Plano North | September 2024

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Plano North Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1 SEPT. 19OCT. 16, 2024 A N

2024 Education Edition

Prep for the future

Plano ISD students in the automotive technician program work under the hood of a car. The district plans to host a collision repair program in the Career and Technical Education Center, which is slated to open in 2026.

COURTESY PLANO ISD Plano ISD to debut, expand programs and opportunities at new CTE center

on-site bank. “The center will serve as a hub for innovation and collaboration, making connections between students, educators and industry leaders,” Superin- tendent Theresa Williams said in an email.

the center opens in 2026 with 16 total programs, including ve new ones. Based on plans for the facility, the interior will include new areas and opportunities for students to gain experience by working in their potential career path through the Toni & Guy Academy or the

BY CONNOR PITTMAN

Plano ISD’s proposed 120,000-square-foot Career and Technical Education Center will allow the district to oer new and expanded opportunities for students districtwide. Construction is set to begin in October before

CONTINUED ON 16

Also in this issue

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Impacts: New haunted-themed restaurant opens in Plano—check out more information on its themed menu and atmosphere (Page 8)

Transportation: Read about the status of road work at multiple Legacy Drive intersections (Page 20)

Rate Changes Ahead for City of Plano Water Customers

Effective Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, utility rates for the City of Plano's residential water, sewer and solid waste services will increase. Our average resident who uses 10,000 gallons of water, 7,000 gallons of sewer (winter quarter average) and a 95-gallon cart, will see a total increase of approximately $13 on their monthly utility bill. These changes are necessary for Plano to continue our high-quality services at the best value possible despite growing costs. Wholesale water and wastewater treatment, which are over two-thirds of our total water and wastewater expense annually, are increasing. The City also needs to fund over $240 million for our own Capital Improvement Projects. Residential Water Rates Customers are currently charged a minimum rate of $28.89 (1,000 gallons included) and this rate will not change. The 1,001-5,000 gallons tier rate is currently charged less than what the City pays for wholesale water from the North Texas Municipal Water District. The City’s rate strategy includes gradual increases over the next three years so this first billed tier rate will cover the cost of wholesale water. Higher volumetric rates are increasing by 7.5%. Residential Sewer Rates Sewer charges are also increasing by 7.5%. Your sewer bill is calculated based on your winter (December through March) water usage. This is known as your Winter Quarter Average, and resets each year.

Water Rates*

Current Effective Oct. 1

The minimum includes the first 1,000 gallons

$28.89

$2.20 $4.70 $9.40 $11.30

1,001 - 5,000 5,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 40,000 40,001 - Above

$0.89 $4.37 $8.73

*Based on the 3/4 and 1-inch meter size. $10.58

Sewer

Current Effective Oct. 1

The minimum includes the first 1,000 gallons Every 1,000 gallons thereafter

$18.67

$20.10

$7.39

$7.95

Solid Waste

Current Effective Oct. 1

95 gallon (standard trash and recycling cart) 68 gallon* (trash only) Extra cart* (95 gallon)

$23.60

$24.60

$16.89 $19.66

$17.61 $20.50

*A one-time $15 fee applies for the delivery of extra carts and carts of a different size. For more residential rate information or specifics on larger meters or commercial properties, visit Plano.gov/WaterBill .

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About Community Impact Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Dustin Butler Karen Chaney Mark Fadden Colby Farr

Hannah Johnson Jonathan Perriello Connor Pittman Alex Reece Cody Thorn Graphic Designers Nicolas Delgadillo José Jiménez Chelsea Peters Armando Servin Quality Desk Editor Deekota Diaz Managing Editor Miranda Jaimes Senior Art Production Manager Breanna Flores

Tracy Ruckel General Manager truckel@ communityimpact.com

Michael Crouchley Editor mcrouchley@ communityimpact.com

John Garrett CEO & Founder jgarrett@ communityimpact.com

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PLANO NORTH EDITION

T A

C Y RD.

