Coppell Chronicle Vol. 2, No. 30
Coppell Chronicle Vol. 2, No. 30
CISD Introduces New Accountability System • Council OKs Budget and Tax Rate • Big Campaign Signs to be Limited • 8-Car Garage Gets 6 Thumbs Up
CISD Introduces New Accountability System
Coppell ISD has earned yet another “A” rating from the Texas Education Agency, but district officials are not satisfied with those laurels from the state. They want to be accountable to the community.
On Thursday, Coppell ISD presented the first data sets associated with its Community Based Accountability System (CBAS), which is intended to present a broader and deeper understanding of the district than its students’ scores on standardized tests.
“While we are proud of our ‘A’ rating, we don’t believe it gives a complete picture of our district, our students, or our schools, because of its high reliance on the STAAR test,” Superintendent Brad Hunt said in a prepared statement. “Our innovative CISD staff are partnering with our students and families to create learning experiences that defy the ability of a standardized test to measure the growth. As we like to say, ‘You can’t test that.’”
Coppell ISD isn’t alone in this effort. The district is a member of the Texas Public Accountability Consortium, which formed in 2017 to develop alternatives to the state’s A-F accountability system. The consortium’s members are basing their CBAS efforts on seven pillars:
Student Learning and Progress
Student Readiness
Professional Learning and Quality Staff
Community Engagement and Partnerships
Engaged, Well-Rounded Students
Fiscal and Operational Systems
Safety and Well-Being
For its initial CBAS dashboard and summary document, Coppell ISD is concentrating on the first, third, and seventh of those pillars. (The others will be addressed in subsequent school years.) If you click one of these circles on the dashboard, you will be taken to a series of data sets and personal stories related to the listed topics.
Although Coppell ISD is not alone in this effort, it appears to be leading this effort. The district is one of seven in a Texas Public Accountability Consortium subset called the North Texas Consortium. I was able to find CBAS reports on the websites of only two of the six other North Texas districts — Burkburnett ISD and Royse City ISD — and those PDFs I found weren’t nearly as dynamic as Coppell ISD’s CBAS dashboard.
As I clicked through the dashboard, I was struck by the fact that not all of the data points are positive. For example, one of the Safety and Well-Being slides uses survey data to quantify secondary students’ “grit” — how well they are able to persevere through setbacks to achieve important long-term goals. The Coppell ISD students were in only the 50th percentile compared to their peers across the nation.
Here’s another less-than-rosy data point, from the Professional Learning and Quality Staff set: 30 percent of the surveyed staff said “Yes” when asked “Have you ever considered or are you currently considering leaving CISD or education because of compensation?” Nearly 20 percent said “Maybe.”
The inclusion of these figures surprised me, given that some people might perceive CBAS as a public-relations effort. When the Board of Trustees was most recently briefed on the concept, the person leading the presentation was Chief Communications Officer Angela Brown.
When breaking down the differences between CBAS and the state’s traditional system of assessing district, Brown said CBAS focuses on what the district can become, as opposed to what it was at a set time.
“I’m thinking in the medical terms,” Brown told the trustees. “So the traditional A-F system is really an autopsy, and you can’t really help what’s happened, because you’re just looking at what was. Whereas the Community Based Accountability System is diagnostic and can help us look forward, where we can make improvements, and it’s more focused on growth mindset.”
Trustee Nichole Bentley didn’t want parents to panic and assume that Coppell ISD was going to ignore past results.
“We are looking ahead, and we are making course corrections, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t reporting on what’s happening,” Bentley said. “But it’s more real time, rather than a postmortem.”
Council OKs Budget and Tax Rate
On Tuesday evening, the Coppell City Council approved the city’s budget for fiscal 2023 and a historically low tax rate of 51.8731 cents per $100 of valuation.
Director of Finance Kim Tiehen reminded the council that the tax rate they approved Tuesday represents a 10.56 percent drop from the current rate of 58 cents per $100. The city’s official newsletter said it is Coppell’s lowest tax rate since at least 1990. Mayor Wes Mays, who conducted his own research, said it is Coppell’s lowest tax rate since at least 1986.
Before the council’s 6-0 votes to approve the budget and tax rate, Mays thanked Tiehen for all of her efforts.
