2022 School Bond Referendum

On Election Day, November 8, Arlington voters will vote on $165.01 million in school bonds to improve and upgrade existing school infrastructure. The school bonds ensure APS school facilities are maintained and updated to meet the changing needs of students, support high-quality education, and invests in APS facilities because they serve a dual role as community assets utilized for various community purposes.

The school bonds will fund the first two years of the FY 2023-32 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which outlines how APS plans continuing improvements and upgrades of current APS facilities as an on-going priority. If approved, the school bonds will allow the Arlington community to pay for long-term investments that spread the cost among current and future taxpayers who will benefit from the investments made in APS schools funded through school bonds. The $165.01 million school bond referendum will be used to fund the following projects:

Major Infrastructure Projects Funding: $16.8 Million – Major infrastructure projects that include HVAC, Electrical, Lighting, Roofing, and Windows.

• Escuela Key roof replacement
• Hoffman-Boston HVAC replacement
• LED lighting upgrades at various school sites

Entrance/Security Vestibules & Kitchen Renovations Funding: $16.36 Million – Kitchen renovations and entrance/security vestibule updates to meet current safety and security standards and to provide healthy meals prepared onsite for students. ($4.12 million was already included in the 2021 School Bond Referendum)

• Entrance/Security Vestibules: Jefferson, Hoffman-Boston, Long Branch, Taylor, Kenmore, Langston, Williamsburg, and Washington-Liberty
• Entrance/Security Vestibules & Kitchen Renovations: Campbell and Swanson

Arlington Career Center Project Funding: $135.97 Million – Arlington Career Center Project to construct a modern facility, which is the only remaining APS high school that has not been modernized, to support student learning for full-time Arlington Career Center (ACC) students and students from all APS high schools who are enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses at the ACC. The construction project would allow for expanded full-time student enrollment in the Arlington Tech Program, an academically challenging STEM high school program that would both prepare students for the high-tech workforce and help balance enrollment in neighborhood comprehensive high schools.  Additionally, this funding:

• Completes the modernization of all APS high schools
• Provides state of the art learning spaces for the school’s diverse student body
• Adds curricular offerings for full-time ACC students
• Increases career and technical (CTE) classes for students enrolled at other APS high schools
• Allows for the growth of the Arlington Tech Program, making it available to more students on a full-time basis
• Proactively prepares for enrollment – considering increased housing density in Arlington County land use plans and studies

2022 School Bond FAQs: English | Spanish | Amharic | Arabic | Mongolian

Resources:

• FY 2023-32 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Report
• FY 2023-32 CIP Presentation
• FY 2023-32 CIP Funding Scenarios
• FY 2023-32 CIP Long Range Renovation Plan

For additional information or questions about the 2022 School Bond Referendum, please email engage@apsva.us.