February 2, 2026 Newsletter
February 2, 2026 – Volume 20 Number 5
Highlights:
* AISD Board looks towards bond with potential tax rate increase, but probably November vs. May.
* Filing season has begun. So far there are eleven city candidates for five positions and three candidates for the two AISD positions.
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_14.html
Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_11.html
Arlington is a city where citizens are relegated to being spectators, rather than players on the field. The SPECTATOR helps citizens know what is happening on the field. Only a few of the in-house team members are allowed to play ball in Arlington. The SPECTATOR helps citizens understand the game.
GAME SCHEDULE:
Monday, February 2: Filing for municipal councils and ISD boards continue.
Wednesday, February 4: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at 3:30pm.)
Thursday, February 5: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
Tuesday, February 10: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister online by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Friday, February 13: Filing for municipal councils and ISD boards [with name on the ballot] ends.
Saturday, February 14: Valentine’s Day.
Monday, February 16: President’s Day.
Wednesday, February 18: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
Thursday, February 19: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
Tuesday, February 24: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister online by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The Arlington City Council met this past Tuesday, January 27. Because of the weather they canceled the committee meetings.
Committee Meetings – were canceled (weather)
The Community and Neighborhood Development Committee were expected to discuss multi-family code enforcement tools (presentation , 30 minutes) and housing tax credits applications review (no presentation available, 30 minutes).
The Municipal Policy Committee was expected to spend an hour on form-based code updates (presentation). [Some of the presentation will consist of discussing increased density. Some of the presentation also discusses parking, which in my opinion is always the problem with form-based code.]
There was to be a quasi-committee Arlington Housing Finance Corporation meeting (agenda). They were to receive an update on the proposed development at 1801 Arkansas Lane [it does not say East or West].
Afternoon Meeting
The afternoon meeting began and went into executive session. That portion of the agenda had legal discussions on:
* Parking regulations
* Federal grants compliance
* SB840
* Shadow Drive main replacement
* Offers of incentives to business prospects
The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=5349 .
(3:09) Start of meeting. It appeared that Hunter, Piel, and Hogg were not present at the start.
(2:56:13) Reconvened for the open portion of the afternoon meeting. At that time, it did not look as if Council Members Galante, Piel, and Boxall were present. The one work session item was about parking in neighborhoods (presentation). About 3:10:18 it was opened up to council members for comments/questions. The three missing council members did appear to be present by then.
(3:19:47) The two informal staff reports were discussing an update on Arlington's smoking ordinance (staff report) and recycling at city and multi-family buildings (staff report).
(3:36:20) External Committees.
(3:40:22) Evening and future agenda items.
Evening Meeting
The evening meeting's agenda included appointments, an executive session item, minutes, 33 consent agenda items, three public hearings, and two ordinances. It may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=5351 . All council members were present.
(3:28) Start of meeting.
(6:54) Appointments, executive session item, and minutes were all approved with three separate 9-0 votes.
(8:36) Consent agenda. Mr. Gonzalez pulled item 8.21 which was to approve the Neighborhood Matching Grant Awards. The rest of the consent agenda was approved, 9-0. Item 8.21 was also approved, 9-0.
(13:46) The first public hearing was for PD25-19, 2504 S. Cooper Street, to allow a planned development for “Auto Repair Garage, Major” (staff report). It was approved, 9-0.
(32:12) The second public hearing was for PD24-28, 5920 Matlock Road for a planned development for office and townhomes (staff report). They wish to build office commercial on the northern piece of the property and 29 townhomes on the southern portion. There are six deviations. This was approved, 9-0.
(39:18) The third public hearing was for SUP25-8, 3409 Shorewood Court for a secondary living unit (staff report). This was requested to be continued until February 10.
(39:53) The two ordinances were for the May 2 election. The first was for the general election of the Mayor, District 3, District 4, District 5, and District 8 (staff report). The second was for reauthorization of sales tax election for road repairs (staff report). Both items were approved with separate 9-0 votes.
(43:16) Citizen participation. There were four speakers. The last two spoke on storm water flow in the Prestonwood Estates area.
Council Leftovers
Filing for the May election has begun. This year we will see the election for Mayor, District 3, District 4, District 5, and District 8.
