School Closure Conversation May Continue • Leaders Make Case for DLI Consolidation • District Reveals Facilities’ Rubric Scores • Pro-Vouchers State Senator Comes to Town
As always, your thorough reporting is enlightening and appreciated. Thanks for the insight regarding CISD news (although I do look forward to reading about other topics in future issues). Also read with great interest the related information about Senator Parker, his message regarding vouchers, and the rebuttal (which sounds much more likely to this reader). To everyone reading this comment…please get out and vote! And when you cast your ballot take into consideration integrity, truth, and decency up and down the ballot.
Thank you for the in depth reporting on the school closure dilemma. These are very difficult choices to make and knowing that there will be more like these down the road makes it even harder. I encourage our Coppell community to vote wisely so our public schools aren’t decimated by vouchers. We’ve always been proud of our schools. We love our schools!
Speaking of schools and education, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Diana Raines and Mary Clare Fabishak, who many knew as Mary Clare Theodosio. Both these women gave of themselves to our children and our community. They will be sorely missed.
If anyone is reading this for free, I encourage you to be a paid subscriber because we need someone to keep us informed about our community.
To clarify on the 1:1 DLI ratio, just because a student is an English speaker vs non-English speaker doesn’t means that both learners are not Hispanic.
Dan, any investigate work you could continue doing on the supposed limits for vouchers would be great. If true, that $150k cut off would be huge for CISD. Having said that, it seems very hard to believe. Anything you find here would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for the update. Macklin's has been a very generous supporter to Coppell over many years. We love the Super Goat salad as well as the Cuban. :) We will pray for the Macklin's team as they pull through the loss of a team mate.
Thanks for the continual coverage of CISD and the reminder that Board members serve without pay. Predicting the District's needs is hard. A few years ago, CISD was stressing over enrollment increases, expecting total enrollment of 14,000 by 2025-2026. It's closer to 13,000 now.
.The District also spent a significant bond money on major improvements to Pinkerton not that long ago, never imagining it closing in a few years. One thing is certain-- things are going to change.
After this edition was published, I heard from Caleb Humphrey, Sen. Tan Parker’s education aide. He pointed me to documents analyzing the voucher-related bills that failed in the 2023 legislative session. The analysis of Senate Bill 1 says up to 40 percent of the participating children would be from households “at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.” According to the latest federal poverty guidelines, that would translate to $57,720 for a family of four. The analysis also says an additional 30 percent of the participating children would be from households below 500 percent of the guidelines; for a family of four, that means $156,000. I couldn’t find any language that would put a cap on a participating child’s household income.
The analysis of House Bill 1 doesn’t divide the eligible children into percentages, but it says the first priority would be disabled children whose households are at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, which would be $124,800 for a family of four. The second priority would be children, disabled or not, whose households are at or below that 185 percent threshold. The lowest priority would be children from households that make more than 400 percent of the poverty guidelines.
BTW, which end of Sandy Lake did this accident occur? We live off SL-West and didn’t lose power. I remember we lost power along with 1,000+ other folks when that “huffer” crashed (he was hauled off to jail). Sandy Lake seems notorious for crashes that have huge impacts.
Darla, the Sept. 7 crash happened due west of North Coppell Road. Last I checked, you can still see the damage to the brick wall around the substation.
Would calling it racial concentration make it sensical ? Call it what you want but 281 of 395 DLI learners will be Hispanic learners after consolidation.
Looking at the latest demographers report the footprint schools, plus Pinkerton, CISD has at least 1,000 open elementary seats, TODAY. Enrollment dropping by another 600 in the next four years puts us at over 1,600 seats excess capacity. Closing the smallest school in the district isn't going to be enough. I fear, like Trustee Sethi, that we are going to continue these conversations and consolidations year after year. Where is the long term strategic plan?
Severe is here again. As you consider installing a Generac or other brand of 25+ KW generators, please consider the location.
The 25KW units will have a 1000+ CC petroleum/natural gas engine. Note, this is not a 3.5 HP temporary generator that you might be thinking about, it is almost 8 times larger.
) Please don’t let Generator Super Store or other installers install the generator near your windows or your neighbor's windows. Not only are the generators creating noise pollution, they create air pollution as well.
Although it’s disheartening, I’ve appreciated all of your reporting on CISD. It’s a very sad and tough situation. I’m a CHS graduate of ‘84. Very proudly, Both of my kids graduated from Coppell in 2023 - New Tech High & CHS. My Elementary was Pinkerton as it was the only elementary school in Coppell back then. My kids were zoned to Wilson Elementary- 1 child in DLI (K-5) and continued with Spanish until grade 12. We were zoned to CMSWest (which was my high school in 1984, is now CHS9). Midway thru middle school CISD did a Boundary Realignment which changed our middle school from CMSWest to CMSNorth. Ugh!! We opted to stay at CMSWest all 3 years. We suffered thru Freeport Pkwy being shut down and the ongoing construction during school year to convert CMSW to the now CHS9. Then we moved over to the brand new CMSWest campus the following year. Of course I drove my kids to & from each day since transportation was not provided by CISD. If there’s one thing I’ve learned living in Coppell all of my long years is that CHANGE is inevitable - City & Schools. 🙃
Have you happened to try walking on the paved path around Duck Pond Park lately? It’s a total mess with all the goose poop one has to try to avoid! I know we taxpayers paid a bloody fortune to have a nice paved walkway and the dog walkers pick up after their pets but no one cleans up after the geese. It’s very unpleasant to even try to walk it
As always, your thorough reporting is enlightening and appreciated. Thanks for the insight regarding CISD news (although I do look forward to reading about other topics in future issues). Also read with great interest the related information about Senator Parker, his message regarding vouchers, and the rebuttal (which sounds much more likely to this reader). To everyone reading this comment…please get out and vote! And when you cast your ballot take into consideration integrity, truth, and decency up and down the ballot.
