Coppell Chronicle Vol. 5, No. 12
Paxton’s Suit Against CISD Goes Away • Trustees to Hear Efficiency Suggestions • Artificial Turf Fields Remain Low Priority • Library’s Drive-Thru Due for an Upgrade
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there, especially the mother of my two sons and the woman who raised me and my two brothers.
Paxton’s Suit Against CISD Goes Away
The Texas attorney general’s lawsuit against Coppell ISD is over and done with. The reasons why are open to interpretation.
The suit that Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office filed in March accused Coppell ISD of teaching critical race theory; the suit was based on videos surreptitiously recorded more than two years ago. An April response from the school district’s lawyers said the “frivolous” suit was “political fodder” intended to influence public opinion as the Legislature debated vouchers.
(See “Coppell ISD Sued Over Critical Race Theory” in Vol. 5, No. 5, and “District Pokes Paxton in Lawsuit Response” in Vol. 5, No. 7.)
At some point, the two sides worked together long enough to file a “Joint Notice of Nonsuit with Prejudice.” Judge Gena Slaughter, who presides over the 191st Judicial District Court, granted that notice on May 1 and ordered that “all claims and counterclaims asserted in this cause by the parties are dismissed with prejudice to the refiling of same.”
I learned of this development via a May 6 story published by KERA (of which I am a proud sustaining member). I intended to credit KERA’s Bill Zeeble for the scoop, but he informed me that he followed the lead of Bloomberg Law’s Ryan Autullo, who broke the news on May 5.
Paxton’s office issued a press release on May 6 that said the suit was resolved “after Coppell ISD disavowed radical critical race theory and committed that CRT will not be taught.” That release also said Coppell ISD employees had been told how important it was to be fully compliant with the state law banning CRT.
“Every school district must follow the law, and Coppell ISD is no exception,” Paxton said in the release. “The district made the right decision by working with my office to ensure that anti-American critical race theory is not taught in classrooms.”
Coppell ISD’s lengthier statement on the resolution of the suit was released on May 7, and it had a much different tone. The district’s statement heralded a “decisive legal victory” over the attorney general, whose suit was termed “nothing more than a politically motivated attack.” It includes this quote attributed to Board of Trustees President David Caviness:
“This ruling is not just a victory for Coppell ISD — it's a victory for every student, educator, and family who believes in the power of public education. Our community refused to be intimidated by falsehoods and political games. We stood firm for truth and our children’s future. Coppell ISD will never be distracted from our mission to serve and educate every student who calls this district home.”
Coppell ISD’s May 7 statement pointed out that Paxton’s lawsuit was filed as legislators were debating funds for public schools and vouchers for private schools.
“This lawsuit was never about justice,” Superintendent Brad Hunt said. “This was about generating headlines, scoring political points, and undermining public education.”
Whenever I hear Paxton’s name, I think about the time one of my favorite radio hosts described him as “a guy who always seems to have a lot going on.” His press release about resolving his suit against Coppell ISD is one of 10 he published in the first nine days of May. Another release celebrates the “school choice” legislation that Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law on May 3.
As you may know, Paxton aspires to become a U.S. senator. He is seeking the seat that John Cornyn has held since 2002. They are headed for a showdown in the 2026 Republican primary. I look forward to calculating how much support Paxton receives from Coppell ISD voters.
Trustees to Hear Efficiency Suggestions
A committee tasked with reviewing budget, operations, and facility efficiencies will present its report to the Coppell ISD Board of Trustees on Monday.
The Coppell ISD Efficiency Review Committee’s roster includes parents, students, community members, and staff who specialize in finance, education, and data analysis. The committee is co-chaired by Shayne Jones and Jon West. The group has been meeting on a monthly basis since January.