What's New?

Previously reported.......

Unfortunately, not much has happened recently with regard to our Open Enrollment
proposal to CISD.  The CISD board has proposed a Sept 11th vote to increase the
ad valorem tax rate by 13 cents for residents in CISD.  Since we Coppell Greens
is in the City but not in CISD, that will not impact us.  However, it is a good reason
why CISD resident would want to reduce the increase by offsetting it with funds
received through open enrollment.  Our challenge now is to get the word out.

If the average house in Coppell is worth approximately $250K, that means the average
homeowner will be paying $325 more a year in taxes.  Here is the article that
appeared today in the DMN.   Coppell DMN - 070210.pdf

Previously reported.......

Elliott Phillips and I had a very good meeting this morning with Dr. Turner, the CISD

Superintendent.  The CISD Board is giving the possibility of having open enrollment a

very hard look.  As you know, the school district has been under a lot of financial

pressure lately and is looking at every opportunity to reduce costs.  Open enrollment

offers a very real opportunity for them to raise additional revenue while incurring very

little additional costs.  Please read the following: CISD Express - Winter 2009-2010.pdf

One important point needs to be made.  Based on the CISD Board

meeting on Monday and our meeting with Dr. Turner today, it is fairly clear that this

is going to take longer that we anticipated.  They need to thoroughly study the issues

and come up with a plan before they go forward.  I doubt we will see any students

admitted for next September, but you never know.  The CISD Board will be approving

their budget in mid June, so I am sure this will be a hot topic of discussion for them

in the next six weeks.

Information posted previously

Coppell Citizens Advocate:  CitizensAdvocate-043010.pdf

Coppell Citizen's Advocate: Citizens Advocate Article.pdf

CISD Board meeting handout:   SchoolPresentation-032910.htm

Our Children Currently Attend Lewisville ISD

Our neighborhood is routed to the Lewisville Independent School District and the LISD school board has been very busy lately! Currently our children are slotted to attend Rockbrook Elementary School located a few blocks away near MacArthur Blvd. There was
a recent boundary change that will be brought to a vote that will affect this elementary school, but does not pertain to our neighborhood. Some of the students that had been attending Rockbrook will attend Southridge Elementary School or the new elementary school that is being built on Business 121. This was done in an effort to reduce the 750 students that currently attend Rockbrook closer to 500 in number. Rockbrook is a Recognized elementary school that teaches children K-5th grade and it currently feeds into Durham Middle School. From there they attend ninth grade at Killough Lewisville HighSchool and then move onto to Lewisville High School to attend grades 10-12th. Currently, a new ninth grade center is being built on 3040 across from the Tom Thumb and it will be open for the 2010-2011 school year. Children from Rockbrook will be routed to this ninth grade center instead of Killough. Both ninth grade centers will continue feeding into Lewisville High School located on Main Street in Lewisville. On February 8th, the LISD Board of Trustees met and held a public hearing regarding the adjustment of school start times for the 2010-1011 year. The proposal is as follows:

Elementary School – 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. (Current times are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Middle School – 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Current times are 8:45 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.) High School – 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Current times are 8:45 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.)

As part of the district’s effort to evaluate the budget and reduce costs, adjusting the school start times will save between $500,000-$720,000. This cost-savings is due to streamlining the bus routes where one driver will drive three separate routes – an elementary route, high school route and a middle school route. Each route consists of picking up students at their designated bus stop and dropping them off at school.

Efforts To Get Into Coppell ISD

Over the years, Coppell Greens residents have expressed interest in becoming part of Coppell ISD (CISD).  A committee was formed and determined that in order for that to happen we would have to be both accepted by CISD and released by LISD.  The committee was requested to develop a plan for the cost of taking legal action, but never followed through with their effort.  It was also known that the Hackberry Creek subdivision, located south of 635 & west of Denton Tap, took CISD to court to get the remainder of their subdivision in and failed.  They are not in the City of Coppell but part of the subdivision is in CISD.

On March 2nd, Phil LaBerge attended the Coppell town hall meeting on the Northlake (Cypress Waters) Development.  At that meeting which was presented by the City Manager and CISD Superintendent we were told that the City has spent $26.5 million to purchase 122 acres of the 1700 acres.  They will be building schools to support 5,000 children.  (Meanwhile, Coppell Greens has been a part of the City for over a decade and can't get its kids in.)

On March 5th, Phil LaBerge setup a meeting and met with Superintendent Jeff Turner to discuss the issue.  The following are some key points:

1)  Getting released by LISD and accepted by CISD would be a difficult process because all parties would have to consent, the school district would be redistricted, and there would be substantial legal costs.

2)  The number of children in CISD has been decreasing except for this year when they had a surprise increase.  They anticipate it to go down.  Their funding to pay for staff and resources is based on the number of students.

3)  There may be an opportunity for our children to attend based on a case by case situation.  They would receive applications from Coppell Greens residents and approve or disapprove them.  If they can increase the head count without having to add additional staffing, they are interested.

4)  If our children are allowed to attend CISD on a case by case basis, that will set a precedent and make it easier for us to get redistricted in the future.

5)  The CISD School Board has their monthly meeting on the 29th.  At that meeting, Phil LaBerge and the Coppell Greens will make a brief presentation to introduce Coppell Greens and discuss why we think they should let us do this.

6)  Dr. Turner mentioned that part of the Riverchase subdivision on the east side of the City was, like Coppell Greens, in the City but not in CISD.  If they allowed us in, they would probably stipulate that it is only for subdivisions within the City limits.  That would continue to exclude Hackberry Creek

Northlake / Cypress Waters Development

The following is a recap of the town hall meeting that was held on March 2nd.

The meeting can be viewed online at:  Town Hall Meeting Video

Here is the development plan:  Development Plan

The development consists of 1,700 acres of which Coppell purchase 122 acres.  Coppell paid $26.5 million for the land which includes the lake itself plus land for the following possible uses:

70 acres - possible high school

20 acres - possible MS or elementary school

20 acres - possible alternative education facility

12 acres - possible elementary school

The lake will be smaller than its existing size and the land reclaimed to build on.  They City is obliged to rebuild the existing dam & spillway, the cost of which is currently unknown.

The development is in the City of Dallas.  The City of Dallas has created a municipal utility district (MUD) to provide all services to the development (i.e. water, gas, sanitary, power) and will provide fire & EMS services.  City will have to provide temporary utilities to during construction only.

The development has been capped at no more than 10,000 dwellings which will be built over the next 10 to 15 years.  The added dwellings will increase CISD's current 10,000 students by another 5,000 students.

Bond proposals will be put to a vote as the above facilities are needed to be built for the additional students.