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LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5 AUG. 12 SEPT. 11, 2023
EDUCATION EDITION 2023
Ellen’s brings Southern food to East Dallas
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EDUCATION EDITION 2023
District data
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Lake Highlands hardware store selling local goods
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DISD teacher Monique Jackson works with students at Stevens Park Elementary School last year. (Courtesy Dallas ISD)
Dallas ISD working to address teacher needs With limited state funding for public education, Dallas ISD is “doing the best it can” to priori- tize teachers’ needs and provide them with adequate compensa- tion after adopting its 2023-24 s- cal year budget, the district’s chief nancial o cer said. However, some teachers say more is needed, especially from state lawmakers. In June, the district adopted a $2 billion budget for FY 2023-24, which is about 7% higher than the previ- ous scal year. At the same time, the basic allotment of state fund- ing schools can receive per student, which is $6,160, has not increased since 2019, even to compensate for in ation. Without an increase in that allotment, school districts are having to pull from their own nances to fund student expenses. During the most recent Texas leg- islative session, several North Texas school districts, including DISD, repeatedly called for increased fund- ing from the state’s nearly $33 bil- lion budget surplus to help schools CONTINUED ON 14 BY CECILIA LENZEN
Lakewood dessert shop serves farm-fresh treats
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THIS ISSUE
MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Tracy Ruckel EDITOR Kevin Cummings REPORTERS Cecilia Lenzen, Dustin Butler GRAPHIC DESIGNER José Jiménez METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Leanne Libby MANAGING EDITOR William C. Wadsack MANAGING COPY EDITOR Beth Marshall SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Breanna Flores CONTACT US 7460 Warren Parkway, Ste. 160 Frisco, TX 75034 • 512-989-6808 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES lhlnews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING lhlads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH
FROM TRACY: Welcome to the Education Edition. Inside, readers can find information about the types of students and number of teachers in Richardson ISD and Dallas ISD (see Page 11). Readers can also check out more about construction wrapping up at the intersection of Gaston Avenue and Hwy 78 that’s taking place at the southern edge of White Rock Lake (see Page 7) in addition to an ice cream shop celebrating one year in business in Lakewood (see Page 18). Tracy Ruckel, GENERAL MANAGER
FROM KEVIN: The Dallas ISD board of trustees has approved a $2 billion budget for fiscal year 2023-24. In this edition, readers can find out more about how district officials are planning to use that to drive merit-based pay improvements for well-performing teachers (see Pages 14-15). Also in this edition, readers can learn more about what Richardson ISD Superintendent Tabitha Branum has her eyes on for the upcoming school year (see Page 13) along with information on a long-running hardware store in Lake Highlands selling local goods (see Page 17). Kevin Cummings, EDITOR
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Sain Catholic is one of o schools in ICLE school Catholic C is one of o schools in ICLE school
WHY A CATHOLIC CLASSICAL EDUCATION? Encouraging children to seek truth, goodness and beauty in all things will ultimately lead them to walk with Christ. At SPCCS, our fundamental tenets are faith, wisdom and virtue; the devel- opment of these tenets in our students helps build a foundation in Christ while providing them an enriching education. a classical curriculum includes the liberal arts, grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy, and Latin. a classical curriculum includes the liberal arts, grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy, and Latin. see beautiful works of art on the walls, the great books on our shelves, and thriving gardens outside our windows. The Catholic Classical student is curious, asks questions, and approaches the exciting journey of learning with a sense of wonder. In addition to the pursuit of goodness, truth and beauty, exciting journey of learning with a sense of wonder. In addition to the pursuit of goodness, truth and beauty, see beautiful works of art on the walls, the great books on our shelves, and thriving gardens outside our windows. The Catholic Classical student is curious, asks questions, and approaches the
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LAKE HIGHLANDS - LAKEWOOD EDITION • AUGUST 2023
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
