Coppell Chronicle Vol. 3, No. 1
How ’Bout Them Cowgirls?!? • Fire Station Plan Alarms Some Neighbors • Legislature Made Bond Elections Harder • Viral Violence Not Reflected in Report
The inaugural edition of this newsletter, which was published two years ago this week, included an article about plans to build a Smoothie King. So I thought getting a drink from that since-established establishment would be a great way to toast the Coppell Chronicle’s second anniversary.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Chronicle, here’s how things work. Each Sunday, I send four articles — plus some Chronicle Crumbs and a Community Calendar — to my paid subscribers. As of this morning, 685 individuals are paying either $5 per month or $30 per year for this infotainment. On the final Sunday of each month, I also send that week’s content to the more than 1,000 people on my list of free subscribers.
Here are some recent articles that were for paid subscribers’ eyes only:
If you enjoy this newsletter on a weekly basis, please follow the lead of a reader I met during Thursday’s community meeting about a new fire station. “I tell people to subscribe all the time,” she said. “I told three people during this meeting.”
How ’Bout Them Cowgirls?!?
Congratulations to the Coppell High School varsity girls basketball team, who secured their program’s first state-tournament berth on Saturday afternoon by edging Little Elm, 51-47.
Until Saturday, the most successful Cowgirls basketball team was the 1990 squad coached by Laura Springer, who is now the CHS principal. That team, which played in Class 3A, made it to the regional championship game but fell short of a trip to state.
This year’s team, led by fourth-year coach Ryan Murphy and Indiana-bound senior Julianna LaMendola, earned a spot in the Class 6A Region 1 tournament in Fort Worth by beating South Grand Prairie on Tuesday, 43-39. That victory avenged a loss to SGP in the third round of last year’s playoffs.
The Cowgirls’ opponent in the regional semifinals was Southlake Carroll, which was riding a 23-game winning streak. Coppell slew the Dragons on Friday by a score of 51-41.
The only other Class 6A teams still standing are DeSoto, Pearland, and San Antonio Clark. The state semifinals will be played at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio; the championship game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. If you can’t be there in person, you can stream the games for $11.99.
In other congratulatory news …
Congratulations to Sriya Gomatam, a fifth-grader at Denton Creek Elementary, who won the Dallas County Spelling Bee on Feb. 19. That means she’ll compete in the Dallas Regional Spelling Bee on March 13.
Congratulations to the staff of the Cozby Library and Community Commons, which has received the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association’s Achievement of Excellence Award for the 18th consecutive year.
Congratulations to the staff of Coppell Student Media, who are among the 24 finalists for the National Scholastic Press Association’s Online Pacemaker award. This group of young journalists is among only six finalists from Texas.
Fire Station Plan Alarms Some Neighbors
About 50 residents showed up at Austin Elementary on Thursday evening to hear about the City of Coppell’s plan to build a fire station next to the school.
That plan was presented by Chief Kevin Richardson, whose rookie assignment 30 years ago was on that very property. Richardson asked how many of the attendees lived in Coppell when Fire Station 2 was in front of Austin — in the building that has since been a home for Theatre Coppell and other arts groups — and more than half raised their hands.
As he has twice told the City Council, Richardson explained that the National Fire Protection Association says firefighters should be able to reach 90 percent of their coverage area within four minutes. Building a fifth station on Moore Road would ensure that Coppell’s bravest could improve their four-minute threshold from 86 percent to 91 percent.
(See “Plans Heat Up for Fifth Fire Station” in the Feb. 5 edition.)
Most of the meeting’s attendees seemed amenable to Richardson’s proposal. One even said, “I was disappointed when the Fire Department left, because they weren’t as close anymore.”
However, a handful of people weren’t as eager to welcome firefighters and their equipment back to the neighborhood. One man said being able to reach 86 percent of Coppell sounded pretty good, and he questioned whether the difference between 86 percent and 90 percent was worth all the trouble. City Council Member John Jun said this in response: “That 4 or 5 percent that the chief talked about could be life or death for someone else.”
