Arlington ISD board approves attendance boundary changes after Blanton Elementary closure
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Summary
Trustees unanimously approved new attendance boundaries rezoning Blanton students to Bergen, Crow, Goodman and Swift elementary schools, after administrators described TEA accountability constraints and parents raised transportation and transfer concerns; the board approved a special transfer window and transition supports.
The Arlington ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday unanimously approved a set of attendance boundary changes to reassign students from Blanton Elementary after the district voted earlier to close the campus at the end of the school year.
Administrators presented a draft map that zones most Blanton students to Bergen, Crow, Goodman and Swift elementary schools, noting Texas Education Agency limits that prevent assigning students to schools with D or F accountability ratings or creating a plurality that would shift an existing campus’s accountability grade. Dr. Hill, who led the presentation, said the proposals account for campus utilization, building capacity and projected enrollment declines.
Trustees and staff acknowledged parents’ top concerns: transportation, continuity for special education programs, enrollment and how staff will be placed. Dr. Hill said the district will offer a special transfer window in April for Blanton families and work to keep specialized programs and staff together where feasible. He also committed to returning to the board with specific transportation routing recommendations once attendance boundaries are finalized.
Trustee Mike (first reference, Mr. Mike) told staff that transportation is a major concern and urged the district to "pull out any of the stops" to provide bus service for affected families. Vice President Sarah McMorrow said walkability and unsafe road crossings (Pioneer Parkway, Collins) compound the problem for families without a car.
The board also outlined several steps intended to ease the transition: parent nights hosted at Blanton with principals from receiving schools, campus tours in April for students and families, assignment of family-engagement liaisons, and follow-up enrollment assistance. Dr. Smith emphasized that staff will be placed in new positions within the district and the closure is not intended as a staff reduction.
The motion to adopt the proposed boundaries was moved by Ms. Richardson and seconded by Mr. Mike; all trustees present voted in the affirmative and the motion carried 5–0.
Next steps include finalizing transportation plans, administering the special April transfer window for Blanton families, and ongoing family engagement to acclimate students to their new campuses.