NOW OPEN 1 Lake Highlands Cafe , a new, fam- ily-owned brunch restaurant, is now open in Lake Highlands. The restaurant serves brunch and lunch options, includ- ing crepes, pancakes, gourmet burgers and Italian paninis. The menu also includes co ee drinks and mimosas. The restaurant soft-opened July 8 at 6750 Abrams Road, Dallas. It is open Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. www.facebook.com/lakehighlandscafe 2 Dallas-based Ellen’s expanded its Southern comfort o erings to the Casa Linda area with a new restaurant that opened July 10. The restaurant company, founded in 2012, is known for its home- made Southern food, including pancake pot pie and chicken-fried steak. All of its menu items are made with fresh ingredi- ents sourced locally whenever possible, according to the company’s website. Ellen’s also has restaurants in Dallas’ West End and Allen. The new restaurant is located in the Casa Linda Plaza at 1211 N. Buckner Blvd., Dallas. www.ellens.com COMING SOON 3 Lake Highlands-based nonpro t HHM Health in partnership with nonprof- it Hope Cottage is expanding its service in east Dallas with a new maternal health clinic. The nonpro ts plan to bring prenatal care to underserved patients. HHM Health will o er low-cost preg- nancy testing, Medicaid enrollment and prenatal care. Hope Cottage will provide parenting education, case management, and access to community resources, adoption information and counseling. The new clinic will be located on the rst oor of Hope Cottage’s headquar- ters at 609 Texas St., Dallas. Construc- tion on the space is slated to begin in August with an opening planned for January, according to a news release. www.hhmhealth.org 4 Modern Animal , a Los Angeles-based veterinary company, is planning to open a new clinic in Lakewood at the end of the summer. Previously expected to open by June, the clinic is now set to open Aug. 28, according to the company’s website. It will o er a variety of primary
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and preventive care options, including surgery and dental care, wellness exams, microchipping, and spay and neuter services. Virtual care options are also available. The Lakewood clinic, one of the rst outside of California, will be located at 6465 E. Mockingbird Lane, Ste. 310, Dallas. www.modernanimal.com 5 Austin-based juice company JuiceLand is planning to open a new Dallas location in the Lakewood area. The store will open along with another new JuiceLand store in the Knox District, said Lacy Stone, the company’s vice president of business development. Both stores are planned to open in early fall. JuiceLand serves raw, cold-pressed juice and super- food smoothies made with whole fruits and vegetables. Patrons can also order gr- ab-and-go plant-based meals, lattes and wellness shots. The new Lakewood store will open in the Hillside Village shopping center at 6465 E. Mockingbird Lane, Ste. 365A, Dallas. www.juiceland.com 6 Celebree School , an early childhood education franchise, plans to open one of its rst Dallas learning centers in the Vickery Meadow area this fall. The school is expected to open alongside another school in downtown Dallas, but an exact opening date has not been announced. The two schools are Celebree’s rst in Tex- as with a total of seven projected to open across Dallas, Austin and Houston by the end of 2024, according to a news release. The company provides infant and toddler care, preschool, before- and after-school care, and summer camp programs. Each school uses a customized program to ad- dress children’s physical, social, emotional and academic needs while following state guidelines, according to the news release.
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Nexus Children’s Hospital opened at 9525 Greenville Ave., Dallas.
CECILIA LENZEN COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Vickery Meadow school will open at 5459 La Sierra Drive. www.celebree.com RELOCATIONS 7 Petra and the Beast is temporarily closed as it begins relocating to a new space in Lakewood. The American restau- rant will be closed during July with plans to reopen in its new space in August, but an opening date has not been announced. Petra and the Beast is a “hyperseasonal” restaurant focusing on fermentation and sustainability. The restaurant was previously located at 601 N. Haskell Ave. in Old East Dallas. The new Lakewood space is at 1901 Abrams Parkway, Dallas. www.petraandthebeast.com 8 Starbucks has temporarily closed in Lakewood as it relocates to a new space in the neighborhood this summer. Previously located at 6312 La Vista Drive, the cafe will reopen in the Lakewood Shopping Center at 1924 Abrams Parkway on Aug. 21, a company spokesperson said. The international co ee chain serves iced and hot co ee, tea, espresso beverages, and pastries. www.starbucks.com 9 Texas Arti cial Turf & Design has leased 2,040 square feet of space in Switzer Business Park in Lake Highlands, located at 10930 Switzer Ave., accord- ing to a news release from Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services. The company, which relocated to Dallas from FEATURED IMPACT NOW OPEN Nexus Health Systems opened a new pediatric care center, Nexus Children’s Hospital, in Lake Highlands on July 18. Initially expected to open around the beginning of the year, the center features 60 private rooms, a rehabilitation gym and more. Nexus Children’s Hospital treats complex medical conditions for pediatric patients, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, respiratory conditions, and complex medical and psychiatric diagnoses, according to the company’s website. Treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders, such as
autism and intellectual developmental disorders, are also available. Nexus Health Systems also has children’s hospitals in Houston and The Woodlands. The Dallas hospital opened at 9525 Greenville Ave. https://nexushealthsystems.com
From aortic valve surgery to stroke, find care ranked among the best in the nation at BSWHealth.com/Dallas.
