In February 2020, district voters approved a $23.7 million capital levy to support building and facility improvements across the district. The levy improvements are intended to meet one or more of the following goals:

• Provide adequate classroom space for instructional programs.
• Improve the efficiency of building support systems like Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and electrical services.
• Increase the useful lifespan of existing school buildings or facilities.
• Improve safety and security at instructional sites.

2025 summer project
There are sufficient funds remaining from the 2020 Capital Levy to accomplish one additional project in the summer of 2025. This will be an envelope improvements project at Presidents Elementary, similar to what took place during summer 2024 at Pioneer Elementary.

A building envelope is a term that describes the exterior surfaces of a building, from the roof to the walls and all the way to the foundation. Work associated with the project includes:

• Replacing the building roofing system
• Repainting the building’s exterior walls, exterior doors, and exposed structural steel (image below shows before and after renditions of exterior colors)
• Replacing failed windows
• Applying sealant and anti-graffiti coating on exterior masonry surfaces

The project will also include expanding the building’s cold storage capacity that’s part of the kitchen. The Presidents kitchen serves as a central production facility, providing meal services to all elementary schools in the district. Student participation in meal programs has grown substantially due to additional state funding which pays for all meals in elementary schools regardless of a student’s free and reduced meal status. Currently, KP, Presidents, and Eagle Creek students receive no cost meals; Pioneer Elementary will begin participation in the no cost meal program in 2025-2026. As we’ve added more meals, we’ve experienced greater utilization of refrigerated and frozen cold storage spaces at the central kitchen, so much so that there is no remaining space to meet daily production needs. Construction work at Presidents this summer will result in a larger cold storage facility at the school to meet current and future needs for freezer and refrigerated space.

A list of all projects by site is included here.

2024 summer project
In summer 2024, crews completed the Pioneer Elementary Building Envelope Improvement project. In April 2024, the Arlington Public Schools Board of Directors awarded a contract to Woodridge Construction LLC to perform the work.

The project had the following major goals:
• Remove and replace the existing roof with repairs of roof plywood as needed and installation of new water repellent underlayment and 20-year asphalt shingles.
• Repair siding and trim as needed and repaint the entire building.
• Replace failed windows with new insulated vinyl frame windows.
• Apply sealant and anti-graffiti coating to building and site perimeter masonry walls.

“The district’s capital program goals include extending the useful life of school buildings,” said Brian Lewis, Arlington Public Schools Executive Director of Operations. “The Building Envelope Improvement project at Pioneer meets this goal by extending the useful life of the school, correcting several building deficiencies, providing a safe, healthy environment for students, staff and the community and protecting the community’s investment in public facilities.”

“The $1.45 million project was funded by the 2020 Capital Levy that was approved by voters in February 2020,” said Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Chrys Sweeting. “Thank you to the district’s voters for approving the 2020 Capital Levy.”

2023 summer projects:
• The Kent Prairie Traffic Safety project will provide a waiting area for families picking up their students after school. It will provide a safe place off 204th Street and away from the school buildings for families to wait.

• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements across the district

2022-23 Construction Update
Over the 2022-23 school year, we completed nine projects that help meet the safety needs of our students and provide them with the space they need to learn. Here are three highlights:

- Added classrooms at Arlington High School. Additions include new classrooms, a manufacturing technology lab, and an expanded special education life skills suite.

- Secure entryways allow staff to vet and register visitors before they enter instructional spaces. The 2020 capital levy provided for the installation of secure entry ways across the district.

- Kent Prairie Elementary Safety Project: The project will address road congestion at the school, and promotes safety for pedestrians and drivers during dismissal.

Levy Funded Projects Completed

Questions about the Capital Levy projects can be directed to Brian Lewis, Executive Director of Operations, 360-618-6238, [email protected].