Voters in Arlington will choose two at-large members of the school board in a May 2 election, with early voting scheduled for April 20–28. Four candidates are competing: incumbents Brooklyn Richardson (Place 6) and Leanne Haynes (Place 7), challenged by former Arlington ISD teacher Jan Tyler and Linton Davis, a local Republican Club vice president. Candidates and trustees describe this moment as pivotal for the district as it navigates tight budgets, falling enrollment and shifting family preferences for schooling.
Brooklyn Richardson, who was elected to the board in 2023 and works as director of youth ministries at a local church, says her commitment to public education and her experience as a parent in the district drove her to run. Leanne Haynes, also elected in 2023, points to roughly a decade of involvement with PTAs and district committees as the foundation for her trusteeship. Both incumbents emphasize the value of continuity and the progress they say the board has made working with Superintendent Matt Smith.
Jan Tyler, a former Arlington ISD elementary teacher with 33 years in the classroom and now an at-risk coordinator for a Dallas-area charter network, frames her candidacy around concerns about student outcomes and school discipline. Linton Davis, who previously audited for a major defense contractor, has built his campaign on financial and budgetary experience and says that managerial expertise can help address district shortfalls, even though he acknowledges limited direct education experience.
Budget pressures are central to the campaign. Trustees point to inadequate state funding as a root cause: the state currently allocates roughly $6,160 per student and is set to raise that amount by $55 to $6,215 next school year — an increase many say is not enough. Proposals from challengers and board members include cutting unfilled positions, reassessing underused school facilities, pruning programs or instructional materials that don’t clearly improve outcomes, and continuing the district’s shift to zero-based budgeting focused on campuses with the most need.
Beyond finances, candidates highlight declining enrollment — which has trended downward since 2013 and could fall below 50,000 students — and academic and attendance concerns. Tyler and Davis argue stronger academics and improved discipline will help attract families back to district schools; specific ideas include emphasizing phonics instruction and retaining students who aren’t ready to advance. Incumbents caution that spending cuts must be made carefully to avoid undermining the student experience and stress ongoing advocacy at the state level for more funding.
As the campaign heads into early voting, candidates bring different mixes of classroom experience, community involvement and fiscal background to the conversation. All four say the district must adapt — through better communication and marketing, targeted investments on campuses with the greatest needs, and creative approaches to reach families seeking alternatives — if Arlington schools are to stabilize enrollment and improve outcomes in the years ahead.