Election Filings:
Mayor
(i) Jim Ross
Hunter Crow
Steve Cavender
District 3
(i) Nikkie Hunter
Kelly Burke
District 4
Tom Ware
District 5
(i) Rebecca Boxall
Brittney Garcia-Dumas
District 8
Jason Shelton
Corey Harris
Melody Fowler
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The City of Arlington proposes to use approximately $3,850,000 in federal HOME-ARP funds toward the acquisition and demolition of an existing two-story, 81,205-square-foot dilapidated motel structure at 1220 W. Division Street built in 1965 and comprised of 72 rooms. Following demolition, the city intends to construct a newly built permanent supportive housing community consisting of a minimum of 70 units. The new development will provide safe, service-enriched housing for chronically homeless individuals, veterans and their families, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. The total project investment is estimated at $24,000,000, combining federal, state, local, and private resources. The primary objective is to expand the supply of affordable, supportive housing and promote long-term housing stability for residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This project directly supports the City's strategic goals to reduce homelessness and enhance community well-being.] There are too many executive session discussions going on and I have NOT been able to get many of the details... This would mean at minimum that $3.8 million of CDBG-HOME federal funds will be used on this rather than on something else. HOME funds, generally speaking, give discounts to residents in need, paying portions of their rents.
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We do not know the date of the next EDC Board meeting.
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Upcoming Public Hearings
On Wednesday, February 4, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP10-23R4, 408 113th Street. They wish for high impact IM (Industrial Manufacturing) on 2.379 acres. If approved, it will go to the city council on March 10.
On Wednesday, February 4, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP25-10, 2102 Prestonwood Drive. They wish for a secondary living unit on 0.749 acres. If approved, it will go to the city council on March 10.
On Wednesday, February 4, P&Z will hold a public hearing on ZA25-6, at the northwest corner of I-20 Highway and Kelly-Elliott Road (3 lots). They wish to change the straight zoning from residential to NC (neighborhood commercial) on 2.727 acres. If approved, it will go to the city council on March 10.
On Tuesday, February 10, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-14, 1112 N. Collins Street. They wish to change the current CC (community commercial) to a PD-CC use plus a package liquor store.
On Tuesday, February 10, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP25-9, 1012 Gaye Lane. They wish to obtain a Specific Use Permit on the RF-7.2 property.
On Tuesday, February 10, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP25-8, 3409 Shorewood Court on 3.165 acres. They wish to obtain a Specific Use Permit on the RF-7.2 property.
On Tuesday, February 24, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP25-11, 536 W. Randol Mill Road. They wish to obtain a Specific Use Permit for a Tattoo Parlor or Piercing Studio on a property zoned Community Commercial (CC).
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P&Z Commission
P&Z will meet this Wednesday, February 4. There will be three public hearings on the agenda (the fourth was withdrawn). The agenda is at: https://www.arlingtontx.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/planning-and-development-services/documents/planning-amp-development-boards-amp-commissions/planning-and-zoning-commission/posted-agenda/planning-and-zoning-commission-regular-session-agenda-02-04-2026.pdf .
Public hearing #1 is for SUP10-23R (Liquitek, 408 113th Street). They are requesting a specific use permit for high impact use (staff report).
Public hearing #2 is for SUP25-10 (2102 Prestonwood Drive). They are requesting a specific use permit for a secondary living unit (staff report).
Public hearing #3 is for ZA25-6 (4232 Kelly Elliot Road, northwest corner of I-20 and Kelly Elliot Road). They wish to change the zoning to neighborhood commercial (staff report).
PD25-20 (2201 N. Collins Street) for an independent senior living facility has been withdrawn.
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AISD School Board
The next AISD Board meeting is this Thursday, February 5. The agenda should be posted on Monday.
On Thursday, January 22, the AISD School Board held their regularly planned board meeting. The agenda can be found at: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2978?meeting=720944 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SquXId1gzHo . All board members were present.
The meeting opened and went into executive session. The executive session included personnel, potential and pending litigation, and the superintendent’s contract.
They reconvened.
(7:25) The recognition item was to the school board for School Board Appreciation Month.
(22:34) There were no speakers for open forum for agenda items.
There were three committee and staff reports:
(22:45) 1. Finance and Academics Committee Report. One of the items they looked at was future compensation plans (no details discussed).
(23:18) 2. Capital Needs Steering Committee (CNSC) Report and Recommendation. The committee recommendation was a bond election for $406,195,051 with the largest portion being 301,296,680 for facilities. About 34:57 she tries to make you feel good about a tax increase, because it will lower the rate we were paying ten years ago. Option 2 is for $421,273,051. It was opened to board questions/comments about 50:10. The Arlington Report has an article by Chris Moss at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/01/28/arlington-isd-trustees-discuss-bringing-400m-bond-for-school-upgrades-to-voters/ .
