November 3, 2025 Newsletter
November 3, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 44
Highlights:
* Election Day for constitutional amendments is Tuesday.
* City council meets Tuesday.
* The school board meets Thursday.
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:
Tuesday, November 4: Election Day, 7:00am-7:00pm.
Tuesday, November 4: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 3:00pm, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, November 5: Comprehensive Plan Workshop, First United Methodist Church, 313 N. Center Street, 6:00pm – 8:00pm.
Thursday, November 6: 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, November 11: Veterans Day.
Tuesday, November 11: Comprehensive Plan Workshop, East Library and Recreation Center, 1817 New York Avenue, 3:00pm – 7:00pm.
Wednesday, November 12: P&Z meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm.)
Wednesday, November 12: Comprehensive Plan Workshop, ACTIV Center, 2601 W Green Oaks Boulevard, 3:00pm – 7:00pm.
Thursday, November 13: Comprehensive Plan Workshop, Southeast Library, 900 S.E. Green Oaks Boulevard, 3:00pm – 7:00pm.
Monday, November 17: Comprehensive Plan Workshop, Northeast Library, 1905 Brown Boulevard, 3:00pm – 7:00pm.
Tuesday, November 18: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, November 19: Comprehensive Plan Workshop, Southeast Library, 3311 S.W. Green Oaks Boulevard, 3:00pm – 7:00pm.
Thursday, November 20: 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.)
Thursday, November 27: Thanksgiving.
Friday, November 28: City offices closed.
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The city council will meet this Tuesday, November 4. There is only one committee meeting, starting at 11:00am, but don’t rush to get there. Their discussion is in executive session. The afternoon meeting begins at 11:45 but goes into executive session first. The open portion of the afternoon meeting will start no sooner than 3:00pm. The evening meeting is at 6:30pm.
Committee Meetings
The Community and Neighborhood Development Committee will meet at 11:00am and will go into executive session for a legal discussion of multi-family regulations.
Afternoon Meeting
The afternoon meeting begins at 11:45 but will start by going into executive session. The executive session agenda includes: 1) Legal Discussion Regarding Federal Grant Compliance, 2) Legal Discussion Regarding SB 840 and SB 15, 3) Legal Discussion Regarding SB 840 and SB 15, and 4) Offers of Incentives to Business Prospects.
The open portion of the afternoon meeting will begin no sooner than 3:00pm. The open portion of the agenda includes two work session items, external council committee report, and evening and future agenda items.
The two work session items:
- Innovate Arlington Growth Scenarios (presentation).
- Council Priority - Grow Our Economy (presentation).
Evening Meeting
The 6:30pm evening meeting agenda includes 21 consent agenda items and one public hearing.
Consent agenda item 7.19 modifies the Downtown Farmers Market agreement, allowing it to operate year-round, and allows for potential footprint expansion.
The one public hearing is for Z03-56/P03-56R1 (915 East Randol Mill Road/Walmart Supercenter) (staff report).
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Leftovers: Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article telling us of Mayor Ross’s announcement of running for reelection. That article is at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/10/22/arlington-mayor-jim-ross-announces-reelection-bid/ .
Last week we reported on the city council approving the Balfour Apartments, 6-3. Here is an article by Lance Murray of the Arlington Report on those apartments: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/10/29/99-unit-apartment-building-to-take-over-lot-of-former-arlington-electronic-store/ .
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
Next EDC meeting???
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Upcoming Public Hearings
On Tuesday, November 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on Z03-56/PD03-56R1 at 915 E. Randol Mill Road. They wish to revise their development plan on the 3.750 acres for light industrial uses.
On Wednesday, November 12, P&Z will hold a public hearing on SUP25-6, 1917 W. Stanford Street. They are requesting a special use permit for a secondary living unit. If approved, it will go to city council on December 9.
On Wednesday, November 12, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-10, 7819/7827 South Cooper Street. They wish to change the 9.622 acres from light industrial and flex hybrid to a planned development for RS-5 (small lot single family). If approved, it will go to city council on December 9.
On Wednesday, November 12, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD25-15, 1119, Dan Gould. They wish to change the 0.654 acres from residential estate (RE) to a planned development for RM-12 (usually townhomes If approved, it will go to city council on December 9.
P&Z Commission
P&Z met this past Wednesday, October 29. There were no zoning case public hearings. The meeting may be viewed at: https://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=10&clip_id=5274 .
AISD School Board
The AISD School Board will meet this Thursday, November 6. The agenda can be found at: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/2978?meeting=712625 .
The agenda includes a 5:00pm workshop on Human Resources — Employee Benefits, a closed/executive session, recognitions, citizen forum on agenda items, two appointments, five committee and staff reports, four action items, the consent agenda, citizen forum on non-agenda items, and end of meeting reports.
The closed/executive session items include:
- Personnel
- Consult Attorney Regarding Potential and Pending Litigation, and
- Intruder Detection Audit Finding(s)
The appointments include:
Assistant Principal Pope Elementary
Assistant Principal Speer Elementary
The five committee and staff reports include:
- Governance Committee Report,
- 2019 Bond Update Report,
- Academic Calendar Committee Report,
- Sixth Grade Next Steps Report, and
- Beginning of Year (BOY) Literacy and Mathematics Screener Report.
The four action items include:
- Consider Approval of the Targeted Improvement Plans (TIPs) and Turnaround Plans (TAPs),
- Consider Approval of 2025-2026 Internal Audit Plan,
- Consider and approve a resolution appointing consultants and directing staff and consultants to prepare for the issuance and sale of refunding bonds, and
- Consider and adopt an order authorizing the issuance of unlimited tax refunding bonds, establishing sale parameters, authorizing the execution of a bond purchase agreement and an escrow agreement; approving an official statement; and enacting other provisions relating to the subject.
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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/ .
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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
- Arlington ISD $0.802200
- Birdville ISD $0.786900
- Fort Worth ISD $0.786900
- Lewisville ISD $0.786900
- 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.]
AISD Declining Enrollment
Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/05/28/arlington-isds-enrollment-could-shrink-by-2032-heres-whats-driving-the-decline .
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Other News
November 4 Election
Voters will have their say on 17 constitutional amendments. Early voting starts Monday, October 20 and ends on Friday, October 31. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4.
Texas for Fiscal Responsibility staff has an article on the 17 amendments and whether they are pro- or anti- taxpayer: https://texastaxpayers.com/the-2025-proposed-amendments-to-the-texas-constitution/ .
Running for Reelection
Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article telling us of Mayor Ross announcement of running for reelection. That article is at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/10/22/arlington-mayor-jim-ross-announces-reelection-bid/ .
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
To be added to/deleted from our mailing list please e-mail your request to: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com