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Rockwall, o ers several turf options, as well as design services and consultations. 469-560-7202. www.turfanddesign.com NEW OWNERSHIP 10 Baylor Scott & White Health is partnering with NextCare Urgent Care to jointly own all 41 NextCare sites in Texas, according to a July news release. NextCare Urgent Care will integrate its Texas o erings into Baylor Scott & White Health’s existing care network, making the health care system one of the state’s largest providers of urgent care, accord- ing to the release. NextCare Urgent Care o ers urgent care, virtual care and occu- pational health services, operating over 170 clinics in 12 states. The companies’ Lakewood clinic is at 6350 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. www.bswhealth.com 11 The Aquarium Boutique , a tropical sh store, has changed ownership, allow- ing the store to remain open. In May, the company announced plans to close by the end of June. But in mid-June, it wrote on Facebook that it changed ownership to The Fish Gallery, a Texas-based chain that sells aquariums, sh, plants and food. Now known as The Fish Gallery Bou- tique, the store is still located at 9035 Garland Road, Dallas. 214-660-0537. www.the shgallery.com
Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2023 Baylor Scott & White Health. 99-ALL-881591 L/GD
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LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION • AUGUST 2023
TO DO LIST
August & September events
COMPILED BY CECILIA LENZEN
AUGUST 01 THROUGH 31 TASTE COCKTAILS Enjoy 10 di erent cocktail specials at participating restaurants in the East Dallas Cocktail Tour through the end of August. The self-guided tour o ers a diverse range of drink specials and pricing at several restaurants, including White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, BarNone, Lake House Bar and Grill, and Ascension Co ee’s White Rock location. All day. $20-plus. 214-328-4100. www.eastdallaschamber.com/cocktailtour 17 JOIN A MONTHLY BOOK CLUB The Audelia Road Branch Library’s mystery-themed book club meets every third Thursday of the month to discuss a predetermined mystery book. August’s book club pick is “Depth of Winter” by Craig Johnson. 5:45 p.m. Free. 10045 Audelia Road, Dallas. 214-670-1350. https://dallaslibrary.librarymarket.com 18 , 25 AND SEPT. 1, 8 BIKE AND GET COFFEE Pull Through Co ee Bar, a local bike- themed co ee shop, is co-hosting “Lake Laps and Latte Rides,” a weekly bike ride around White Rock Lake. The event includes an early morning bike ride around the entirety of the lake before
ending at the co ee shop. 7:15 a.m. Free (to ride). 4875 W. Lawther Drive, Dallas. 469-668-2663. www.instagram.com/ pullthroughco eebar 25 HAVE A NIGHT OUT AT THE ZOO The Dallas Zoo is hosting After Dark, an adult-only, summer camp- themed event with animal experiences, food trucks, drinks and music. Attendees can see an animal talent show, feed gira es and make friendship bracelets for elephants. Age 21 and up. 6-9 p.m. $20-$35. 650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas. 469-554-7501. In nite Journey, an international Journey tribute band based in Dallas, will perform at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden as part of the venue’s Cool Thursdays Concert Series. Food trucks from Mint Kitchen, Frios Gourmet Pops, Scary Tastes Good and Herb House Co ee will be at the event. 7:30 p.m. $12-$39. 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. 214-515-6615. www.dallasarboretum.org 07 PLAY “HARRY POTTER” TRIVIA White Rock Alehouse & Brewery is hosting its monthly “Harry Potter” www.dallaszoo.com SEPTEMBER 07 ROCK OUT
trivia night with tough questions for people from every Hogwarts house. 6:30 p.m. Free. 7331 Gaston Ave., Ste. 100, Dallas. 214-989-7570. www.whiterockalehouse.com 08 THROUGH 10 TIME TRAVEL WITH MUSIC The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is hosting “Prohibition: The Music of Moulin Rouge, Boardwalk Empire and More,” a concert that promises to transport audiences to the 1920s, according to the event’s description. Grammy award- winning conductor Je Tyzik will direct the orchestra through the top hits of the decade. Fir.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $46-plus. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas. 214-849-4376. www.dallassymphony.org 12 THROUGH 16 BUY BOOKS Find thousands of books and media items at bargain prices, including signed books, rst editions, limited editions and more, at the Lakewood Library Friends Annual June Leftwich Book Sale. All proceeds will bene t the Lakewood Branch Library. Sept. 12 will feature a members-only preview. Varied times. Free entry. Lakewood Branch Library, 6121 Worth St., Dallas. 214-670-1376. www.lakewoodlibraryfriendsdallas.org
The Pepper Palooza will feature various pepper-inspired dishes. FEATURED EVENT SPICE IT UP The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is hosting its third annual Pepper Palooza, an event celebrating peppers. The arboretum hosts cooking demonstrations in the garden that “showcase how to harvest, grow, prepare and enjoy delicious and healthy produce,” according to the event’s description. On Aug. 12-13, a market with around 20 vendors will sell pepper-themed products. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Free with arboretum admission ($20) or membership. 8525 Garland Road, Dallas 214-515-6615 www.dallasarboretum.org COURTESY DALLAS ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
Find more or submit Lake Highlands and Lakewood events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.
