Arlington ISD proposes closing Blanton Elementary; parents urge delay

Arlington — Arlington ISD administrators on Thursday presented trustees with a proposal to consider closing Blanton Elementary and repurposing part of the campus, citing deteriorating facilities, falling enrollment and weak academic performance.

Doctor Collins, who led the district presentation, said a 2025 facility assessment showed that 58% of the Blanton campus “is in significant need of repair” and that the school now enrolls 458 students — about 55% of capacity and down by roughly 270 students since 2016. Collins also cited Texas Education Agency accountability figures showing Blanton “is performing as well or better than only 6% of campuses that look like Blanton” in 2025. “The recommendation from our administrative team is to consider closing Blanton Elementary School as an elementary school and repurposing the 2013 addition,” Collins said.

The proposal drew an emotional response from families at the meeting. “I don't want Blanton Elementary School to close because we are not aware of why they have decided to close the school without informing … and why we weren't given the opportunity to adjust the possible solutions,” said Arlene Prieto, a Blanton parent who spoke during open forum. Steven Seaton Blanchard, another parent, warned of overcrowding at receiving campuses and said the change could prompt families to move away.

Parents and translators who addressed the board raised several recurring concerns: transportation for families who walk to Blanton now, continuity of bilingual programs, and ensuring special‑education services remain intact. Gabriela Toledo, translating for a parent, said many families “walk our kids to school” and do not have cars; another speaker asked how the district would prevent children with special needs from losing continuity of services.

Administrators said the presentation was an initial recommendation and not a board action. Doctor Smith emphasized that trustees had not voted and that the district would meet with Blanton parents to answer questions. Collins said the administration planned a parent meeting at Blanton on Wednesday, Jan. 14, and that the board would need to consider any final decision before Jan. 31 because of “the Texas Education Agency's rules regarding school closure.”

Board members pressed the administration for specifics they said families would need to make informed decisions. Trustees asked whether receiving campuses would become overcrowded, how staff would be placed, what transportation changes would be required, the projected costs of repairs versus savings from closure, and how the district would protect high‑needs students and bilingual services. Doctor Collins and district staff said human resources would develop placement plans to ensure all Blanton employees had positions in the district next year, that bilingual and special‑education programs would be maintained when students are rezoned, and that the district would not rezone students from a failing campus to one rated D or F under state law.

At the end of the discussion President Chapa said he heard a consensus among trustees to continue studying the proposal and work with parents. He said he would recommend a special board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to focus on the matter before the end‑of‑month deadline.

The district said it would follow up with letters to Blanton families and staff and launch an online portal and translation services to collect questions and share information. No final action was taken at Thursday’s meeting.

What’s next: The district will hold the parent meeting at Blanton on Jan. 14 and communicate further details to families; the board may hold a special meeting Jan. 20 and is expected to act, if at all, before Jan. 31.