Coppell Chronicle Vol. 5, No. 2
School That May Close Will be Refreshed • District Has Concerns About Credit Rating • Trustees Deny Petition to Shift Boundaries • City Will Appeal Ruling in Sales Tax Suit
Greetings and salutations to all of this newsletter’s newest paid subscribers. Thirty people have joined the ranks of our community’s most-informed residents since last Sunday.
School That May Close Will be Refreshed
Town Center Elementary School may stay open for many more years, or it may be the next campus that Coppell ISD shutters. Either way, it will be refreshed this summer.
On Monday, the Board of Trustees took a series of votes related to projects included in the $321.5 million bond package that voters approved in 2023. The first project on Monday’s agenda was a refresh of Town Center Elementary. A memo from Sid Grant, the district’s interim Chief Operations Officer, said the refresh would include the following:
New door hardware and locks for all classrooms and exterior doors
Weatherproof building exteriors
Interior improvements (flooring, wall coverings, LED lighting)
Fire alarm system replacement
Public address and clock system replacement
Art room kiln
Anyone who’s been paying attention to Coppell ISD’s budget discussions and enrollment projections knows that another elementary school may be closed. Presumably, the members of the district’s Bond Oversight Committee pay more attention than the average Coppell ISD resident.
Although the members of that committee have no authority to make decisions on bond projects, they recently debated whether all projects should proceed. They took a straw poll during their Feb. 10 meeting, Grant told the trustees; some committee members were in favor of pausing one or more bond projects, others were not, and some abstained from weighing in.
(The Board of Trustees had similar discussions last year. See “Bond Projects on Hold Until Closure Decision” in Vol. 4, No. 17, and “Bond Projects to Resume in New Order” in Vol. 4, No. 40.)
Grant said the committee members who were in favor of pausing didn’t have all the facts, and he wanted to ensure the trustees did. Grant said pulling a project off the table, after plans have been designed and bids have been submitted, may make contractors wary of working with the district. He also said a refresh will help maintain the building’s value, which would be important even if it’s repurposed by the district or put on the market.
Trustee Jobby Mathew is a member of the Bond Oversight Committee. Although he missed the meeting with the straw poll, he talked to others who attended and was told some committee members were concerned that refreshing a campus would imply that it was not in danger of closing.
As he has in previous board meetings, Superintendent Brad Hunt tried to disavow everyone of that notion on Monday. He pointed to Pinkerton Elementary School, which will close after this semester despite getting a new playground and new roof funded by the 2023 bond package.
“Those kids deserve to have a new playground like everyone else, and the roof protects the asset,” Hunt said. “We don’t know what’s gonna happen at Pinkerton, so we don’t need a leaky roof while it’s sitting empty — or it may not even be sitting empty” if the district repurposes the building.
The trustees in attendance all agreed with that philosophy. This is a sampling of their comments during Monday’s discussion:
Mathew: “It’s not going to be something that we’re just, like, throwing money away. It’s something that we probably could repurpose for other things.”
Anthony Hill: “I see it as an investment, not just an expenditure of dollars.”
David Caviness: “It’s still an asset of the district that we can use for something else, and for the most part, the things we’re doing just enhance that usability and the flexibility.”
Trustee Nichole Bentley asked when Town Center had previously been refreshed. Grant said some aspects of the school had been updated over the years, but he said many features are original to when it opened in 1994, including the lighting, the laminate on the walls, and the fire alarm system.
Although no decisions have been made about Town Center’s future, Bentley said its location was a key factor: “If it was in a different location, I would maybe be more inclined to pause, but given where the location is, this campus gives us a lot of flexibility that some of our other locations don’t.”
The trustees then took a series of 6-0 votes (with Manish Sethi being absent) on seven bond projects with a combined price tag of more than $14.3 million. Although the Town Center refresh was first on the agenda, I’ve listed the projects in order of their dollar amounts:
Guaranteed maximum price from Core Construction for the interior refresh of Denton Creek Elementary: $3,723,852
Guaranteed maximum price from Core Construction for the interior refresh of Town Center Elementary: $3,510,423
Bid from School Specialty to replace furniture at Denton Creek, Town Center, and Valley Ranch elementaries: $2,380,547
Guaranteed maximum price from Core Construction for phase one of the interior refresh of Coppell Middle School North: $1,883,770
Bid from Hellas Construction for turf replacement and track resurfacing at Coppell Middle School North: $1,285,865
Bid from Hellas Construction for indoor turf replacement at Coppell High School: $781,915
Bid from One Source Building Services for miscellaneous projects across the district, including resurfacing of walking tracks at elementaries, safety fencing additions, and concrete and sidewalk additions: $750,000
District Has Concerns About Credit Rating
Before Coppell ISD trustees voted to spend bond dollars on Monday, they voted to generate bond dollars.
