If inconsistent temperatures make you feel alive, crowded hallways excite you, and the seventies were you favorite era for interior design, you’ll be sorely disappointed by the results of the bond election last Saturday evening. For the rest of us, the landslide approval of the package, incidentally the largest in Tarrant County history, is a hugely gratifying prospect.

The proposal for $663.1 million was vetted by the Capital Needs Steering Committee, which evaluated lagging areas in the district and the funds needed to bring them up to speed. Although upgrades are an immensely appealing prospect to the general AISD population, the elbow room that such a fund allows is particularly satisfying for those hard at work to make the district more efficient.

In a statement released by the district, Bowie Hogg, school board president, said,  “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank the community for their input throughout the process and for the support of the district. We look forward to starting the work to complete the items in this bond package over the next five years.”

The support, though highly affirming for such advocates, was not ardently contested. The poll results show a 70% majority for bond voters, a corroboration, no doubt, of the belief that education is a safe investment.

“We are pleased that the voters supported this bond program, which will allow the district to implement a long-range facilities master plan designed to honor tradition while investing in the future,” Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos said in an email released to the district.

Cavazos expounded further upon the specifics of such an investment.

“The items included will allow us to provide increased access and opportunities for our students in order to meet our mission to empower and engage all students to be contributing, responsible citizens reaching their maximum potential through relevant, innovative and rigorous learning experiences,” he said.

The attention given to Arlington High specifically includes fine arts improvements, a new multi-purpose activity center, technology upgrades, new funds for attire in different departments, fire alarm improvements, construction and landscaping improvements, heating and A/C replacements, parking replacement, security camera upgrades, window replacement, and interior finish replacements.

Students in all affected areas were delighted with the prospect of better equipment.

“I’m in orchestra, so the improvements in fine arts are going to impact me the most,” Hannah Phillips, junior, said.

 “The package will include everything from new instruments to updated facilities,” she said. “Having better resources gives incoming students more opportunities to make music.”

The upgrades are not limited to the AHS campus. District wide improvements include construction of new buildings such as a fine arts center, an agricultural science facility, a career and technical center, and an athletics complex for swimming, diving, gymnastics and wrestling.