Arlington Independent School District staff told trustees Sept. 4 that the district has allocated about $625 million of the 2019 bond program and is preparing several large projects — including two stadiums and a major career and technical center project — to go out to bid.

Assistant Superintendent of Facility Services Kelly Horn said the bond program total is $852 million, with roughly $625 million allocated to projects so far and about $230 million remaining to be assigned. Horn told the board that about $32 million in interest earnings from bond proceeds remain unallocated and will be presented at the end of the bond program with options for use.

Horn walked trustees through project phases and schedules: phase 1 is wrapping up (Glaspie and Martin site work and band-hall additions), and several gyms and added storm shelters are nearing October completion. Fields at Martin, Arlington and Sam Houston are complete; the district plans to bid Cravens and Wildman when Glaspie opens. Phase 2 projects with gym and storm-shelter additions (Foster, Johns, Atherton) should be complete by October, with closeouts by December.

Phase 3 includes larger middle- and elementary-school projects; phases 4 and 5 include smaller, targeted improvements at newer and prototype campuses, plus packages for digital marquees at roughly 34 campuses. Horn said the district will use job-order contracting and other procurement methods to increase efficiency on many of the smaller projects.

Horn noted increased Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) participation in recent procurements — he reported a participation rate just under 25%, up from about 24.5% at the prior report, and said many first-time projects reach much higher HUB participation. Horn also said several concession and junior-high projects were grouped to save construction costs.

No formal board action was taken; the presentation was an informational update. Horn opened the floor for trustee questions; none were raised.

Trustees will receive follow-up reports as individual projects enter bidding and construction phases.