly mid‑2% to mid‑3% depending on scenario) to avoid upward pressure on the I&S rate.

George noted Arlington ISD's current Moody's rating of Aa1 and showed that the district's debt metrics today sit below median levels for Aa1 peers. He also recommended a stronger reserve posture than the current board policy of two months (16.67% of operating expenditures), suggesting the district aim for about 25% (roughly three months) to preserve rating strength and operational flexibility.

Trustees probed the models and asked about timing and scale. Trustee Wilbanks and others said they prefer a smaller near‑term package to \"catch up\" after missing a five‑year cadence; Trustee Richardson emphasized equity and the need to address smaller, urgent campus needs that affect student experience now. Several trustees urged alignment of bond planning with the district's forthcoming strategic plan and said the capital needs steering committee should convene soon to prioritize projects, examine attendance boundaries, and consider consolidation where necessary.

Dr. Smith offered to bring back a proposed plan to kick off a capital needs steering committee and to coordinate steering‑committee timing with the strategic plan and the facilities‑condition assessment the board recently approved. Several trustees and staff also discussed how charter school growth, apartment mobility and kindergarten capture should shape any long‑term facilities footprint.

The board received a related presentation from the district finance team (Darla Moss and Norberto Rivas) explaining revenue basics and the school‑finance context: M&O and I&S tax‑rate components, the state's recapture rules (which apply to portions of Tier 2), the district's current use of its full authorized pennies, and a hold‑harmless amount tied to a homestead exemption change (approximately $11 million in the current fiscal discussion). Rivas noted that local property tax collections plus state funding make up about 89% of the district's operating revenue; he also outlined the budget calendar leading to adoption in June and certification in July.

No bond authorization was before the board for a vote. Trustees directed administration to return with a plan to convene a capital needs steering committee and to present short‑term packages and long‑range options informed by the demographer data and the facilities condition index.","Hilltop Securities presented conservative bond‑capacity scenarios on April 17 showing Arlington ISD could issue an initial $300–$350 million bond while holding the district's I&S tax rate at 29.07¢ under modeled value growth; trustees discussed a smaller near‑term package and asked administration to form a capital needs steering committee.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6572459,"Demographer: Arlington ISD enrollment down; apartments and charter schools drive many departures",287,6373000,6660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048567-44513e35b1d2c61af0688858b92b9fef&start=6373&end=6660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048567-44513e35b1d2c61af0688858b92b9fef/thumbnail_6373000.jpg","/articles/6572459/Texas/Demographer-Arlington-ISD-enrollment-down-apartments-and-charter-schools-drive-many-departures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572459-dbdc8b59db81eb5659c942148c9d4481/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820707&Signature=VVsGo-uzMGEQEcSvV1AvGFefzS7YsHUC105p~kw8TjkTpdWLhb0vwdjF2E4ZGvot0dE3M62xo9-oGKmKLHmruI6VD5eZDL4SZX-QqlPrZTH6SobAeNohIPU2jXwxJCXlSLEtxFSjXnr26xBtJjrsrFQh~Ik6hH3iK5g2Nxj2NpVBcNDTTfMYe0U-4Gkaw8czgHFXrYMH6FNA3a-8rZY7nTXsqa1V79dw7qEa9sjGQePfWSeRlq5kmetdnQzCy3CsXpCXAjtpkHAYw6ffeCsiHbElxZRtqrUHmNgJPf-WMSOD4EvWkqoFztNXt7E~2AsTJDMz~r9WhlbYEi2sqHpACQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rocky Gardner of Zonda Education told the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees on April 17 that the district's spring demographer update shows a modest drop in enrollment and notable patterns in where students who leave the district relocate.

Gardner said Texas Education Agency statewide enrollment data show recent growth but that the district recorded a drop of about 1,300 students this year, a somewhat larger decline than his forecast. Zonda's analysis identified roughly 8,500 \"levers\" (students present last year but not this year for grades 1–11); that figure is down about 1,000 from the previous year. Gardner said many of those leavers remain physically inside the district boundaries and that a large share are concentrated in older, higher‑density apartment complexes.

\"The majority of these levers haven't left Arlington ISD,\" Gardner said during Q&A, adding many are attending charter schools or are recorded as homeschooling. He pointed to a spatial analysis showing higher concentrations of leavers around apartment clusters and noted the district has about 1,600 multifamily units under construction; approximately 255 of those are senior units.

Gardner highlighted kindergarten as a key lever: if the district can regain pre‑COVID kindergarten capture (roughly 3,700 kindergarteners in the model), enrollment could plateau near 52,000 students; if kindergarten remains flat, forecasts show a potential plateau closer to about 48,000–49,000. He also presented campus utilization maps showing multiple elementary campuses under 70% functional utilization (red on the slides) while some high schools, including Martin, exceed capacity (Martin cited at about 118% in the presentation).

Trustees probed the data. Trustee Wilbanks asked whether leavers who remain in the district boundaries were attending charters or homeschooling; Gardner confirmed that many are still living in Arlington but are enrolled elsewhere. Gardner and other presenters said the team is producing newcomer lever files that follow student IDs to track transfers and to help district staff identify where to target outreach.

During the discussion trustees and staff raised options the district is studying, including targeted kindergarten and pre‑K outreach, partnerships with apartment complexes, and marketing strategies to improve early‑childhood capture rates. Dr. Smith said the district is reviewing the data and pursuing further analysis of recruitment and retention strategies.

The presentation concluded with trustees asking administration to incorporate these findings into upcoming planning work for facilities and programming.","Zonda Education's spring demography update showed Arlington ISD enrollment fell by roughly 1,300 students this year, with most 'leavers' concentrated in apartment complexes and a substantial portion attending charter schools or homeschooling. The demographer said increasing kindergarten capture is the main lever to boost long‑term enrollment.","actionData","errors"]

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Arlington ISD trustees ratify two high‑school administrative appointments

Hilltop modeling shows bond capacity; trustees favor smaller near‑term package and call for capital‑needs steering committee

Demographer: Arlington ISD enrollment down; apartments and charter schools drive many departures