“It is historic, when you take into account we’re coming out of COVID, we have reduced our spending to account for the evils of state Rule 3.334, and you’ve just done a fantastic job,” he said. “This council’s long-range planning has enabled that, and it’s been a tremendous activity to see everybody work together as a team, so thank you for your part of that.”
(For those who don’t recognize Rule 3.334, that’s the proposed change that would shift sales taxes on online transactions from warehouse-heavy cities like Coppell to the buyers’ hometowns. The rule was supposed to take effect last October, but it’s been put on hold due to lawsuits filed by Coppell and other cities. If you agree with the mayor about the rule’s “evils,” keep in mind that its architect, Comptroller Glenn Hegar, will be on the ballot this fall.)
Tiehen credited the council and all of the other city departments’ directors for their help in crafting the budget and associated tax rate.
“I just want to say how excited I am about this budget, just because of everything we’re facing in the world right now,” Council Member Kevin Nevels said. “I feel like the team has done an amazing job.”
Nobody signed up to speak during either of the public hearings, so there wasn’t much to do but offer praise and vote. Mayor Pro Tem Biju Mathew made the motion to approve the new tax rate, which was quite a contrast from last year’s proceedings.
P.S. On Thursday, the Irving City Council approved a tax rate of 58.91 cents per $100 of valuation, which is half a cent lower than Irving’s current rate of 59.41 cents.
Big Campaign Signs to be Limited
If you’re running for office, or trying to help someone get elected, pay attention to this next part. It concerns you.
Coppell’s Town Center, aka City Hall, serves as a polling place for local, state, and federal elections. Consequently, candidates line the edges of its parking lot with dozens of signs during each election. On Tuesday, the City Council discussed restricting where the largest of those signs can be placed.
“I don’t want it so it’s just about the big signs,” City Manager Mike Land said. “It’s also about the mechanics of the big signs.”
As Land explained it, the problem with larger signs is they are secured by substantial metal stakes. The two medians that frame the path from Parkway Boulevard to Town Center cover electrical and irrigation systems. Driving sturdy metal stakes into those medians can damage the city’s infrastructure.
Here’s another concern regarding the larger signs: When placed along Parkway, they can block the views of drivers entering and exiting the Town Center parking lot.
Land and City Attorney Bob Hager asked the council members — all of whom are former candidates, and most of whom are likely to run again — if they wanted to revise their ordinance addressing campaign signs.
“I’m kind of, like, asking the fox to guard the henhouse, right? Because you’re all elected,” Hager said. “But you get to make the decision; it’s your ordinance.”
The council’s consensus seemed to be that larger signs secured by metal stakes should be prohibited in the aforementioned medians, and a visibility triangle around the parking lot’s main entry should be widened. Hager will presumably bring them a revised ordinance to approve soon, because voting for the Nov. 8 elections will begin on Oct. 24.
8-Car Garage Gets 6 Thumbs Up
As you may recall from the Aug. 21 edition, the Coppell Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a zoning change that would allow Raymond and Virginia Larson to build an 8-car garage.
The Larsons sought the change because they want the garage to be 30 feet tall, which is more than twice the typical maximum for an accessory structure in Coppell. They also want it to have a washroom and a kitchenette, even though plumbing is not normally allowed in the city’s garages.
The City Council took up the matter on Tuesday, and their hearing wasn’t nearly as exciting as the commission’s, because the council’s hearing didn’t include any accusations of skinny-dipping. The council approved the zoning change on a 6-0 vote — one member, Mark Hill, was absent — after City Attorney Bob Hager advised adding a condition that says nobody can use the garage as a residence.
Before the vote, Mayor Wes Mays asked the question that’s been on all of our minds. No, not “What specific makes and models are in the Larsons’ collection of antique cars?” And not “Where are these antique cars stored today?” Nor did he ask “Can I take any of these antique cars for a spin?”
The mayor’s question was, “What is Grasscrete?”
Grasscrete came up during Development Services Administrator Matt Steer’s presentation of the zoning case. He said using the material for the driveway between Bethel Road and the new garage will help preserve a 35-inch oak tree on the property.
Here’s how architect Greg Frnka explained Grasscrete: “Think of a concrete block that’s open. You put it in the ground so the grass will grow in it, but it still allows you to drive on it and you won’t sink.”