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TRANSPORTATION UPDATES Major Lakewood intersection nears completion
COMPILED BY CECILIA LENZEN
ONGOING PROJECTS
E. MOCKINGBIRD LN.
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The nal set of construction-re- lated tra c changes are coming to the intersection of Gaston Avenue and Hwy. 78 near the southern tip of White Rock Lake in Lakewood. As of late July, all tra c on Garland Road and Grand Avenue just east of the Gaston Avenue junction will follow a new con guration, according to a Texas Department of Transporta- tion news release. The big picture The tra c change is the nal phase of a ve-part project to improve the intersection of Gaston, Garland and Grand, often called the Triple G intersection. The $6.3 million project, which began in late 2021, includes the recon guration of the existing intersection to provide safer turning movements and
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East Mockingbird Lane resurfacing The 5900-6300 blocks of East Mock- ingbird Lane in Lakewood are being resurfaced as part of the Dallas Public Works Department’s Infrastructure Management Program, a department spokesperson said. The resurfacing has caused partial lane closures in both directions. Timeline: June-August Cost: $1.4 million Funding source: city maintenance budget
Drivers should expect a new tra c con guration at the intersection of Gaston Avenue and Hwy. 78 in Lakewood. (Cecilia Lenzen/Community Impact)
thoroughfares on eastbound and westbound Hwy. 78. New crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists are also being constructed. Going forward Through this fall, drivers should expect daily lane closures, according to the news release. TxDOT o cials are encouraging drivers to use caution when adjusting to the new con guration and to plan ahead for extra travel time, especially during
peak tra c hours. The entire construction project is expected to be completed in the fall, but TxDOT o cials have not announced an exact date.
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF JULY 24. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT LHLNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.
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LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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CITY & COUNTY
News from Dallas, Dallas County & Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Dallas City Council will meet Aug. 23 and Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. at 1500 Marilla St., Dallas. www.dallascityhall.com Dallas ISD board of trustees will meet Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. at 5151 Samuell Blvd., Dallas. www.dallasisd.org MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT The transportation agency plans to add more than 100 transit security o cers to its eet, o cials announced July 25. The new o cers will focus on Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s light rail vehicles and platforms, along with the Trinity Railway Express. They will monitor violations to DART’s code of conduct and any unlawful activities on DART property. Funded by DART’s Ridership Improvement Funds, the program will cost $15.3 million in its rst year, a spokesperson said. The new program, which is expected to be fully sta ed by mid-August, is one of a series of planned DART security improvements over the next several months, including technology enhancements, physical deterrents and collaborative partnerships. QUOTE OF NOTE “AFFORDABILITY WAS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. WE HAD LOTS OF NEW UNITS FOR EVERY NEW RESIDENT COMING IN FROM 2000 09 . THAT WAS NOT TRUE FROM 2010 AND BEYOND.” ASHLEY FLORES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHILD POVERTY ACTION LAB
City faces low-income rental de cit DALLAS The city is facing a growing de cit of nearly 34,000 rental units BY CECILIA LENZEN units have been deed-restricted to remain a ordable to low- or moder- ate-income households, according to the report.