Impacts

math and reading for students, owner Betty Pan said. • Opened Sept. 10 • 3308 Preston Road, Ste. 300, Plano • www.gideonmathandreading.com/west-plano 6 MYX Blend Bar This business provides the opportunity for customers to create custom formulas of lipstick and lip gloss. There is another MYX location in Dallas. • Opened Aug. 31 • 7300 Lone Star Drive, Ste. C-103, Plano • www.myxblendbar.com

MCDERMOTT RD.

North Plano

WINDROSE AVE.

SRT TOLL

NY DR.

HEDGCOXE RD.

LONE STAR DR.

LEGACY DR.

DNT TOLL

SPRING CREEK PKWY.

Coming soon

10 9

WINDHAVEN PKWY.

7 Minecraft Experience The business will provide a one hour, Minecraft-themed, interactive scavenger hunt. Plano is just the first stop; Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will tour to additional cities around the world to be announced at a later date, according to the release. • Opening October 18

PARKER RD.

PARKWOOD BLVD.

PARK BLVD.

• 2712 N. Central Expressway, Plano • www.minecraftexperience.com

DNT TOLL

15TH ST.

4 T H ST.

PGBT TOLL 3 CSI Pharmacy Independent, national specialty pharmacy and home infusion provider, opened a corporate office in Plano in July. CSI Pharmacy is a national specialty pharmacy dedicated to serving patients with chronic and rare illnesses • Opened July 10 • 5340 Legacy Dr., Ste. 115, Plano • www.csipharmacy.com 4 Wild Fork The store offers a wide variety over more than 450 meat and seafood items. The selection includes common, premium and exotic meats. The store also sells side dishes, appetizers and seasonings. • Opened Sept. 11 • 2085 Preston Road, Ste. 100, Plano • www.wildforkfoods.com 5 Gideon Math and Reading The business offers supplemental education courses in

Now open

8 Magnolia Soap & Bath Co Franchise owners, Norm and Lori Hampton said in an email the store will sell handcrafted, plant based soap

1 The Kati Roll Company Kati rolls are made of skewer-grilled ingredients, stuffed in buttery paratha flatbread and topped with chutneys and spices. In addition to kati rolls, menu items include momos, which are Indo-Tibetan dumplings and lassi—a traditional Indian yogurt smoothie. • Opened Aug. 24 2 Lightbridge Academy The childcare franchise offers infant care, toddler programs, preschool education and pre-K readiness. • Opening Sept. 3 • 6900 Preston Meadow Drive, Plano • www.lightbridgeacademy.com/plano-tx • 5588 SH 121, Ste. 100, Plano • www.thekatirollcompany.com

and bath products. • Opening Sept. 20

• 8604 Preston Road, Ste. 120, Plano • www.mymagnoliasoap.com/plano

In the news

9 Cinemark The Plano-based company operates more than 500 theaters in 42 U.S. states as well as in 13 South and Central American countries, according to its website. • 3900 Dallas Parkway, Plano • www.cinemark.com 10 J. Alexander’s The new restaurant is set to start construction in

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December and finish in July of next year. • Corner of Dallas North Tollway and Windhaven Parkway • www.jalexanders.com 11 Ralph Lauren The new store in Legacy West is set to start construction in October and finish in December, according to a project listing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. • 7700 Windrose Ave., Ste. G175, Plano • www.ralphlauren.com 12 Horu Sushi The sushi kitchen located in Legacy Hall celebrates its fifth anniversary on Sept. 29. The restaurant offers a sashimi menu with three types of fish available daily, along with daily specials. • 7800 Windrose Ave., Plano • www.horusushi.com 13 Carrie’s Pilates Plus The new pilates studio is set to start construction in August and finish in December, according to a project listing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Carrie’s has locations in Texas, California and Canada.