This led to a lightbulb moment for both your correspondent and the mayor, who said, “I’m familiar with it. I just didn’t know the name of it.” You may be similarly enlightened after seeing this visual example:
The council also approved the other zoning change detailed in the Aug. 21 edition. A 17-acre tract on South Belt Line Road will become “The Victory Shops at Coppell,” which will feature retail stores, restaurants, office buildings, a day care center, and a banquet hall. The council members asked Assistant Director of Public Works Mike Garza a series of questions that all were variations on “Are you sure this won’t lead to traffic problems?” Garza said it should all be fine.
Chronicle Crumbs
• The Coppell ISD Bond Steering Committee elected two co-chairs during its first meeting on Sept. 8. One of them, Jim Walker, has a résumé full of service to Coppell ISD and the City of Coppell. What I found more interesting is that his co-chair, Dilan Patel, is a student at Coppell High School and a resident of Irving.
• Applications to serve on the City of Coppell’s various boards and commissions will be accepted through Oct. 7. If you’ve ever wanted to see your name published in this newsletter, here is your opportunity.
• Oct. 11 is the voter registration deadline for the Nov. 8 elections. If you have a son or daughter who recently turned 18, or is about to become of age, they can get registered during the lunch periods at Coppell High School tomorrow or at New Tech High on Tuesday.
• Coppell City Council Member Kevin Nevels, former Coppell City Council Member Aaron Duncan, and Coppell ISD Trustee Leigh Walker have joined forces to create a Coppell ISD alumni association. As part of that effort, they will participate in Wednesday’s homecoming parade. Click here if you’d like to lend a hand with their entry, which will be superhero-themed, a fact that will not surprise anyone who’s met the esteemed council member from Place 4.
• I’m sorry to report that a “For Lease” sign has been posted at the apparently former home of Kess Kravings Patisserie & Café.
Community Calendar
Coppell High School Homecoming Parade: The parade will head east on Parkway Boulevard, from North Coppell Road to Cowboy Drive, starting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. On Friday evening, the CHS volleyball team will host Hebron at 6:30, and the football team will take on Plano West at 7.
Bridging the Gap Program Fair: Volunteers for each program offered by the Coppell Senior & Community Center will be available to answer questions starting at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Assistance League of Coppell: This nonprofit organization, which sponsors a variety of philanthropic programs, will conduct its September meeting on Thursday at Valley Ranch Baptist Church. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the meeting will begin at noon.
Future Pilot Seminar: If your teenager has ever looked up at the planes that buzz Coppell every day and said, “I might like to be a pilot,” then you might want to take him or her to this free event at the Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport on Saturday afternoon.
Assisteens: The Assistance League of Coppell’s auxiliary volunteer group is open to Coppell ISD students and Coppell residents in grades 7-12. Students and parents interested in learning more about the organization are invited to attend the information session at 2:15 p.m. on Sept. 25 at the Cozby Library and Community Commons. The member meeting will immediately follow and visitors are welcome to attend. For questions, contact Debbie Hinson at alcoppellac@gmail.com.
Melting Pot-Luck: This luncheon at the Coppell Senior & Community Center, which is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 28, is designed to connect the many cultures of the center’s members.
DogFest Texas: Canine Companions, an organization that provides trained service dogs to people with disabilities, will host this dog-friendly event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 1 at The Sound at Cypress Waters.
Coppell Women’s Club: Betsy Wilcox of the Coppell Historical Society will discuss the city’s past and present, as well as an upcoming home tour, when the Coppell Women’s Club meets at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 5 at Church of the Apostles.
No Wine Left Behind: The Coppell Lions Club’s annual winetasting fundraiser is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 7 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field. The cost is $50 per person, and all of the proceeds will go to the charities supported by the Lions.
Farm to Table Dinner: This Coppell Farmers Market fundraiser is scheduled for Oct. 22 at the Coppell Senior & Community Center. The to-be-announced menu will be seasonal, made with ingredients sourced from and prepared by the market’s food producers. Tickets are $108, with all proceeds benefiting the market’s operations and its SNAP program.
Sorry to learn that Kess Kraving’s has closed doors. I hope she has been able to continue offering delicious products in another location.
Thank you! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this week’s need!