Some people expressed concerns about noise, but Richardson said he’s not aware of any noise complaints regarding the new Fire Station 2, which is across MacArthur Boulevard from houses, or Fire Station 3, which is near residences along Parkway Boulevard. One of the naysayers pointed out that those stations aren’t as close to homes as the station on Moore would be, but Richardson said he can’t recall any complaints from the old days, when there was a station on Moore, and some longtime residents in the room backed him up on that.
Another issue was the logistics of having a fire station next door to an elementary campus. A mother of current Austin students said city officials need to sit outside the school and observe how chaotic things can get when students are dismissed. She can’t imagine adding a fire station to that mix. “It sounds like a nightmare,” she said.
Again hearkening back to the early days of his career, Richardson said he can’t recall any parents’ vehicles blocking the firefighters’ path. He said the parents policed themselves.
Richardson said there will be other opportunities for neighbors to express their concerns, because the “best-case scenario” is that Fire Station 5 opens by September 2025. In the interim, the project will go through the same permitting process as any other building in the city. That means there will be public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.
“We want to be collaborative. We want to be transparent. We want to listen,” he said. “We want this to be a great project for everybody involved.”
However, Thursday’s meeting was not an opportunity for Austin’s neighbors to veto the project. Chronicle subscriber Paula Feldman put it best: “We can’t have community input on every single decision,” she said before pointing to the elected officials in the room. “That’s why we vote for mayor and we vote for city council.”
Legislature Made Bond Elections Harder
Some politicians are dead-set against governments selling bonds. For example, Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi — who lives in Coppell ISD — said this on Twitter last year: “Don’t forget to get out and vote ‘No’ on the bond … wherever you are … and whatever bond that might be.”
Because of such sentiments, the Texas Legislature made two big changes to how school districts can craft ballot propositions during bond elections. Both of these changes took effect on Sept. 1, 2019:
Change No. 1: Every ballot proposition must include the sentence “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE,” even if a particular bond package won’t necessitate an increased tax rate (as is the case with the $716 million package that Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD voters will consider this year). That’s because a district could lower its debt-service tax rate if it didn’t sell bonds.
Change No. 2: School districts can no longer include the following expenses in a single all-encompassing bond proposition:
A stadium with seating capacity for more than 1,000 spectators
A natatorium
A recreational facility other than a gymnasium, playground, or play area
A performing arts facility
Housing for teachers
Technology, other than security equipment or integral infrastructure
Because of that change, Coppell ISD voters will be asked to consider four separate bond propositions this year:
Proposition A ($269,584,000) would cover priority condition needs at all district facilities; renovations of three elementary schools that would get new pre-kindergarten classrooms; new fine arts rehearsal spaces at Coppell High School and Coppell Middle School North; new labs for career, technical, and STEM classes at Coppell High School; a renovation of the domed auditorium at the Coppell High School Ninth Grade Center; equipment and furnishings; safety and security investments; new vehicles; and some technology purchases.
Proposition B ($39,472,000) would pay for the rest of the district’s technology upgrades, including tablets for students and staff plus audio-visual equipment.
Proposition C ($2,931,000) would go toward replacing the turf, track surface, and seat backs at Buddy Echols Field.
Proposition D ($9,524,000) would pay for new locker rooms, restrooms, courts, and lights at the Coppell High School Tennis Center, plus new turf in the Coppell High School fieldhouse.
During the Coppell ISD trustees’ Feb. 6 workshop, Anthony Hill asked attorney Paul Braden how these new rules have affected elections.
“Bond elections are still getting passed, even with this language on there,” Braden said of the mandatory ALL-CAPS statement. “Some are now failing.”
I was hoping for a more specific answer than that, so I contacted Braden and asked if he knows of a person or organization that tracks the results of bond elections. He pointed me to the website of the Texas Bond Review Board, where I was able to download a spreadsheet of the results of every school bond election after the new laws took effect. Between November 2019 and November 2022, 348 school districts across Texas put 702 bond propositions on ballots. Voters approved 419 of them and rejected the other 283, for an approval rating of 60 percent.