• 6153 Windhaven Parkway, Ste.100, Plano • www.carriespilatesplus.com

Coming soon

Texas Megabus Nationwide bus service Megabus has discontinued its routes in Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio, according to a news release. Operations in these cities were discontinued Aug. 16, per the release. Texas tickets and routes are no longer available on the company’s website. Along with Texas, Megabus canceled route and ticketing services in cities along the East Coast. • Closed Aug. 16 • www.us.megabus.com

Worth the trip

14 Striped Box Boutique This business sells women’s boutique clothing in sizes XS to 3X, jewelry, accessories, candles and gifts. Striped Box Boutique has locations in Frisco, Allen and Highland Village where summer clearance sales are underway. • Opening in October or November • 5809 Preston Road, Ste. E-578A, Plano • www.stripedboxboutique.com

Brunch at Lili’s The eatery serves breakfast and lunch options such as omelets, eggs Benedict, burgers, sandwiches, wraps and more. Brunch at Lili’s is located in the space formerly occupied by Up Inspired Kitchen, which closed earlier this year. • Opened Aug. 5 • 5285 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 400, Frisco • Facebook: Brunch at Lili’s

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PLANO NORTH EDITION

Impacts

LEGACY DR.

menu includes muffins, cake, baklava and more. • Opening in November • 4013 14th St., Ste. 407, Plano • www.motw.coffee 6 Hardcore Fitness The gym will offers a variety of exercise equipment and individual or group fitness and boxing classes. The business will be located in a former Rockbox fitness location. • Opening 2024 7 Bahn Mi Boys The eatery’s menu features sandwiches, fries, rice, noodles, spring rolls, wings and salads. According to the company website, there are locations in Louisiana, South Carolina and Killeen. • Opening in October • 3421 E. Renner Road, Ste. 106, Plano • www.bmbsandwiches.com • 1941 Preston Road, Ste. 1020, Plano • www.hardcorefitnessbootcamp.com

SPRING CREEK PKWY.

PARKER RD.

South Plano

LOS RIOS BLVD.

PARK BLVD.

11 6

15TH ST.

TH ST.

W. PARK BLVD.

PGBT TOLL

PARKWOOD BLVD.

DNT TOLL

E. RENNER RD.

3 7 10

will serve some of the popular Mexican dishes he serves at his other restaurant, Sazon Mexican Home Cooking in Garland. He will also offer a variety of seafood dishes that have Latin influences, such as grilled tuna fish featuring a port wine sauce and trout almondine served with saffron sauce. He also plans to offer a soup of the day. Brunch options will include traditional American food like waffles and Mexican fare such as breakfast burritos. • Opening in October • 3421 E. Renner Road, Ste. 113, Plano • www.sazondeloa.com 4 Celebree School The school will offer early education programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, according to its website. The school will also offer before- and after- school programs for students ranging from kindergarten through 5th grade.

Now open

Relocations

1 Ten 20 Gallery The art gallery was originally opened in 2016 and was located at 1020 15th St. Due to various reasons, the business partners closed the first location in 2018. Plans to incorporate culinary art, that compliments the visual art, are being made. • Opened Aug. 15 • 1001 14th St., Plano • www.facebook.com/Ten20Gallery 2 Epic Market The store sells halal meat, fresh vegetables, spices, bakery items and more. • Opened July 28 • 4301 14th St., Plano • www.epicmarket.shopping

8 Kadou Boutique Rahaf Kahaleh, co-owner and chief buyer of Kadou Boutique said in an email the company chose to relocate within Preston Park Village because the new suite has a larger display floor space and is situated closer to the center of the shopping center. • Relocated Aug. 1 • 1900 Preston Road, Ste. 228, Plano • www.kadouboutique.com 9 Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies This business, which is owned by John and Mollie Hancock, rents plastic moving containers, moving blankets and wardrobe boxes. Mollie said that having a storefront allows clients the opportunity to pick up and drop off their rented supplies. • Relocated this summer • 3801 President George Bush Highway, Ste. 128, Plano • www.elephanttrunk.net

• Opening summer 2025 • 4033 E. Plano Parkway • www.celebree.com/plano-at-los-rios-tx

Coming soon

5 MOTW Coffee and Pastries Traditional lattes as well as international flavors will be featured on the drink menu. The dessert and pastries

