Coppell Chronicle Vol. 4, No. 48
DART to Test Drive Silver Line Trains • Trustees Inclined to Try Tax Measure Again • New Attendance Zones Get Good Reviews • Powers and Waters Compete for Seat
When my son and I went bowling in Lewisville on Saturday afternoon, the adjacent lane was occupied by a woman and her three children.
“Are you from Coppell?” she asked me. “Aren’t you the writer guy?”
That recognition and the associated ego boost powered me to the game of my life. Opened with two spares, closed with three strikes. Didn’t even hurt my feelings too much when she admitted to being a free subscriber.
DART to Test Drive Silver Line Trains
Coppell residents will see and hear Silver Line trains in action this week, because DART is about to begin test runs on the tracks’ western end.
According to a statement posted on DART’s website, the initial tests will occur between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. That statement does not say what will happen on Friday and Saturday, but take note of what is planned to begin one week from today: tests between midnight and 4 a.m.
That timing is significant because the trains’ operators will sound their horns when approaching crossings during the test runs. If you live on the south side of Coppell, you may be in for some restless nights.
When revenue service begins in 2026, all Silver Line crossings in Coppell will be designated as “quiet zones,” which means trains’ operators will blow their horns only when necessary. (The Federal Railroad Administration admits that “reduced train horn area” would be a more appropriate label.) But during these test runs, the horns will sound and flaggers will be present, as lights, signals, crossing arms, and track conditions will all be in test mode.
This article exists only because Hannah Cook, the City of Coppell’s Chief Communications Strategist, alerted me to the DART statement on Friday evening. DART sent me a press release on Tuesday evening that said, among many other things, “test runs are set to begin by the end of January in Segment A, which runs from DFW Airport to Carrollton.” But the more-specific statement linked above would have escaped my attention were it not for Cook. I owe her a cup of coffee.
If you want more information about the Silver Line, be at Town Hall in The Sound at Cypress Waters at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 19. Representatives from DART and contractor Archer Western Herzog will host a community meeting to discuss the project and answer questions.
Trustees Inclined to Try Tax Measure Again
A tax measure rejected by a majority of Coppell ISD voters last November may end up on the ballot again this November.
During a workshop on Wednesday, Coppell ISD trustees discussed various ways to address the district’s budget problems. The one method they all seemed to agree on was trying another voter-approval tax-ratification election (VATRE).
Had the VATRE proposition been approved a couple of months ago, the overall tax rate would still have been lower due to a state-mandated compression of the base rate. However, due to rising property values, the average Coppell ISD homeowner’s tax bill would have increased by $163. The district would have netted $2.4 million to spend on salaries and security, but the VATRE would have sent $3.48 million to the state via recapture, aka Robin Hood.
(See “Voters Reject More Dollars for Schools” in Vol. 4, No. 38.)
The fact that only 40 percent of the newly raised money would have stayed in the district was a poison pill for many voters.
“It’s a tough sell. It’s hard,” Superintendent Brad Hunt said during Wednesday’s workshop. “It doesn’t make sense to people; it doesn’t make sense to me either.”
Last November’s VATRE was rejected by 54 percent of voters overall. Here’s a look at how the vote broke down on a precinct-by-precinct basis.
Trustee Manish Sethi said VATRE proponents can learn from that experience and come up with a stronger plan. He said they’ll need to focus on the southern part of the district, where the opposition was strongest, to “make sure we have a much better chance of getting the VATRE passed this year.”
Trustee Nichole Bentley said taking another shot at the VATRE was at the top of her list of options. “That is the only big revenue lever that we have still,” she said. “It was true before; I think it’s still true.”
Here’s something else that’s true: A newly formed Coppell ISD Efficiency Review Committee will meet for the first time this Tuesday. Over the course of four monthly meetings, they will discuss various ways to balance the budget before presenting recommendations to the trustees.
“I believe in the collective brains of our community,” Hunt said when discussing the committee. “There may be something that we have missed.”