HOUSING COST BURDEN
Renters are considered housing cost- burdened if they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. This is the breakdown of the percentage of renters who are cost-burdened in Dallas by City Council district in the Lake Highlands and Lakewood area.
for households with low incomes, according to a new report from nonpro t Child Poverty Action Lab. The de cit leaves thousands of Dallas residents paying more than they can a ord for housing. The big picture: In Dallas, four main factors drive the housing gap, according to the report, including rapid regional growth, prevalence of low-wage jobs, lack of delivery on a ordable units and rapid rent increases. North Texas was the seventh fastest-growing large metro in the U.S., growing over 20% in the last decade. Since 2010, 10% of new rental
By the numbers: Using 2021 data, CPAL experts noted Dallas has a 33,660-unit supply gap for residents earning 50% or less of the area’s median income. They project that gap to increase to 83,503 units by 2030. By 2030, households earning up to 80% of the area’s median income could face a shortage of 23,300 units. Who it a ects: Ashley Flores, CPAL executive director, said during the webinar that 48%, of Dallas’ renters are considered cost-burdened, with Black renters, households with kids and seniors a ected the most.
Average of all 14 districts
District 9 District 10
44% 53%
53.6%
NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS
District 9 District 10 Average of all 14 districts 16,956 36,854 23,752
SOURCE: CHILD POVERTY ACTION LAB COMMUNITY IMPACT
West Nile virus reported in Dallas
New apartments proposed for Vickery Meadow in Dallas
BY CECILIA LENZEN
DALLAS COUNTY The Health and Human Services department reported seven human cases of West Nile virus in July, more than double the count from all of 2022. DCHHS spokesperson Christian Grisales said the higher case count this year could be attributed to a number of factors, including a higher number of people outdoors and a lower use of bug repellent. This year in Lake Highlands and Lakewood, mosquitos have tested positive for West Nile virus in ZIP codes 75214, 75231, 75238 and 75243.
BY CECILIA LENZEN
The Hill shopping center is host to many businesses and open space.
DALLAS The owners of the The Hill shopping center in Vickery Meadow have applied to rezone the property for mixed use, allowing for the development of apartments and other commercial uses. The property is currently zoned to allow retail, restaurant and o ce uses. The details: Approval of the zoning proposal, which was recommended by the City Plan Commission,
CECILIA LENZENCOMMUNITY IMPACT
would allow the construction of up to 1,200 multifamily units if priced at market rates or up to 1,740 multifamily units if mixed-income housing is provided, according to City Plan Commission documents. What’s next: City Council could vote on it in the future, but has not set a consideration date.
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LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
COMMUNITY IMPACT IS PROUD TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR.
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TO READ ALL COMMUNITY IMPACT GUIDES AND SEE REGULAR TOPIC UPDATES,
Texas Woman’s, the nation’s largest woman-focused university, is committed to transformational learning, leadership development, service, discovery, and health and wellbeing in an inclusive environment. The university has built a reputation on its contributions in nursing, education, the healthcare professions, the arts and sciences, and business.
1.75" wide 1.3723" tall logo/photo
ANNUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE REAL ESTATE EDUCATION COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. VISIT
DISTRICT DATA
Data and information from local school districts
COMPILED BY KEVIN CUMMINGS
SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, DALLAS ISD, RICHARDSON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
DALLAS ISD
RICHARDSON ISD
Dallas ISD operates 240 schools, including Woodrow Wilson High School and multiple junior high and elementary schools around the Lakewood area. The district has seen a decline in enrollment since 2019-20, along with a decline in the number of teachers.
Lake Highlands is largely served by Richardson ISD, which operates Lake Highlands High School, Lake Highlands Junior High School and multiple elementary schools. The district has seen a decline in enrollment partially due to COVID-19, RISD o cials previously said.
TOTAL TEACHERS AND SALARIES
STUDENT ENROLLMENT
Total number of teachers*
-0.37% +5.54%
Percent change from 2019-20:
12,000
8.25%
10,000
8,000
5.95%
6,000
4,000
2,000
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
0
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2019-20
*TOTAL IS THE FULL TIME EQUIVALENT AND MAY INCLUDE PART TIME POSITIONS.