The board approved an issuance of $70 million worth of bonds, which went on sale Wednesday. This was the second issuance related to the 2023 bond package; the district sold $74 million worth of bonds in July of that year. Chief Financial Officer Diana Sircar estimated there will be two more issuances over the next three years.
As part of this process, Sircar told the trustees, the district requested reviews from the credit rating agencies. Coppell ISD has a AAA rating due to the Texas Permanent School Fund guarantee, as most districts in the state do, but she said S&P and Fitch assigned CISD an underlying rating of AA+.
“Both agencies were very inquisitive about the way in which the district is adjusting to declining enrollment and our stagnant state funding,” Sircar said. “The strength of the district’s fund balance is a really important factor to them.”
Coppell ISD officials asked what could change the credit rating, Sircar said. They were told repeated reliance on the district’s fund balance could lead to a downgrade.
“They are telling us, you can’t keep getting these high ratings unless you do something about our overspending,” Superintendent Brad Hunt said. “I just want to make sure that’s out there. We talk a lot about transparency, and people are like, ‘Well, we’ll just keep living off that fund balance.’ These are some of the reasons why we can’t continue to do that.”
George Williford of Hilltop Securities told the trustees that “some significant institutional buyers” were focused on Coppell ISD’s latest issuance. But he also said there are investors who won’t do business with districts that have underlying ratings lower than AA.
“It’s very important — the financial reserves and the operating level getting back to a position where you’re not having annual deficits but, in fact, building that fund balance as you go forward,” Williford said.
The next major discussion about the district’s budget issues — and potential school closures — should happen after the Coppell ISD Efficiency Review Committee has its final meeting in April.
Trustees Deny Petition to Shift Boundaries
A couple’s attempt to have their property annexed by Coppell ISD has been stymied again.
When Jonathan Wang and his wife, Courtney Wong, bought their house in the Westhaven subdivision in 2015, they were told it was zoned to Coppell ISD. The couple didn’t realize that the vast majority of their property is in Lewisville ISD until they tried to enroll their oldest child at Cottonwood Creek Elementary School last year.
“Had we known, we would have purchased a property that was firmly in CISD,” Wang told the Coppell ISD Board of Trustees on Monday.
As he did during a similar hearing before Lewisville ISD’s trustees in October, Wang showed Coppell ISD’s trustees how his property on Bridge Street straddles the line separating Denton County from Dallas County, which aligns with the school districts’ borders.
(See “Lewisville ISD Refuses to Alter Border” in Vol. 4, No. 36.)
The couple’s property is on the tax rolls in both counties. The Denton Central Appraisal District says its value is $520,294; that number equals $117,612 for the land plus $402,682 for the house. Meanwhile, the Dallas Central Appraisal District assigns a $1,500 value to what it lists as a vacant tract, because the couple’s house is north of the county line.
Their oldest child is a kindergartner at Cottonwood Creek thanks to Coppell ISD’s open enrollment policy. When trying to make the case for a boundary change, Wang theorized that open enrollment might be rescinded someday, but Superintendent Brad Hunt said nobody should be worried about that.
“It’s never been discussed as going away,” Hunt said. “It’s only been expanded.”
When Coppell ISD launched open enrollment in 2011, it applied only to homes that are within Coppell’s city limits but outside the district’s boundaries. The policy has since been expanded to certain neighborhoods in Irving and Lewisville that are listed here.
Wang admitted that his property values were also a motivation for the petition to change the boundaries. I would hope all real estate agents around here are aware of the open enrollment policy. Shouldn’t it make Wang’s house just as valuable as a similar house fully within Coppell ISD’s territory?
After the trustees conferred with their attorneys, Ranna Raval made a motion to deny the petition and to adopt a resolution finding that “the educational interests of the current and future students residing in Lewisville ISD and Coppell ISD would not be positively or negatively affected to any significant degree by the proposed detachment and annexation. The positive social effects of the proposed boundary change would be minimal, and the economic effects of the proposed boundary change would be negative for Lewisville ISD.” The motion was approved on a 6-0 vote.
City Will Appeal Ruling in Sales Tax Suit
Coppell plans to appeal the ruling in a lawsuit that the city largely won.
In 2021, Coppell and a few other cities sued Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar over his proposed changes to the distribution of sales taxes for online transactions. Hegar wanted those dollars to shift from the sellers’ cities to the buyers’ cities. If Hegar got his way, Coppell and its fellow plaintiffs would lose millions.