I missed which brainy people are on this committee, and apparently I’m not alone in that regard. During Wednesday’s workshop, Trustee Leigh Walker requested a copy of the committee’s roster.
Regardless of who’s on the committee or what they come up with, at least one more school is likely to close. On Oct. 1, a majority of the trustees voted to shut down only one campus (Pinkerton Elementary) at the end of this school year. Two months later, the district’s demographer predicted Coppell ISD’s student body will decrease by more than 1,000 kids in the next five years and nearly 1,000 more in the ensuing five years.
(See “Enrollment Projected to Drop ‘Drastically’” in Vol. 4, No. 43.)
“If we’d had those reports four months before,” Sethi said, “our entire thought process of consolidation and financial constraint to meet our budget would have been very different.”
New Attendance Zones Get Good Reviews
A majority of Coppell ISD trustees are pleased with the proposed attendance zones for next school year.
The draft plan discussed during Wednesday’s workshop was prepared by district administrators with assistance from the demographers at Zonda Education. Board President David Caviness said they “really nailed 90 percent of it.”
The only specific nitpick I heard was from Trustees Nichole Bentley and Jobby Mathew, who questioned whether the Huntington Ridge subdivision, which is between Denton Tap Road and Coppell High School, should be zoned to Town Center Elementary, because it’s on the other side of Denton Tap. And that’s not even part of the proposed changes; Huntington Ridge is already zoned to Town Center and has been for years.
Major thoroughfares like Denton Tap were big factors in the draft. Homes that are north of Sandy Lake Road and currently zoned to Austin Elementary would be diverted to Town Center and Lakeside. And neighborhoods north of Sandy Lake that are zoned to Wilson Elementary would shift to Cottonwood Creek.
Because the district’s Dual Language Immersion program is being consolidated at Denton Creek Elementary, the draft calls for many neighborhoods near that school to be reassigned to Cottonwood Creek, Lakeside, and Town Center elementaries.
Most of Pinkerton Elementary’s attendance zone is being reassigned to Wilson, but the portion of the Pinkerton zone that is east of Denton Tap would go to Austin. Trustee Leigh Walker wondered whether those neighborhoods ought to move to Mockingbird Elementary instead.
Austin was a candidate for closure along with Pinkerton, but the trustees opted to keep it open for at least one more school year. If Austin ends up closed by the fall of 2026, Walker wouldn’t want any Pinkerton students to change campuses twice in as many years.
“What I hear, feedback from the community, is ‘rip off Band-Aids,’ right? ‘Please, just rip it off. If you’re gonna do something, do it,’” Walker said. “And secondly, ‘please try and be as forward-thinking as you can be.’”
Walker brought up the recent bond-funded refresh of Mockingbird, and its proximity to Austin, as reasons to think that Mockingbird might be excluded from any future closure conversations. But the administration warned against such assumptions.
Chief Financial Officer Diana Sircar said the Coppell ISD Efficiency Review Committee is going to reexamine the rubric that led to the consolidation recommendations presented last fall. They’ll be working with updated data, so they may come up with different results.
Although Austin was a closure candidate last fall, Superintendent Brad Hunt said, it could be Cottonwood Creek, Lakeside, or Town Center on the chopping block next time.
“Previously, I was always hesitant to say a school, because that got people worked up,” Hunt said. “I think we’ve just got to say the schools, because every school has a chance to be a school that might not be in existence the next year, regardless of the bond improvements.”
In the end, no other trustees wanted to change the rezoning draft based on a theoretical closure.
“I don’t think we can necessarily plan for that, because there’s too many unknowns,” Mathew said. “In order to do this exercise, we have to look at what’s happening right now.”
You can get a closer look at the attendance zones draft here. The trustees will discuss it further — and possibly vote on it — during their workshop on Feb. 3.
Powers and Waters Compete for Seat
If you’ve driven down Denton Tap Road in the past few days, then you’re probably aware that Julie Waters is running for the Coppell school board again. Her “Just Add Waters” signs have been added to the landscaping of several businesses.
