| Job description | School boards are the governing bodies of their school districts. Term is three years. |
| Duties | Sets district goals and priorities Adopts and reviews district policies Publish annual educational performance report Hires and evaluates district superintendent Adopts district budget and monitors district finances Approves tax rate |
| Annual salary | Unpaid; reimbursed for official expenses. |
| Meetings | Monthly board meetings; special meetings called as needed. |
| ISD contact information | Contact Election Administrator Lisa Benjamin lbenjami@aisd.net |
| Aaron Reich (incumbent) | Email: areich.aisd@tx.rr.com |
| Richard Weber | Website: http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/ Email: richardaweber@juno.com Phone: 817-496-3734 |
| Daphne Jackson | Facebook: DaphneJacksonforAISDTrusteePlace3 Email: daphnejackson.aisd@gmail.com |
Recent News Articles
- “Arlington races draw several mayor, council, AISD board candidates,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Feb 12, 2021), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/article249210190.html (paywall – article limit)
Candidate Q&A
| 1. WHY ARE YOU THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE? | |
| Aaron Reich |
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| Richard Weber I am running because the current board has lost touch with the voters and people they represent. As Eddie Chiles said four-plus decades ago, I'M MAD! During the poor economy of a pandemic they raised the M&O rate 13 cents. AISD is tied for the highest M&O rate in Tarrant County. They had an $11 million operational increase the year before. They gave gigantic raises and suddenly have a $31 million operational deficit. They raised the M&O rate, generating $56 million more in revenues, and instead or giving the taxpayers some kind of a break in the middle of a pandemic, they just rolled that additional $25 million into the general fund. They could have transferred that $25 million increase to the debt service portion of the tax rate, reducing the rate taxpayers pay by approximately 7.5 cents. However, the current board has NO interest in the taxpayer. Their attitude is the taxpayer is only there to fund their spending addiction. I would be part of the solution. |
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| Daphne Jackson Being a Wife, Mother and Business Owner becoming involved with the next generation is imperative for black and brown community. The education gaps continues to grow due the lack of diversity, social climate and the educational justice. Representation is needed. Voice for the poor, disfavored and underprivileged is missing in AISD Trustee Board. |
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| 2. WHAT ARE THE CURRENT NEEDS OF YOUR DISTRICT AND WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR ADDRESSING THEM? | |
| Aaron Reich |
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| Richard Weber 1. The school board that has lost touch and is not making sound/logical decisions. They need to reduce the tax rate on the citizens they have abused this past year. 2. Low student test scores. Low school grades. Apply proven techniques that have worked. 3. The city that has done the district NO favors by allowing far too many multi-family units (and has thousands more approved and thousands more in the pipeline). Arlington has a density greater than that of Dallas, and more than 1.5 times that of Fort Worth. They need to be proactive in zoning cases. |
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| Daphne Jackson School Climate Addressed Educational Justice Promoted Cultural Biases Discussed Recruitment and Hiring Educators that Represent Black and Brown Students. It's important for representation for the minority students to see minority's that looks like them making educational decision for them. Promoting an Active PTSA at All levels of education. |
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| 3. WHAT POLICIES SHOULD YOUR DISTRICT PURSUE WITH REGARD TO SCHOOL SAFETY? | |
| Aaron Reich |
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| Richard Weber COVID protocols are OK. Teachers and staffs eligible to carry guns, and wish to do so, should be allowed. |
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| Daphne Jackson Students returning back to the classroom safety- Covid Protocol in place. Health related services in schools. The development of policies, procedures and programs lead by nurses. Guidelines for school to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Protecting both students and staff from Covid 19. School Climate and Systemic Racism addressed. |
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| 4. HOW SHOULD TECHNOLOGY AND VIRTUAL LEARNING BE UTILIZED POST-PANDEMIC? WHAT LESSONS DID WE LEARN FROM THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM? | |
| Aaron Reich |
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| Richard Weber We have learned that we should return to full in-person teaching as soon as possible. This is what the AISD does well. This is where their experience is. It takes a certain type of student to exceed at virtual learning. Post-pandemic, only those type of students should be in any type of virtual learning setting. That student might be of an economically challenged family, needing to work during school hours. However, I see very limited utilization. This situation has taught us in-person teaching is superior. |
