Jeff Arrington announced his campaign for Place 1 vacancy on the Abilene Independent School Board yesterday afternoon.

Arrington, associate professor in the Department of Engineering and Physics, and his family have been involved in reading events, PTA meetings and science demonstrations in AISD schools since his children were students in the district.

“Over the course of 18 years we volunteered in four schools and had marvelous, positive experiences on every campus,”Arrington said.

Most recently, he helped led the AISD master facility planning committee in recommending the current $87.7 million bond package. He also serves as the chair of the district’s STEM Advisory Committee.

Arrington detailed an interest in helping AISD’s programs grow to help students understand their potential, supporting the administration in hiring, equipping and retaining educators, and continuing AISD’s pursuit of excellence in education in his three-part reason for candidacy for place 1 on the board.

“I’m a dad. My sons went through Abilene school and I feel like they got an excellent education, and I’m appreciative. I’m an educator, and I know some things about education,” he said. “I feel like those experiences, as well as my involvement with AISD gives me a unique perspective to contribute to the students.”

Tracy Castillo Howle, Arrington’s campaign treasurer and senior vice president of First Bank Texas, said since his children have long graduated from AISD, his objective approach will help the district it its decision making processes.

“Jeff doesn’t have an agenda, he is out there trying to serve the greater good, and sometimes that’s hard to find,” she said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Arrington was running unopposed for Place 1 on the school board. Places 1, 3, 5 and 7 are also vacant.

Interested persons have until Feb. 19 to file for an announce candidacy for a position on the school board. The election is set for May 7.