Arlington ISD swears in trustees David Wilbanks and Justin Chapa

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Arlington Independent School District Board of Trustees on May 15, 2025, at 5:08 p.m. held a ceremonial swearing-in for newly sworn Trustee David Wilbanks (Place 4) and Board President Justin Chapa (Place 5). The oath for Wilbanks was administered by the Hon. Carrie Walker, presiding judge of Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 2; Chapa was sworn in by his mother, Ruth Beasley, a notary public.

The swearing-in ceremony included brief remarks from each trustee. “I’m being sworn in tonight on my family Bible that dates to the 1860s,” David Wilbanks said, describing the Bible as a gift from his great-great-grandfather and framing his oath in the context of his family’s long history in Texas and early local school governance. Wilbanks recounted that his ancestor Gardner Wilbanks had served as an election judge in Johnson County during the early establishment of Texas public schools.

Justin Chapa, who was introduced as board president at the ceremony, thanked family and supporters in the audience and spoke briefly about the district’s fiscal challenges. “For those of you who love public education, this is a really tough time,” Chapa said, adding, “it looks like we’re going to get a $55 increase to the basic allotment, when we needed about $1,350 to get us back at 2019 levels.” He also noted his tenure on the board, saying he has served “just a little bit under 8 years.”

Vice President O’Gmaro invited Chapa to speak after the oath. The meeting record shows the board recessed at 5:18 p.m. to move to a scheduled workshop.

No formal board votes or ordinance actions were recorded as part of the swearing-in ceremony; the event was ceremonial. The meeting included several family members and supporters in attendance and was described by Chapa as “a small crowd tonight.”

The swearing-in concludes the board’s organizational formalities for the evening; the board then recessed to reconvene for its workshop in Room 401.