(1:44:57) 3. Curriculum Audit Report (presentation). The audit cost $284,798. About 2:35:29 they opened it up to the board for comments/questions.
(2:57:03) The one action item was approval of the 2026-27 academic calendar (calendar). About 3:07:35 they opened it up to the board for comments/questions. It was approved, 7-0. Chris Moss has an article in the Arlington Report at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/01/27/arlington-isd-approves-2026-27-school-year-calendar/ .
(3:10:19) Consent agenda saw no discussions and nothing pulled for separate consideration. It was approved, 7-0.
(3:11:06) There were no speakers for open forum for non-agenda items.
(3:11:15) End-of-meeting reports.
The Board Brief by Ms. Haynes can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBo3G-EERQ4 .
AISD Election Filings:
Place 6
(i) Brooklyn Richardson
Jan Tyler
Place 7
(i) LeAnne Haynes
A Chris Moss article in the Arlington Report explores the possibility of the AISD joining the pay-for-performance teacher program offered by the state. That article can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/01/07/arlington-isd-considers-texas-pay-for-performance-teacher-program/ .
AISD saw a jump in their accountability scores because of their challenge of some of the STAAR testing results. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/09/arlington-isd-sees-2025-academic-accountability-bump-after-staar-appeal/ . Also an AISD article may be found at: https://www.aisd.net/district-news/updated-district-and-campus-accountability-ratings/ .
There has been a recent Arlington Report article by Drew Shaw about the dismissed David Jarvis lawsuit against the AISD. It can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/31/federal-judge-dismisses-lawsuit-against-arlington-isd-about-first-amendment-retaliation/ .
The AISD enrollment is expected to fall below 50,000 students at some point, maybe as early as the 2026-2027 school year. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has a story at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/03/arlington-isds-enrollment-projected-to-drop-below-50000-next-year/ .
The AISD will NOT be posting the Ten Commandments for now. An article by Chris Moss of the Arlington Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/11/05/arlington-isd-agrees-not-to-post-ten-commandments-amid-lawsuit/ .
The AISD Board and Superintendent have established written goals, including student improvement on the STAAR testing. The Chris Moss article in the Arlington Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/10/01/arlington-isd-school-board-sets-goals-and-expectations-for-new-school-year/ .
TEA Accountability Data:
In 2020, the AISD was tied for the highest M&O rate of all the school districts in Tarrant County. Since then, there has been NO tie. The AISD HAS the highest M&O rate in Tarrant County. [school district tax rates]
Top 5 of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs M&O Rates
1. Arlington ISD $0.802200
2. Birdville ISD $0.786900
2. Fort Worth ISD $0.786900
2. Lewisville ISD $0.786900
2. Mansfield ISD $0.786900
Teacher Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html [Arlington ISD easily pays the highest salaries, thus creating ISD inflation.] An article by Jacob Sanchez in the Fort Worth Report confirms that the Arlington ISD pays the highest salaries in Tarrant County [ https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/17/teachers-in-this-tarrant-county-school-district-earn-the-highest-salaries/ ].
HELPFUL CONTACTS
The Spectator: www.ArlSpectator.mysite.com
to be added/deleted to/from the mailing list e-mail: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com
We can be found on Facebook at ArlSpectator.
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
City of Arlington website: www.arlingtontx.gov
e-mails of mayor and council:
.................... first.last@arlingtontx.gov
mayor = jim.ross
district 1 (north) = mauricio.galante
district 2 (sw) = raul.gonzalez
district 3 (se) = nikkie.hunter
district 4 (west) = andrew.piel
district 5 (central/east) = rebecca.boxall
district 6 (all) = long.pham
district 7 (all) = bowie.hogg
district 8 (all) = barbara.odom-wesley
AISD website ....................... www.aisd.net
McMurrough............ - sarahforaisd@gmail.com
Fowler ................... - fowler.aisd@gmail.com
Mike .................. - larrymike.aisd@gmail.com
Wilbanks .......... - dwilban.aisd@gmail.com
Chapa ...................... - chapa.aisd@gmail.com
Richardson ... - brooklyn.richardson.aisd@gmail.com
Haynes ................... - haynes.aisd@gmail.com
TEA Accountability Data:
ARC Political Watch Committee Reports
includes coverage of Mansfield ISD and national, state, county, & city
Texas Legislative Online:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
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