STUDENT STATISTICS, 2022 23
Starting teacher salary
Economically disadvantaged students 84.92%
English learners
Special education students
+11.44% +5.02%
$70,000
48.78% 11.11%
$65,000
57.02%
30.3%
17.17%
$60,000
$55,000
Statewide
$50,000
62%
23.02%
12.74%
0
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
11
LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION • AUGUST 2023
PEOPLE
EDUCATION
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
Tabitha Branum Richardson ISD superintendent
Richardson ISD to expand locked cellphone program for 2023 24
WHO SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM
from the state to help us ensure that we have the resources to compensate our educators fairly. HOW HAS THE DISTRICT ADDRESSED OR PLANNED TO CONTINUE ADDRESSING LEARNING LOSS DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC? Our campus leadership and our teachers really recognize that there were two impacts of the pandemic. One was the social and emotional challenges that our students had on the heels of the pandemic, and then academic de cits. Our sta has been all in on really making sure our students have what they need for both of those. [There has been a focus] on how to provide great daily instruction, ... having strong tutoring and strong interventions in place when we see a student doesn’t have a grade-level understanding. WITH THE UPTICK IN SCHOOL VIOLENCE, HOW DOES RISD PLAN TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AMONG STUDENTS?
program gave teachers back 10-15 minutes of class time daily. Also of note Despite the positive impact on learning, the Yondr program has raised concerns among parents about safety during emergencies. Addressing those concerns, RISD Assistant Superintendent Sandra Hayes said students are always discouraged from using cellphones— regardless of the Yondr program— during an emergency so they can follow emergency protocols. Branum added students all have access to email through their dis- trict-provided laptops, and parents can call the district’s front o ce team. Going forward Branum said she hopes the imple- mentation of a strict cellphone-free environment becomes part of each school’s culture. Branum said she doesn’t plan to use the Yondr program districtwide. “Our job is to support the needs of the campus, but it doesn’t always ... look the exact same,” Branum said.
In a May district survey, all participating teachers at Forest Meadow Junior High School supported the cellphone-free policy and the use of Yondr, parents and students had varied responses.
BY CECILIA LENZEN
BY CECILIA LENZEN
The schools joining the program in the upcoming school year were selected based on their principals’ requests, Branum said. How it works Students at participating campuses are required to put their cellphones in Yondr pouches, which remain with them throughout the school day. To use their phone, students would have to get permission from a teacher or administrator, who could unlock the pouch for them. Diving in deeper In 2022-23, district o cials planned to roll out the program at all cam- puses. When parents seemed hesitant about the program, o cials selected Forest Meadow Junior High School to pilot the program. The results were “overwhelmingly positive,” Branum said, adding the
Heading into her second school year as Richardson ISD superintendent, Tabitha Branum spoke with Community Impact about goals and challenges for the upcoming year. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Richardson ISD o cials plan to expand a program to lock up students’ cellphones during the day. The pilot program, which was tested at Forest Meadow Junior High School during the 2022-23 school year, uses Yondr, a company that creates locked pouches for cellphones. During the 2023-24 school year, the program will expand to Lake Highlands High, Lake Highlands Junior High, Apollo Junior High and Liberty Junior High schools. How it happened In July, RISD Superintendent Tabitha Branum said the initiative came from feedback from parents, teachers and students about how much time students spend on the phone. The rst step was strengthening the district’s existing cellphone-free pol- icy. The locked cellphone program was meant to be an enforcement “tool.”
Tabitha Branum was named Richardson ISD’s superintendent in 2022.
Support the cellphone-free environment policy
COURTESY RICHARDSON ISD
WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN GOALS HEADING INTO THE 2023 24 SCHOOL YEAR? We want to ensure that every stu- dent, every teacher and every leader meets or exceeds [their] growth goal. How do we make sure that our entire system is focused on ensuring that they are growing academically, socially and emotionally? That is coupled with a continued emphasis on a safe and secure environment. We know our students can’t focus on learning if they walk into school and don’t feel like they are protected. Continuing to imple- ment our safety measures, making sure that our safety protocols are being followed by our campuses and that we’re communicating with our
parents [is a priority].
Agree
Disagree
Trauma-informed care is some- thing we’re investing in. We have a strong partnership with places like the Momentous Institute, who come into our schools, work with our teachers and provide them with the strategies they need to identify when a student might be in crisis and help them de-escalate. We also are working with all of our campus counselors so they can partner with parents. If we know that a child is in crisis and we know that they have experienced trauma, we can make sure that they have the resources that they need, even above and beyond what the district can provide.