To put that statistic in perspective, I also downloaded a spreadsheet of the bond elections that happened between May 2016 — when Coppell ISD most recently had one — and May 2019. In that three-year span, 356 school districts across Texas asked voters to consider 453 bond propositions, and 75 percent of them were approved.
During the Feb. 6 workshop, Superintendent Brad Hunt raised the point that school tax rates for homeowners who are 65 or older are frozen, regardless of how bond elections go. Trustee Jobby Mathew asked whether that fact can be included in the ballot language.
“They won’t allow it,” Braden said, with "they” being a reference to the attorney general’s office. “And, mind you, we’ve had districts who’ve tried.”
Although the rate freeze for seniors cannot be mentioned on the ballot, Hill clarified that a district can highlight it in presentations, newsletters, social media, etc. The superintendent replied thusly: “But if I’m 65 and older, and I’ve not gone to any of those bond presentations, and I just go to the ballot, that’s the information I get.”
With a smile, Hill called this “an opportunity to communicate.”
Viral Violence Not Reflected in Report
State law requires school districts to hold public hearings on their annual performance reports. Coppell ISD held such a hearing on Feb. 13, and the report covered a variety of topics, including academics, finances, and postsecondary readiness. But it was this slide that got the most attention.
Like me and probably you and certainly thousands of people around the world, Trustee Neena Biswas knows of at least one violent incident in Coppell ISD during the 2021-22 school year. On May 11, a student at Coppell Middle School North put a classmate in a chokehold; that incident was recorded by a third student, and the footage went viral.
(See “People Worldwide Are Mad at Coppell ISD” in the May 22 edition.)
Biswas wanted to know how the district could report that it had zero violent or criminal incidents last school year, given what we all saw with our own eyes.
“What is a way to correct this, because, I mean, if that is being not reported,” Biswas said, “then can we assume that everything else is not being reported?”
The report was presented to the trustees by Mary Kennington, Coppell ISD’s Director of Accountability, Assessment, & Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. Kennington was not able to provide immediate answers to Biswas’ questions, but she and Superintendent Brad Hunt said answers would be forthcoming.
Because I’m an impatient journalist, I emailed Director of Communications Amanda Simpson last week to ask how the district could make that bold-faced claim. She said Director of Student Systems Kathy Creek, who is responsible for data, and Director of Student and Staff Services Jennifer Villines, who is responsible for discipline, confirmed that the May 11 incident was correctly coded and reported to the state. Due to the limits of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Simpson wasn’t able to say much else.
I understand the effects of the privacy law; they’re why you see “N/A” on the “Fighting/Mutual Combat” and “Terroristic Threats” lines in Coppell Middle School North’s 2021-22 Discipline Summary report, which I downloaded from the Texas Education Agency’s website.
However, what I don’t understand is why somebody put “Zero violent or criminal incidents for 2021-22 school year” in 33-point type in a report for a public hearing, even though most people would consider that to be a false statement.
Officer Kelly Luther, who speaks for the Coppell Police Department, said no charges were filed as a result of what happened on May 11. Though that may not have been a criminal incident, it was certainly violent.
Chronicle Crumbs
• As I reviewed Coppell ISD’s Informed newsletter this morning, I noticed one particular blurb that may concern households that don’t include a stay-at-home parent. It says the district plans to explore the idea of a four-day school week, which is a growing trend in Texas.
• On Tuesday, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Board of Trustees named Wendy Eldredge as the lone finalist to be the district’s next superintendent. She has been the superintendent of Crandall ISD in Kaufman County since 2019; before that, she was an assistant superintendent in Garland ISD. This part of her bio jumped out at me: Last May, Crandall ISD voters approved a $365 million bond package, including a separate proposition for a $20 million performing arts facility.
• On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council approved the annual reports for Big D’s various tax increment financing (TIF) districts, including the report for the Cypress Waters TIF District. Perusing that report is how I learned that Cypress Waters is getting a public safety facility that will include office space and living quarters for Dallas firefighters, office space for Dallas police officers, and a small meeting space for the community. See for yourself.