Two years ago, Waters challenged David Caviness during his bid for a third term in the Place 5 seat. This year, she’s seeking the Place 2 seat that Manish Sethi is vacating after two full terms.
Waters was at Coppell ISD’s headquarters on Wednesday morning, presenting her paperwork as soon as the filing period for the May 3 election opened. By the end of the day, she had an intriguing opponent: Jonathan Powers.
Powers ran for the vacant Place 4 seat in 2023, when he finished second to Ranna Raval. During that campaign, Powers and Waters were perceived as a slate by many voters. They sat side by side in the parking lot of Town Center during early voting, and Powers was among the most generous donors to Waters’ campaign fund.
I contacted both candidates to ask about their status as allies turned rivals.
“We are both passionate about education and know that running in an open seat makes the most sense,” Waters said. “However, I will bring a fresh and unique voice to the board. I believe that having varied viewpoints on the board leads to a richer discussion, which is critical during these challenging times. I am looking forward to a great election season.”
Powers pointed out that he and Waters weren’t in lockstep during the 2023 campaign. She was against the district’s $321.5 million bond package, while he supported it.
“Over the past two years, our views on the best way forward for CISD have diverged even more,” Powers said. “I believe we need trustees committed to developing realistic and sustainable solutions by engaging the community in collaborative, rather than divisive, dialogue. I also believe trustees must focus on solving problems across the entire district, not just one or two campuses.”
Powers said that’s why he volunteers on the board of the Coppell ISD Education Foundation and on the district’s Bond Oversight Committee. He was previously a member of the district’s Visioning Committee.
“This is a time when district leaders need to work to unite the community around the critical issues facing public education,” he said, “and I am committed to being that type of leader.”
Although Waters is best known in Coppell ISD for her passionate opposition to the closing of Pinkerton Elementary, she has organized a UIL academics competition open to students at other campuses and founded an association for the district’s International Baccalaureate families. She has also started local clubs for running and sewing enthusiasts.
Waters is not the only frequent speaker at school board meetings who is seeking a seat on the dais. Sheri Hill filed paperwork to run against Leigh Walker, who hasn’t had an opponent since her initial campaign for the Place 1 seat in 2016.
When announcing her reelection campaign on Instagram, Walker said she is running for “a final term.” That’s interesting, because Coppell ISD trustees do not have term limits. Consequently, Anthony Hill is running for a seventh term in the Place 3 seat. He has no opponents yet, but the filing period doesn’t close until 5 p.m. on Feb. 14.
Restaurant Roundup
• I am sorry to report that last Sunday was the final day of service for the Black Walnut Cafe in Coppell. The Houston-based chain announced the permanent closure of its Coppell and Allen locations on Monday. Black Walnut shuttered its Frisco restaurant in March of 2023, and its Colleyville location followed suit last August.
• On Tuesday, the Coppell City Council approved zoning changes that will allow Jason’s Deli and Singas Famous Pizza to open restaurants in Coppell. As previewed in a December article called “Commission Endorses New Drive-Thru Eatery,” Jason’s will take over the former home of Tangerine Salon on Denton Tap Road, and Singas will occupy a space on the southwest corner of MacArthur Boulevard and Belt Line Road.
• A space along Interstate 635’s eastbound service road that used to be a Smoothie King will soon become a Maya Creamery & Lounge, according to a form filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The McKinney-based business is also expanding to Frisco and Little Elm.
Chronicle Crumbs
• My duties as the world’s greatest dad prevented me from attending the entirety of Coppell ISD’s “State of the District & Legislative Call to Action” event on Tuesday. But I was there long enough to hear Trustee Nichole Bentley say this: “If advocating for what we have in our community and protecting what we have is important to you, this is the time to roll up your sleeves like you never have before.” For more details on such advocacy efforts, go here.
• Tuesday was Superintendent Brad Hunt’s birthday, and I appreciated Bentley’s request that we simply shout “Happy Birthday” at him rather than serenade him. If I’ve learned nothing else in my five decades on this planet, I’ve learned this: the larger the group of “Happy Birthday” singers is, the more catatonic their rendition of the song will be.