A three-day trial before Judge Karin Crump happened in Austin last October, and Crump issued her judgment in December. Crump ruled that Hegar’s proposal contradicted the Texas Tax Code’s language about determining where the sale of a taxable item is consummated. She prohibited him from enforcing his oft-amended proposal until it is consistent with the state’s laws.
However, Crump also said she could not declare that fulfillment centers receiving orders exclusively via the Internet are places of business, which was a request in the petition filed by Coppell and its fellow plaintiffs: Carrollton, DeSoto, Farmers Branch, and Humble.
Near the end of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, during the “Necessary Action from Executive Session” portion of the agenda, Biju Mathew said Coppell and the other cities won “about 90 percent” of the lawsuit. He asked City Attorney Bob Hager to explain why the remaining 10 percent was worth an appeal.
“There was one last thing we think she could have done a better job clarifying,” Hager said, “and it’s that little one thing that we need to get some instruction on from the Court of Appeals.”
I asked city spokesperson Hannah Cook to confirm that the “little one thing” was whether fulfillment centers are places of business. Cook said the city will be able to provide more details after the appeal is filed.
Coincidentally (or not), the city is adding definitions of “distribution center,” “fulfillment center,” and “warehouse” to its Code of Ordinances. Here’s the proposed definition of “fulfillment center”:
an established location operated to receive orders from retail customers, placed primarily over the Internet through the use of websites, for purchase of goods held in inventory at that location that are shipped or delivered from the center directly to the place designated by purchaser. A fulfillment center does not store goods for hire. It keeps or retains goods for sale to retail customers in the regular course of business. It is not a warehouse or a distribution center.
The Coppell Planning and Zoning Commission recently held a public hearing on these definitions and other proposed amendments to the “Zoning” chapter of the Code of Ordinances. During that Feb. 20 hearing, Development Services Administrator Matt Steer said this about the new definitions: “This was put together by two attorneys, so it’s pretty complete.” The City Council will conduct another public hearing on the amendments on March 11.
On Tuesday, the council voted 6-0 to file the appeal, with Council Member Brianna Hinojosa-Smith being absent. Mayor Wes Mays summed things up with this statement about the lawsuit: “We really thought that we were gonna be done with that one back in December, but it’s gonna go on for a while.”
Restaurant Roundup
• The Subway in the Eleanor’s Square shopping center on Denton Tap Road has vacated the premises. According to a note taped to the front door, the closing was “due to the landlord’s unwillingness to be reasonable with rent.” A representative for DBA Commercial Real Estate, which handles leases at Eleanor’s Square, declined to comment when I reached out for a response.
Property records indicate Subway had occupied that space on Denton Tap since at least 2000. Property records also indicate the franchisee, Patriot Subs LLC, operates 14 Subway restaurants in Denton County and nine others in Dallas County, including the remaining Subway in Coppell, on the southwest corner of Belt Line Road and MacArthur Boulevard.
• According to a form filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in 2023, construction of a Tim Hortons behind the QT on Freeport Parkway should have been completed yesterday. However, ground has not yet been broken. My attempts to find out what went wrong have been ignored.
• A similar form says construction of a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on the adjacent tract should be completed by March 14, and that seems like a realistic target. A sign hanging on the front door says Popeyes is hiring.
Political Particles
• Based on a press release from the City of Coppell that mentioned “reductions in federal funding,” I reported in last week’s edition that Span Transportation was having trouble providing trips to elderly and disabled residents. Without doing any research, I attributed the problem to the hacking and slashing that President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing to the federal budget. That was an assumption on my part, and you know the old saying about what we do when we assume: We make an ass of you and me — especially me. I apologize for my carelessness and will endeavor to not repeat that mistake.
I have since traded emails with Michelle McMahon, Span’s executive director, who told me her agency’s funding issues are not related to the Department of Government Efficiency imbroglio, which has caused chaos at the National Weather Service, the National Park Service, and the Internal Revenue Service, to name just a few. She chalked it up to some unfortunate delays in the usual processes by which Span accesses federal dollars.
“We are grateful that the funding picture for our transportation services is starting to look better, but we still have to work our way through the appropriate processes to be able to access the funds,” McMahon said. “Until everything is finalized, we are moving cautiously towards ramping up our services.”
• Last Sunday evening, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Managing Editor Greg Tepper — who happens to be a graduate of Coppell High School — published a column about the “real harm” that vouchers could do to the state’s high school football culture. By Monday afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott posted on social media that “school choice” — the governor’s preferred phrasing for vouchers — “will NOT take away funding from Texas high school football. Period.”
• State Rep. Cassandra Hernandez, whose district includes the vast majority of Coppell and Coppell ISD, will host a town hall meeting at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center.
