Extra Credit

Arlington issues call for bond committee members

The Arlington school district, which was forced to cut millions in expenses during this year's budget crunch, is contemplating a bond election next year.

The board of trustees heard a presentation on the district's facilities, technology and transportation needs Thursday night. Afterward, they asked that an item be placed on a district Web site soliciting the names and contact information for citizens who might be interested in joining a committee to look at a possible bond issue. The trustees stopped short of establishing a committee.

Want to get involved, access the district here.

- Traci Shurley

Arlington volleyball teams to honor former principal

The Colts volleyball program at Arlington High School will induct retired principal James Adams into its hall of fame Friday night.

A ceremony will be held between the junior varsity and varsity volleyball games at the 818 W. Park Row Drive school. It's $4 to get in.

Adams, a big supporter of the volleyball program, was principal of the school for 15 years and worked for the district for 38 years. He retired earlier this year.

- Traci Shurley

It's Walk to School Day

Schools across North Texas took part in International Walk to School Day this morning, encouraging kids to work or bike to campus and teaching them about walking and biking safely.

At Mansfield's Carol Holt Elementary, kids who ride the bus also got to participate with a stroll around the playground area. Schools in Arlington, Grapevine and several others are also listed as participants on the project's online site.

The nationwide event is coordinated by The National Center for Safe Routes to School at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. Organizers want to encourage healthy, environmentally friendly modes of transportation. They also hope the event will build awareness about the need for safe biking and walking routes.

- Traci Shurley

Arlington organization to print election guides for students

The League of Women Voters of Arlington is gathering donations to pay for printing on 27,000 Arlington-specific voter guides, enough for all the junior high and high school students in the Arlington district to have one.
They hope the students will use them to prepare to cast ballots in their schools’ mock elections or the real thing.
The league needs about $3,000 to cover the cost.
Want to help? You can mail a donation to the league at P.O. Box 127, Arlington, TX 76004. You can also call 817-472-5982 or go here.

- Traci Shurley

Grease is the word in Arlington

Wanna hear a little Beauty School Dropout this weekend? Head to Lamar High School at 1400 Lamar Boulevard. The kids there will be putting on Grease Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday nights. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $7 for students and $10 for adults.

- Traci Shurley

Personnel moves at Arlington schools

The Arlington school district's financial guru is saying farewell. Associate Superintendent of Finance Steve Brown announced his retirement after 29 years with the district this week. He’s been superintendent over the school’s finances for the past nine years.

Brown's last day will be around Thanksgiving. After that, he'll be doing some fishing and spending time with his new granddaughter. Brown said the biggest fiscal challenge facing the district over the next few years will be dealing with the changes to school funding the legislature made in 2006. He sees harsh consequences if legislators don't make corrections soon.

“Having enough funding in the next several years is going to be very, very difficult. I think school districts across the state are going to have to make some hard decisions about where they spend their money and how they spend their money," Brown said. "There’s going to be some school districts that are going to just flat run out of money and have no capacity to take care of increasing costs.”

The district is also got a new assistant superintendent of personnel Thursday night. Marilyn Evans was principal of Crouch Elementary earlier in her career. She has been executive director of elementary curriculum and instruction at the district since 2000. Evans has a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a master's degree from the University of North Texas.

- Traci Shurley

Arlington Ferguson Junior High students get movin' with Dallas Cowboys

Ferguson Junior High school kids got a fun break Tuesday with a pep rally starring members of the Dallas Cowboys Rookie Club to kick off What Moves U?, a joint project between the American Heart Association and the National Football League. See the Star-Telegram video here.

The football players were talking to the kids about the need for physical activity, though most of them also conceded that they eat whatever they want (tight end Martellus Bennett, No. 80, eats Little Debbie snack cakes!). They also said their jobs are hard, that studying plays is like being in college again and that they are dead-dog tired when they go home at night.

My observations: These guys were very good sports, and I know they get paid to be. Center Cory Proctor (left, No. 71) is really big (6-4, 297 pounds!). When he says his job is to move other players out of the way, I believe him. Martellus Bennett is very tall. But he'd look better without that scraggy goatee.

Oh, and Ferguson Principal David Tapia (shown below with running back Felix Jones, No. 28) is a pretty interesting guy. He's a Lamar High School graduate and has been chief of Ferguson since the new school opened off Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard in 2001. He says junior high is the best education level because it's the point at which a teacher or principal can really have an effect on a kid's life. Uplifting stuff. Go, Titans! 

- Kristin Sullivan

Arlington schools to help hurricane damaged district

The Arlington school district is organizing to help the Pasadena ISD, which will reopen Monday after being battered by Hurricane Ike.

"Pasadena ISD is putting together a needs list for us right now and once they put together that list, we’re going to be calling on the community to assist us in getting any supplies we can offer the school district," Arlington spokeswoman Veronica Sopher said.

Arlington officials are also hoping to enlist other North Texas to help districts along the coast. They've set up a site here where districts can either register their needs or volunteer to help.

- Traci Shurley

Arlington schools get more Hurricane Ike evacuees

A total of 29 students have enrolled in Arlington schools after fleeing Hurricane Ike, Interim Superintendent Jerry McCullough told school board members Thursday night.

The district has waived some paperwork requirements to allow students to get into classes right away. It has also offered services through the Families in Transition program, which typically helps homeless students. The new students are attending a variety of schools, McCullough said.

- Traci Shurley

Meet Arlington's newest principal

Arlington schools will hold a reception Wednesday for Fernando Benavides, the new principal for Boles Junior High. Benavides has been assistant principal at Sam Houston High School since 2006.  Before that, he was an assistant principal in Venus schools and a teacher in Mansfield schools.

Even before that, he was in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he earned a Good Conduct Medal and several other honors.

The reception will kick off at 4:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Boles, 3900 SW Green Oaks Boulevard.

- Traci Shurley