Non-Yondr parents
Non-Yondr students
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES RISD IS FACING? I have to start with the budget. We are currently operating under the same basic allotment per student expenditures as 2019, even though we’ve experienced record in ation. Knowing that we adopted a $14 million de cit budget, how do we rightsize our budget while still ensuring the high-quality programs and instruction that our commu- nity deserves? We will continue to advocate with the state to fund public education. One of the greatest strains on our budget right now is the demand for teachers. We need additional support and resources
80%
67%
Support the implementation of the Yondr program
Agree
Disagree
Yondr parents
Yondr students
87%
68%
SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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DIGGING INTO THE BUDGET
AVERAGE TEACHER SALARIES
Dallas ISD adopted a $2 billion budget for the 2023-24 scal year. It included a smaller percentage allocated for payroll costs, but the percentage for contracted services increased.
With a starting salary of $61,000 budgeted for the new school year, the average teacher salary in Dallas ISD is $64,020 . Here’s how that compares to the average salary of other school districts adjacent to DISD. According to data from the district’s 2022-2023 Compensation Handbook, the typical teacher’s salary increases between $300-$750 for each creditable year of service.
Contracted services: $370M Payroll costs: $1.466B Supplies and materials: $110M Other operating costs: $34M
$64,020
Dallas ISD
$57,901
Duncanville ISD
$2 B
$60,720
Garland ISD
$61,645
Grand Prairie ISD
Debt services: $12M Capital outlay: $8M
$64,815
Irving ISD
$63,749
Mesquite ISD
SOURCE: DALLAS ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
$58,618
Richardson ISD
Teacher compensation With the new budget, teachers will get a starting salary of at least $61,000 based on experience, a $1,000 increase from last year. The average teacher salary in DISD is $64,020, compared to $58,618 in Richardson ISD and $60,687 in Plano ISD, according to the Texas Education Agency. DISD teacher Chris Leal—an exec- utive board member of labor union Alliance/American Federation of Teachers—said the small raise the dis- trict set is not enough to manage ris- ing costs of living. The district uses an incentive bonus
stay nancially a oat amid rising in ation. However, lawmakers failed to pass proposed bills that would have increased that funding, leav- ing DISD to fend for itself to increase teacher salaries enough to recruit and retain educators. “It is unfortunate ... but we did the best that we could do to leverage the resources that we do have to at least show our sta that we do value and appreciate the work that they do day-in and day-out,” DISD Chief Financial O cer Tamika Alford-Ste- phens said.
model based on a system called the Teacher Excellence Initiative, which evaluates teachers based on class- room observations and student evalu- ations and achievement. It uses goals, such as student learning objectives, to measure success through the system. Leal said TEI “frankly doesn’t work” because it pits teachers in a competi- tion for limited bonus funds. “These bonuses are just little Band-Aids that help [o cials] save face in the moment, but you can’t count on that,” Leal said. “Some peo- ple get pennies, and some people get
a dime, but it’s not enough all the way around.” Asking teachers to go above and beyond with “exemplary” perfor- mance is counterproductive with the statewide teacher shortage, Leal said. As teachers deal with growing class sizes, budget cuts and a number of socio-political issues on top of their general workload, it’s “undigni ed” to force teachers to “prove” how hard they’re working, he said. Robert Abel, DISD chief of human capital management, said via email that the district has used “strategic
14
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
hour, up from $15 per hour last year. The new budget also includes about $63 million in performance-based retention incentives. Employees eval- uated with “exemplary” or “master” performance levels will receive a $4,000 bonus, according to the bud- get. Those with “unsatisfactory” per- formance levels will only get a $500 incentive. Employees with ve or more years of experience will get a $1,000 incentive. With the new budget, DISD allo- cated about $1.2 million for social work services and almost $34 million in security and monitoring services, about 3.7% and 4.2% less than the previous scal year, respectively. Planning ahead Because the district’s scal year began July 1, the district was legally required to set its budget during the ongoing special legislative sessions, which could lead to new laws that a ect school funding, Alford-Stephens said. When the Legislature goes into special session, as it has this year, the district must re-evaluate its budget later on for any changes.
