Arlington ISD converts Blanton Elementary into $24 M job‑training center for special‑needs students

The Arlington Independent School District (Arlington ISD) board approved a $24 million plan to transform the closed Blanton Elementary School into a new 18 PLUS​S Services center. The facility will provide year‑round job‑skill training for high‑school students with special‑needs up to age 22, consolidating programs that were previously spread across multiple sites. Last year 87 students participated in the program, and officials expect the new center to improve employment outcomes for these students.

The board also approved four new principals and ten assistant principals for district schools, appointed Dr. Priscila Dilley as chief academic officer, and presented a five‑year strategic plan (2026‑2030). Additionally, trustees approved the relocation of South Davis Elementary to a new campus funded by the 2026 bond program. The Blanton project will involve demolition of roughly 70,000 sq ft of the original building, renovation of 25,000 sq ft, and new construction of 43,000 sq ft for the 18 PLUS​S Services center.