Arlington ISD recommends considering closure of Blanton Elementary; parent meeting set for Jan. 14
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Summary
Arlington ISD administrators presented facility, enrollment and academic data and recommended considering closing Blanton Elementary and repurposing its 2013 addition. No board action was taken; the district will meet with parents Jan. 14 and the board plans to consider a decision before Jan. 31.
Arlington ISD administrators on Jan. 8 presented data showing significant facility needs, declining enrollment and falling accountability results at Blanton Elementary and recommended the board consider closing the campus as an elementary school and repurposing part of its 2013 addition.
Dr. Collins summarized the district’s findings: a 2025 facilities assessment showed about 58% of the Blanton campus needs repair; enrollment is 458 students (about 55% utilization), a decline of 270 students since 2016; and Blanton’s relative academic performance has fallen compared with similar campuses, the presentation said. "These three things lead us to our administrative recommendation this evening," Dr. Smith said, adding the recommendation is "not taken lightly." (Dr. Collins and Dr. Smith presented the report.)
Parents and volunteers urged the board not to close Blanton. "I don't want Blanton Elementary School to close because we were not informed," parent Arlene Prieto said during open forum. Multiple speakers raised the same concerns: impacts on families who walk to school and lack transportation; continuity of bilingual and special-education services; potential crowding at receiving campuses; and emotional harm to students. A parent quoted his child’s reaction: "Is Blanton retiring? Do we have power to stop it?" (Inder Hark).
Trustees asked administrators how the district would protect students and staff if the board moved forward. Dr. Collins said the district would manage class sizes to avoid exceeding established thresholds, place Blanton staff elsewhere in the district based on certification and openings, and work individually with families to preserve bilingual and special‑education services where needed. He also cited state rules limiting rezoning of students from failing campuses to campuses rated D or F; any receiving campus would be rated A, B or C under that guidance.
Administration proposed a parent meeting at Blanton Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 14 to discuss next steps and said the board would need to act before Jan. 31 because of Texas Education Agency timelines related to school-closure accountability rules. President Chapa said no board action would be taken tonight and that trustees would continue the discussion at a special meeting to be recommended for Jan. 20 and at the regular January meeting so the district can meet the TEA deadline. "By acting now ... we have the ability to work with you," Chapa said.
What happens next: the district will hold the Jan. 14 parent meeting and distribute follow-up communications and a website for questions; trustees signaled they want additional information on repair costs, projected savings or redirections of funds, transportation impacts and equity protections before any final vote.
The board did not vote on Blanton Elementary at the Jan. 8 meeting. The administration emphasized the presentation was a recommendation and that the district will continue community engagement and return to the board for consideration.