One such law will require all public and open-enrollment charter schools to have at least one armed security o cer on campus during school hours. Each district will receive $15,000 per campus and $10 per stu- dent for school safety initiatives. Alford-Stephens said she isn’t sure yet how DISD will pay for the program or whether it will a ect teacher funding. “Any time you’re adding sta , that’s a cost,” Alford-Stephens said, noting DISD’s budget may have to increase. “When we’re talking about police ... there’s uniforms, supplies, materials and training [to fund].” Moving forward, DISD o cials plan to continue advocating for additional funding from the state. Leal said teachers should also plan to be active in the “ ght for public education.” “The future of public education is really going to depend on the leader- ship of the state,” he said. “Right now, teachers and students are being held hostage in this game.”
TEACHER EXPERIENCE In the 2023-24 scal year, Dallas ISD teachers will be paid a starting salary of $61,000, which increases based on experience. More than half the district’s nearly 9,875 teachers have six or more years of experience teaching.
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000 500 0
0
1-5
6-10 11-20 21-30 30+
Years of teaching experience
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
compensation” through systems such as TEI since 2014 in order to recruit and retain teachers, especially “at the campuses that need them the most.” He added that the initiative “ensures market-competitive base salaries” that will result in fewer teacher vacan- cies and higher quality educators. DISD has seen a record number of
teacher applicants for 2023-24, with nearly 8,500 applications submitted as of late July, Abel said. Other costs In addition to teacher pay raises, the budget includes additional com- pensation for nonteaching sta . Their minimum wage will increase to $16 per
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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15
LAKE HIGHLANDS LAKEWOOD EDITION • AUGUST 2023
INSIDE INFORMATION Revamping public school accountability BY HANNAH NORTON At the beginning of each school year, the Texas Education Agency rates public schools and districts based on student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps for at-risk students. Individual campuses and districts receive A-F scores, which are meant to hold schools accountable and inform Texans about student performance. Scores for the 2022-23 school year will be released Sept. 28, following months of revisions to the accountability system. The A-F accountability system was established during the 2017 legislative session, under House Bill 22. What is the A F system? Ratings are based on a variety of factors, including
What are the goals? What does the update mean?
TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said the revised system provides a more holistic view of student performance, focuses more on students in need, and aligns the performance of schools and districts.
Revising college, career and military readiness indicators Over the next four years, the TEA will implement new workforce certi cation requirements. Morath said there will be a greater emphasis on hands-on experience, rather than just course completion. For example, a student who takes welding classes in high school will gain real-life experience in welding and receive an industry certi cation.
Aligning classroom instruction The TEA also redesigned the STAAR in 2023 “to better align with classroom instruction” following the passage of HB 3906 in 2019. The exams were administered almost exclusively online in 2023 and focused on writing, o cials said.
Increasing focus on at-risk students Previously, o cials evaluated the academic performance of each student group—including racial and ethnic groups, economically disadvantaged students, students taking special education classes and more. This year, indicators will focus on the performance of the two “lowest-performing,” or most at risk, groups.
Updating target scores
Enhancing district ratings Morath said each district was previously evaluated “as if it is a single K-12 campus.” This meant district ratings were based heavily on the performance of high school seniors, whose graduation and postsecondary readiness are measured. This September, the new ratings will be calculated with a weighted average for each campus, giving each school a balanced share in the overall score.
Performance indicators were updated to re ect where students and schools were after the COVID-19 outbreak, Morath said. For example, college, career and military readiness scores have improved by 38% across Texas since 2017. “This is an untold success story,” Morath said.
academic growth high school graduation rates how prepared students are for college, a career or the military the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness
Serving students on alternate paths O cials adjusted performance indicators to better account for students on alternative paths, such as those enrolled in dropout recovery schools. These schools help students who have dropped out of school get back on track and graduate. Dropout rates will no longer count against overall campus performance.
Boosting public transparency Ratings for campuses and districts are posted online annually, but more information will be publicly available this year. Texans will be able to access data on attendance and absenteeism, advanced learning programs, and more, Morath said. This is meant to give parents a greater overview of their districts’ e orts to improve student performance.
Improving evaluation of student growth To give more attention to students who are performing below their grade level, the TEA added a new indicator called “accelerated instruction.” This allows o cials to accurately measure the performance of students who switch the language they take tests in—such as Spanish to English— between years.
STAAR scores for high school students were released June 30 and grades 3-8 scores will be available Aug. 16.
On Sept. 28, A-F scores for schools and districts will be posted online at www.txschools.gov.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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