• Last week, I reported that two people were challenging Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer’s reelection bid. Although those two folks appointed campaign treasurers, neither filed an application for a place on the ballot. That means the Valley Ranch resident will cruise into a third term without opposition.
• Green Acres Nursery & Supply opened for business last week at 2800 Ranch Trail, just a stone’s throw from Coppell Middle School West.
• Diabetics, beware: Cinnaholic, a chain that already sells gourmet cinnamon rolls throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, plans to plant its flag within Coppell ISD, specifically at 8701 Cypress Waters Blvd.
• As I pulled up to the menu board at Fellowship Coffee and Tea — which has taken over the building on Denton Tap Road formerly occupied by Kess Kravings — my shoulders slumped when I saw that the sizes were labeled “T/G/V” for tall, grande, and venti. Is there a law against coffee cups being categorized as small, medium, and large?
• I established a post office box for Suburban Subscriptions LLC a few months after launching the Chronicle, but there’s been nothing in it lately, so I went to the infamous Dutch door on Friday for an explanation. I was told my rights to that post office box expired last October, even though the key to it is still on my key ring. “This is news to me,” I said. “Why didn’t y’all try to contact me?” I was told it’s the customer’s responsibility to keep track of such things. Meanwhile, this sign was hanging nearby, without a hint of irony.
Community Calendar
The Odd Couple: You have four more opportunities to see Theatre Coppell’s take on Neil Simon’s classic comedy — 2:30 p.m. today, 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on March 5.
No Tune Like a Show Tune: The Coppell Community Chorale will belt out Broadway’s best at 3 p.m. today at the Coppell Arts Center.
The Importance of Being Earnest: Coppell High School’s Cowboy Theatre Company will present a public performance of their UIL one-act play at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the CHS auditorium.
Acton Children’s Business Fair: If you have entrepreneurial kids, tell them to apply for a booth at this event — which is scheduled for April 15 at The Sound at Cypress Waters — by Wednesday.
Coffee With a Cop: Coppell Police Department officers will be hanging out at Ecclesia Bakery & Brunch between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Dragons and Mythical Beasts: Trolls, unicorns, griffins, and dragons are among the creatures you’ll be able to see at the Coppell Arts Center on Saturday. Two shows are scheduled that day, at 2 and 6 p.m.
Sunset Socials — Movie in the Park: Thanks to my sons, I’ve seen Pixar’s Ratatouille more times than I can count. But I’ve never seen it outdoors, as it will be shown at 7 p.m. on March 10 at Andrew Brown Park East.
The Re-emergence of UFOs: We’re all fascinated by stories of unidentified flying objects, but Neil Pinto researches them. He’ll be at the Cozby Library and Community Commons at 2 p.m. on March 11 to discuss the most compelling UFO cases, identify where the social stigma came from, and predict what revelations may emerge in the near future.
I was here when that 2nd fire station was voted down in an election only to be built at a higher cost a few years later because insurance companies wouldn’t cover all the homes being built because of response time. I lived in that neighborhood when the station was near Austin and there were no problems.
I am sorry to hear that Ronaldi is against bond proposals for Coppell. Our community has always supported our schools and kept them in great condition and up to date. They are a source of pride for Coppell. I hope our citizens remember that when they vote.
I’m a senior citizen whose children attended CISD K-12 and received an excellent education. I would want that for all students who attend our schools even though mine are long gone. I’d like to know how Mr. Rinaldi voted on the bonds when his children attended Coppell schools. Also, our property values are reflected in how well our schools perform and look.
Something to think about!
I still feel a sense of pride and excitement when I hear about Coppell students and teams shining. I love to hear about students from our town soaring! Thank you for including that info in your chronicle. My 43 years here makes Coppell my home nest and I feel a sense of pride when our students, schools, and community earn accolades.
I love this town!
Go Cowgirls!
Sure feels like the state legislature is doing everything it can to undermine public schools.