Spaces matter.
That’s the message Jamie MacDougall delivered to the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) when it met for its quarterly meeting on Wednesday at Crow Leadership Academy. The meeting included a tour of Crow and highlighted the improvements and additions funded by the 2019 Bond (read more).
MacDougall was Crow’s principal until this month when she became Arlington ISD’s director of curriculum and instruction. She knows as well as anyone how spaces in a building impact the culture of a school and the learning that happens there. She oversaw several construction projects over the last five years at Crow and was instrumental in transforming the 63-year-old elementary into a pillar for the neighborhood and one of only a handful of elementary schools in Texas with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program.
“Your work makes a difference for kids to come and engage in learning,” MacDougall said to the CBOC. “Your work matters because spaces matter.”
The CBOC’s work is to follow the district’s bond program progress and report its findings and recommendations to the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees (read the CBOC’s charge). The committee meets on a quarterly basis to receive updates on implementation progress of the bond and then develops a report.
At this meeting, after the tour of Crow and MacDougall’s comments, Kelly Horn, Arlington ISD’s assistant superintendent of facility services, took over the presentation and, with assistance from several other Arlington ISD employees, explained some of the nuts and bolts of executing bond-funded construction projects. They explained how the bond is initially developed, the bidding methods used to hire architects and general contractors, oversight and auditing for projects and the district’s commitment to using and tracking historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) as subcontractors.
The 2019 Bond program was designed to ensure that the district’s spaces, along with its technology, instruments and fine arts equipment, security and school buses all enhance Arlington ISD students’ educational experience. The CBOC’s oversight and input is key to ensuring the bond program is implemented effectively and efficiently because when it is, that means students benefit and the community’s money is well-spent.
While the CBOC members get special presentations and tours, the information they receive is available to everyone (here), and there is lots more information about the 2019 Bond here. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, let us know. Ask any of your bond-related questions here.