• Employees and elected officials from the City of Coppell, Coppell ISD, and the Coppell Chamber of Commerce plan to be in Austin this week for a “Coppell Day” of lobbying. Trustee Nichole Bentley said there will be two other opportunities — on March 12 and April 2 — for residents of Coppell and Coppell ISD to tour the Capitol and meet with legislators. If you’d like more information, reach out to Bentley via place6@coppellisd.com.
Chronicle Crumbs
• In last week’s edition, I reported that Silver Line trains could be picking up and dropping off passengers right outside Coppell’s city limits by the end of the year. Three days later, KERA reported that the Silver Line’s future is uncertain due to pending legislation that would affect DART’s funding.
• I haven’t made time to watch Thursday’s Irving City Council meeting, but they apparently took a vote that could pave the way for luring the Dallas Mavericks to land near the former site of Texas Stadium. The Dallas Morning News, WFAA, and the Dallas Business Journal were all over it.
• Coppell’s Community Experiences Department announced that several playgrounds will be temporarily closed this week so new mulch surfaces can be installed. The department also announced that the cricket pitch in Wagon Wheel Park is closed until March 14 due to the installation of new sod.
• Coppell High School’s Class of 2025 is raising funds by offering curb painting. Orders can be placed through May 15.
• The Coppell ISD Education Foundation is accepting applications for new board members until March 23.
• On Tuesday evening, online provocateur Alex Stein spoke at a Coppell City Council meeting for the third time since August. You can probably find footage of his shenanigans, but your time would be better spent cleaning your fingernails, rearranging your sock drawer, or just staring off into space.
Community Calendar
Nostalgia: The Coppell Community Orchestra will perform timeless melodies that evoke cherished memories and emotions at 3 p.m. today at the Coppell Arts Center.
Coppell Women’s Club: HarpEssence will perform during the meeting that will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Church of the Apostles.
Coppell Relays: The Coppell High School track and field program’s only home meet will happen on Thursday at Buddy Echols Field. Field events will begin at 2 p.m., followed by track events at 5 p.m. The DonutNV and Kona Ice food trucks will be on site, and the concession stands will be open.
Sunset Socials: Movie in the Park: Coppell’s Community Experiences Department will screen Finding Nemo at 7 p.m. on Friday at Andrew Brown Park East. The DonutNV, F&F Express, and Pizza ISD food trucks will be there.
Basic Garden Planning: Stephen Seewoester with the Dallas County Master Gardeners Association will be at the Cozby Library and Community Commons at 2 p.m. on Saturday to discuss what to grow, where to locate a garden, and where to get more information.
Awaazein: South Asian a cappella groups will perform and compete at the Coppell Arts Center starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Texas International Pageant: Competitors will vie for tiaras and sashes starting at 4:30 p.m. on March 9 at the Coppell Arts Center.
Rang De Holi Hai Color Festival: The Sound at Cypress Waters will host a Holi festival “filled with music, dance, and, of course, a dazzling explosion of colors” starting at 11:30 a.m. on March 15.
Reputation: A Tribute to Taylor Swift: Swifties will gather in Old Town Coppell for a show at 7 p.m. on March 21 that will be augmented by lawn games and four food trucks: Kona Ice, Lupe Tortilla, Pizza ISD, and Waffle O’licious.
Soap Making: The Biodiversity Education Center in Wagon Wheel Park will host a 90-minute workshop starting at 10 a.m. on March 22.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors: This one-day service project, scheduled for April 12, seeks to connect volunteers with Coppell residents who need assistance with home maintenance and repairs. March 24 is the deadline to submit a project request.
Assistance League of Coppell: Martha Thomas of The Defensive Line will speak at the meeting scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. on March 27 at Valley Ranch Baptist Church. Members are invited to gather at 11 for social time and also to go out for lunch after the meeting.
Perennial Pass Along Plant Sale: The volunteers who maintain the Helping Hands Garden next to Coppell Town Center will sell perennials between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on March 29. Prices will range from $5 to $20, and buyers must bring cash. Expert gardeners will also be prepared to answer questions.
Parent University - Suicide Prevention: Martha and Chris Thomas of The Defensive Line will be at the Cozby Library and Community Commons at 2 p.m. on March 29 to discuss how to recognize warning signs of a mental health crisis, how to have difficult conversations, and how to formulate an informed plan of action.
Train and Help Babies Organization Fund Raising Event: The Train and Help Babies Organization was founded by Coppell residents Dr. Prakash Kabbur and Dr. Sumana Nanjundachar. Its annual fundraiser is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on March 30 at Atithi Venue in Plano.