• Registration is open for the Coppell ISD Education Foundation’s Robotics Camp, which will happen on Wednesday evenings between March 26 and May 7.
• At the end of their meeting on Thursday, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Wendy Eldredge’s contract by one year. That means she could oversee the district, which includes parts of Coppell and Irving, through at least March of 2028. The allegations documented in a November article called “CFBISD Superintendent Takes Flak Again” did not come up during the open portion of Thursday’s meeting.
• A white nationalist group led by a Coppell High School graduate must pay $2.7 million to a Black man who was attacked in Boston in 2022, a federal judge ruled on Monday. Judge Indira Talwani issued the summary judgment after Patriot Front and its leader, Thomas Rousseau, failed to respond to the lawsuit or appear in court.
• On Tuesday evening, the Coppell City Council unanimously rejected Derric Bonnot’s request to keep his noncompliant carport, following in the footsteps of the city’s Board of Adjustment and its Planning and Zoning Commission. I’ll have more details on this public hearing in next Sunday’s edition.
• Two weeks ago, I published an article called “Coppell Leaders Keep Discussing Old Town.” On Tuesday, the Coppell City Council had a closed-door discussion regarding “economic development prospects south of Sandy Lake Road and west of Denton Tap Road,” according to their agenda. You know, Old Town is south of Sandy Lake and west of Denton Tap, but so are a lot of other things, including my house. Perhaps they want to buy me out.
Community Calendar
Matilda: The Coppell Cowboy Theatre Company will stage four more performances of the musical based on Roald Dahl’s novel. The next one is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today in the Coppell High School auditorium. The others will happen at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Coppell Baseball Association: Jan. 31 is the registration deadline for the spring season. Practices will begin March 3.
Electronic Recycling Event: Members of the Coppell Community Chorale will take unwanted household items off your hands between 9 a.m. and noon on Feb. 1 at the Coppell Arts Center.
Be Mine, Valentine Dance: Daughters and dads can enjoy one of two masquerade balls at the Coppell Arts Center on Feb. 1. There will be sessions from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m.
Troop 840 Chili Supper: The annual fundraiser will happen between 5 and 7 p.m. on Feb. 1 at Coppell Middle School North.
Coppell Girls Softball Association: Feb. 3 is the registration deadline for the spring season. Practices will begin in mid-March.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown: Theatre Coppell will stage nine performances of the musical based on Charles M. Schulz’s beloved “Peanuts” characters. The first show is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Coppell Arts Center.
Broadway in Love: Libby Servais and her husband, Stephan Stubbins, will perform songs from Jersey Boys, Wicked, and other Broadway shows at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the Coppell Arts Center.
CYFA Community Game: Players from the Coppell Youth Football Association and the Coppell High School varsity team will share the turf at Lesley Field between 3 and 5 p.m. on Feb. 9. Admission is free for spectators.
Coppell Lions Club Pancake Breakfast: The 38th annual event is scheduled from 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 15 at First United Methodist Church.
Tri-City Neighborhood Summit: Residents of Coppell, Flower Mound, and Lewisville are invited to the Flower Mound Senior Center between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 15, when they can learn how to build stronger neighborhoods and communities.
Midnight Masquerade: The Coppell Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Awards & Community Gala is scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Embassy Suites in Grapevine.
“If we’d had those reports four months before,” Sethi said, “our entire thought process of consolidation and financial constraint to meet our budget would have been very different.”
In my opinion, this is a bit of revisionist history. Go check the 24:40 mark on the September 23 Board Workshop video where the admin and board were provided with alarming early estimates from the demographer BEFORE the final decisions were made. The one person on the board who absolutely refused to think about revisiting the consolidation options (even the ones already presented by the admin initially) was Trustee Sethi. You even pointed this out in Vol. 4, No. 34 ("Trustee Manish Sethi REALLY doesn’t want to see any new options").
Thanks, Dan.