Thank you for the in depth reporting on the school closure dilemma. These are very difficult choices to make and knowing that there will be more like these down the road makes it even harder. I encourage our Coppell community to vote wisely so our public schools aren’t decimated by vouchers. We’ve always been proud of our schools. We love our schools!
Speaking of schools and education, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Diana Raines and Mary Clare Fabishak, who many knew as Mary Clare Theodosio. Both these women gave of themselves to our children and our community. They will be sorely missed.
If anyone is reading this for free, I encourage you to be a paid subscriber because we need someone to keep us informed about our community.
To clarify on the 1:1 DLI ratio, just because a student is an English speaker vs non-English speaker doesn’t means that both learners are not Hispanic.
Dan, any investigate work you could continue doing on the supposed limits for vouchers would be great. If true, that $150k cut off would be huge for CISD. Having said that, it seems very hard to believe. Anything you find here would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for the update. Macklin's has been a very generous supporter to Coppell over many years. We love the Super Goat salad as well as the Cuban. :) We will pray for the Macklin's team as they pull through the loss of a team mate.
Thanks for the continual coverage of CISD and the reminder that Board members serve without pay. Predicting the District's needs is hard. A few years ago, CISD was stressing over enrollment increases, expecting total enrollment of 14,000 by 2025-2026. It's closer to 13,000 now.
.The District also spent a significant bond money on major improvements to Pinkerton not that long ago, never imagining it closing in a few years. One thing is certain-- things are going to change.
With all due respect Jane, closing Pinkerton has been on the agenda for many years. They could have easily imagined it.
After this edition was published, I heard from Caleb Humphrey, Sen. Tan Parker’s education aide. He pointed me to documents analyzing the voucher-related bills that failed in the 2023 legislative session. The analysis of Senate Bill 1 says up to 40 percent of the participating children would be from households “at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.” According to the latest federal poverty guidelines, that would translate to $57,720 for a family of four. The analysis also says an additional 30 percent of the participating children would be from households below 500 percent of the guidelines; for a family of four, that means $156,000. I couldn’t find any language that would put a cap on a participating child’s household income.
The analysis of House Bill 1 doesn’t divide the eligible children into percentages, but it says the first priority would be disabled children whose households are at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, which would be $124,800 for a family of four. The second priority would be children, disabled or not, whose households are at or below that 185 percent threshold. The lowest priority would be children from households that make more than 400 percent of the poverty guidelines.
I just heard from Oncor that the fatal truck accident on Sept. 7 resulted in an estimated 1,100 customers losing power.
His family must be devastated.
BTW, which end of Sandy Lake did this accident occur? We live off SL-West and didn’t lose power. I remember we lost power along with 1,000+ other folks when that “huffer” crashed (he was hauled off to jail). Sandy Lake seems notorious for crashes that have huge impacts.
Darla, the Sept. 7 crash happened due west of North Coppell Road. Last I checked, you can still see the damage to the brick wall around the substation.
Oh my goodness. Was it a single or multi-vehicle accident?
Single
Would calling it racial concentration make it sensical ? Call it what you want but 281 of 395 DLI learners will be Hispanic learners after consolidation.
Looking at the latest demographers report the footprint schools, plus Pinkerton, CISD has at least 1,000 open elementary seats, TODAY. Enrollment dropping by another 600 in the next four years puts us at over 1,600 seats excess capacity. Closing the smallest school in the district isn't going to be enough. I fear, like Trustee Sethi, that we are going to continue these conversations and consolidations year after year. Where is the long term strategic plan?
Severe is here again. As you consider installing a Generac or other brand of 25+ KW generators, please consider the location.
The 25KW units will have a 1000+ CC petroleum/natural gas engine. Note, this is not a 3.5 HP temporary generator that you might be thinking about, it is almost 8 times larger.
Keep in mind that operating a new, average portable gasoline generator (~3.5 hp, 127 cc) at an average load of 1.8 kW for 1 hour emits as much smog-forming pollution as driving an average passenger vehicle for about 150 miles. (Reference: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/news/take-control-and-help-clean-air-nonpolluting-generator-options
) Please don’t let Generator Super Store or other installers install the generator near your windows or your neighbor's windows. Not only are the generators creating noise pollution, they create air pollution as well.
Although it’s disheartening, I’ve appreciated all of your reporting on CISD. It’s a very sad and tough situation. I’m a CHS graduate of ‘84. Very proudly, Both of my kids graduated from Coppell in 2023 - New Tech High & CHS. My Elementary was Pinkerton as it was the only elementary school in Coppell back then. My kids were zoned to Wilson Elementary- 1 child in DLI (K-5) and continued with Spanish until grade 12. We were zoned to CMSWest (which was my high school in 1984, is now CHS9). Midway thru middle school CISD did a Boundary Realignment which changed our middle school from CMSWest to CMSNorth. Ugh!! We opted to stay at CMSWest all 3 years. We suffered thru Freeport Pkwy being shut down and the ongoing construction during school year to convert CMSW to the now CHS9. Then we moved over to the brand new CMSWest campus the following year. Of course I drove my kids to & from each day since transportation was not provided by CISD. If there’s one thing I’ve learned living in Coppell all of my long years is that CHANGE is inevitable - City & Schools. 🙃
I feel your Pain. 😞
Have you happened to try walking on the paved path around Duck Pond Park lately? It’s a total mess with all the goose poop one has to try to avoid! I know we taxpayers paid a bloody fortune to have a nice paved walkway and the dog walkers pick up after their pets but no one cleans up after the geese. It’s very unpleasant to even try to walk it
I haven’t been over there since the ribbon-cutting ceremony. I’ll check it out.