Council tables resolution backing Arlington School District Proposition 1, sends wording back to staff

The Arlington City Council voted to table a resolution supporting Arlington School District No. 16’s Proposition 1, a six-year capital levy to fund construction of a new Post Middle School, and remanded the item to staff to revise the resolution’s language before returning to council.

The measure would support a capital levy that the district says is intended to pay for a new school building, demolition and removal of the current building, a new track, a bus lane and a parking lot. "A new building will provide an updated and safer environment for students and staff where they can learn and thrive," said Erica Knapp, vice chair of the Arlington School Board (District 5), during the meeting’s public-comment period. Knapp also noted the levy will appear on the Feb. 11 ballot.

Why it matters: The levy would be a local funding mechanism to construct a replacement middle school; the district has said it is eligible for roughly $25 million from the School Construction Assistance Program toward the project. Councilmembers said they supported the schools but differed over whether the city should use a council resolution to urge a particular vote.

Public comment and council debate: Sherry Kelly, a school board director for District 2 who lives near Post Middle School, told the council the district has run bonds previously and this levy is the only locally available path to a new middle school. "Funding from Arlington is the only way we're gonna get a new school," Kelly said, and she said the district reduced the planned square footage to show stewardship of taxpayer dollars and expects eligibility for about $25,000,000 in state assistance.

Christopher Luzayo, a math teacher at Post Middle School, described recurring maintenance failures at the building, including a boiler incident and repeated heating outages. "The building was outdated 12 years ago," Luzayo said. "The kids feel it every day."

Councilmember Michelle Blythe said she supports schools but objected to language in the draft resolution that she read as directive toward voters. "I don't think it's our job to tell people how they should vote," Blythe said, adding that the resolution as written appeared to encourage voters to support the levy and did not show what she described as the other side of the issue, including potential tax impacts she referenced in general terms.

Council response and action: City staff (Paul) described the draft as similar to a resolution the council considered previously and offered to answer questions. Councilmember Heather Logan moved to remand the resolution to staff for rewording so the document would be less directive; Mayor Vani moved to table the resolution and remand it to staff. The motion to table and remand passed with no opposition heard.

Next steps: Staff will rewrite the resolution language and return it to council for reconsideration before the election cycle, per the motion to remand. The school district is holding a public forum on Jan. 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for community questions, and the levy will appear on the Feb. 11 ballot.

Ending: Councilmembers repeatedly said they support the district and want a version of the resolution the full body can endorse; they directed staff to return with revised language promptly so council consideration can occur before the election.