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| Daphne Jackson The adoption of online learning will continue pot pandemic. Educational technology learning and online tutoring. We builded new strategies that will continue to be applied once all students return to the classrooms. Shorter lessons and videos were integrated into the school learning platform. We need to strengthening education systems. To ensure that systems and infrastructures are able to cope with future lockdowns. |
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| 5. WHAT IMPACTS HAS THE PANDEMIC HAD ON STUDENTS, AND WHAT MEASURES SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO OFFSET THOSE IMPACTS? | |
| Aaron Reich |
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| Richard Weber Return to full in-person teaching as soon as possible. This is what the AISD does well. This is where their experience is. Prepare for heavy duty summer school. Don't be afraid to hold back students that did not do well the past year. It is extremely hard to build on a foundation if it is missing major pieces. This will probably not be popular, but needs to be done. The “tests” for showing knowledge obtained at different levels should NOT be weakened. If summer school and whatever other adjustments are not successful, the students, potentially many of them, should he held back. Again, it is extremely hard to build on a foundation if it is missing major pieces. |
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| Daphne Jackson Students Performance. Online learning shows that they are only effective if students have consistent access to computers and internet. Economic Impact: Learning Losses. Chronic absenteeism. Students that are at risk of becoming disengaged and eventually drops out. Supplemental Resources are needed. Contingency planning are needed and include emergency funding to replenish the resources that was drained. Relief: urgent resources. Recovery: Provide extra investments for students and schools to make up grounds that was lost. Rebuild: Nurturing the whole student. Ensuring that all students have access to resources for learning and development. |
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| 6. THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEEN UNIQUE FOR TEACHERS AS WELL AS STUDENTS. WHAT IMPACTS HAS THIS HAD ON TEACHERS AND WHAT MEASURES SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO ADDRESS THEM? | |
| Aaron Reich |
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| Richard Weber | |
| Daphne Jackson Teachers were forced to try different methods to see what worked best for them and for their students. Teachers health suffered from fatigue and traumatic stress. Mental Health was impacted. Providing mental health benefits and implementing flexible sick leave policies and practices. |
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| 7. WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIFIC BUDGET PRIORITIES AND HOW WILL YOU BALANCE COMPETING BUDGETARY INTERESTS? | |
| Aaron Reich |
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| Richard Weber The AISD just greatly mistreated the taxpayers, raising the M&O rate to a rate tied for the highest in Tarrant County. At the March 11 meeting, the board discussed how they were expecting millions (9 digit number) from the latest CARES bill, signed earlier in the day. There is a giant wad of money burning a whole in the current board's pocket. The number 1 priority is to lower the tax rate being charged. HB-3 from 2019 was to lower the tax rate, but not so with the current board. |
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| Daphne Jackson Improving Teaching and Strengthening Teachers. Balance with a significant increase in the proportion of discretionary education funds deemed competitive. |
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| 8. HOW SHOULD THE BOARD ADDRESS DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND RESOURCES FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND PARTICULARLY STUDENTS OF COLOR? | |
| Aaron Reich |
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| Richard Weber The AISD treats all students fairly. There are no disparities in education, technology, and resources available. |
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| Daphne Jackson It is critical to ensure that all students receive comprehensive supports that level the playing field in order to improve the well being of disadvantaged students. Find ways to successfully address the adverse effects of socioeconomic circumstances and discrimination that suppress performance for some students. |
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| 9. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? | |
| Aaron Reich | |
| Richard Weber The incumbent, seeking his fifth 3-year term, has become too comfortable and lost touch with the people he represents. I have long fought for the taxpayers. |
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| Daphne Jackson It's important for representation for Black and Brown Students to see Leaders, that looks like them making Educational decision for them. |
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