This is Bigger than Blanton
At the heart of our work is a commitment to keeping our community informed, especially when the full story is more complicated than the headlines suggest. This week, Arlington ISD has been in the news for the closing of Blanton Elementary. This is only the beginning of a much larger story, one with real consequences for our district and a clear call to action for our community.
Arlington ISD had to make a very difficult decision to close a cherished community school that has been serving our community for seven decades. Over that time, the campus became more than a place of learning. It was a gathering place where families built relationships, celebrated milestones, and developed a shared sense of belonging within their neighborhood.
The decision to close the school was not driven by a single factor. An aging facility requiring significant repairs, declining enrollment, and consecutive poor accountability ratings all contributed to this outcome. These realities matter because they place Arlington ISD at a critical inflection point. If Blanton does not improve its accountability rating this year, the district would be just one year away from a state takeover.
A takeover by the Texas Education Agency would remove the school board members that the Arlington ISD community elected and replace them with a board appointed by state leadership. The Commissioner of Education, Mike Morath, is appointed by Greg Abbott, and his recent actions show greater alignment with efforts to expand vouchers than with the families public education is meant to serve.
When TEA takes over school districts, these actions are often framed as righteous interventions, with claims that districts are failing at their most fundamental mission. What those claims ignore is the essential role communities play in governing their schools. While some takeovers may produce short-term gains in limited circumstances, excluding families and local voices from decision-making makes those gains unsustainable. Instead, takeovers too often become a shortcut for imposing policies that communities themselves reject. We have seen this play out in Houston ISD, and we are on track to see it again in Fort Worth ISD. A TEA takeover would be profoundly detrimental to Arlington.
None of this is to suggest that Arlington ISD is without challenges. Like every education system, public, charter, or private, there is important work to be done. But that work must happen here, at home, in partnership with the community. Every child deserves classrooms staffed by high-quality teachers, administrators, and support professionals. Every child deserves access to authentic learning experiences and to see themselves reflected in the books they read and the learning that takes place. And every family deserves transparency about how Arlington ISD plans to improve instruction and ensure an exceptional experience for all students.
This moment, difficult as it is, presents an opportunity. An opportunity for our community to rally around public education and the democratic structures that govern it. We can show up in many different ways. Join your local PTA. Volunteer at your child’s school. Attend school board meetings. Participate in Trustee Talks. Ask hard questions when your child’s potential is not being fully realized. Stay informed about what is happening at the state level. Our children need them to show up for them.
Most importantly, it means recognizing the power directly in front of us.
Our biggest call to action is the May school board elections. These elections matter deeply. We know that some candidates will enter this race with agendas that fall outside the true role of school board governance, and we know that organized groups like Patriot Mobile and Moms for Liberty will attempt to influence or take over seats on our local school board. But our community is stronger than outside interests when we show up and vote. Arlington is the fourth most diverse city in the nation, and that diversity is a strength, one that cannot be honored if any single belief system is prioritized at the expense of others.
So, here at Dream City PAC, we invite you to join us in protecting our public schools and the democratic values that guide them. Join us in staying informed, showing up, and voting for school board candidates who are committed to serving all students and families, not outside agendas. Together, we can ensure decisions about Arlington ISD remain in the hands of the community that knows and loves it best.
Sources and Further Reading
This post reflects our analysis and interpretation of publicly reported information.
Arlington Independent School District (AISD)
Official district communication detailing the Arlington ISD Board’s vote to close Blanton Elementary, including the stated reasons for the decision and the district’s timeline for implementation.
https://www.aisd.net/district-news/arlington-isd-board-votes-to-close-blanton-elementary/
Fort Worth Report
Local reporting on the Arlington ISD trustees’ vote to close an elementary school at the end of the school year, providing additional context, community reaction, and governance considerations beyond official district statements.
Fort Worth Report
Explanatory reporting outlining what parents and families need to know about the state takeover of Fort Worth ISD, including governance changes, accountability structures, and potential effects on students and schools.
WFAA
Reporting on the Texas Education Agency commissioner’s announcement of a state takeover of Fort Worth ISD, including the rationale provided by the state and the immediate implications for district governance.
Houston Coalition for Valued Public Education (CVPE)
Analysis examining the impacts of state takeovers on public school districts, including teacher attrition, enrollment declines, and financial decisions, with a focus on long-term consequences for students and communities.
https://www.houstoncvpe.org/the_takeover_s_toll_teacher_loss_enrollment_drops_and_a_1m_giveaway
Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
Peer-reviewed research exploring the limits of court intervention in state takeovers of school districts and highlighting the role of community organizing, political advocacy, and movement lawyering in Houston ISD.