3 Sazon De Loa Rafael De Loa, owner and chef of Sazon De Loa, said he

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

12 The Whale Tea The business opened in August 2023, and served milk teas, fruit teas, slushes, creme brulee drinks and oolong teas with toppings including boba, popping boba, jelly, chia seeds and more. • Closed week of Aug. 12 • 1009 14th St., Ste. 600, Plano • www.whaleteadfw.com 13 Conn’s HomePlus The company sells appliances, furniture, electronics, mattresses and more. According to the company’s website, Conn’s was founded over 130 years ago and is headquartered in The Woodlands outside of Houston. • 800 W. 15th St., Plano • www.conns.com 14 Pambazo Restaurant Bar The restaurant’s owners initially opened as Tepito Restaurant Bar in January, but rebranded in March. The restaurant, which served authentic Mexican cuisine, including pozole and huarache, closed in early August. The owners also operate Taqueria Tepito, which remains open in Richardson. • Closed in early August • 401 W. President George Bush Highway, Ste. 119, Richardson • Instagram: Pambazo Restaurant Bar

In the news

Now open

10 Fujiya Asian Cuisine The new restaurant is expected to start construction this month and finish in October, according to a project filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Fujiya has one other location in Humble and serves a variety of Asian dishes, including sushi, tempura, hibachi and more. • 3421 Renner Road, Ste. 102, Plano • www.fujiyahumble.com

Closings

11 Dough Bro’s Italian Kitchen and Bar The Italian restaurant at the southwest corner of Park Boulevard and Preston Road has all signage removed from the building, the interior is cleared out and the location is no longer listed on Dough Bro’s website. Dough Bro’s has three remaining locations in Dallas, Bedford and Farmers Branch. • Closed in summer 2024 • 1941 Preston Road, Ste. 1004, Plano • www.doughbro.com

15 Haunted Castle Cafe Business owners, and family members, Jay Gungor and Gokhan Oktem are serving themed food and drink items at Haunted Castle Cafe. The establishment has two distinct seating areas. The side geared for adults is gothic-themed. The other room is designed for families to enjoy and features friendly ghost murals. In addition to the murals, there are light shows and themed music. • Soft opening through Aug. 15; Grand opening Aug. 16

• 1900 Dallas Parkway, Plano • www.hauntedcastlecafe.com

Opening Night Concert on Saturday, October 5th

t o

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PLANO NORTH EDITION

Government

Plano’s $758M budget includes flat property tax rate

City Council approves development plans Plano City Council approved the 2024 operations and maintenance plan, assessing select properties downtown to collect funds that will help cover the cost of improve- ments in the district. Property owners within the public improvement district contribute $0.15 per square foot of real property improvements, according to city documents. This year, the total levy will be around $76,320.

The $758 million budget for 2024-25 was adopted by Plano City Council at the Sept. 9 meeting. In a nutshell The $758 million budget is a 4% increase com- pared to the nearly $732.8 million budget adopted for FY 2023-24, according to city documents. Along with the budget, council members approved a property tax rate of $0.4176 per $100 of assessed value, which is the same as the 2023-24 budget’s property tax rate. The maintenance and operations portion of the rate—which is used to cover operating expenses—would be $0.3026 per $100 of assessed value and the debt service rate— which is used to repay debt—would be $0.1150 per $100 of assessed value. Because of increases to the appraised value of properties, the average homeowner would pay $1,744 in FY 2024-25, an 11.94% increase compared to $1,558 for FY 2023-24.

Tax rate history

Maintenance and operations rate

Interest and sinking rate

Fiscal year

$0.333 $0.3372 $0.3372

$0.1135 $0.111 $0.111

2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25

$0.3026 $0.3026 $0.3026

$0.115 $0.115 $0.115

Downtown Plano public improvement district

CITY OF PLANO/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Looking ahead The adopted budget is for FY 2024-25, which begins Oct. 1. The proposed increases to the water and waste- water rates will also take effect Oct. 1.

MUNICIPAL AVE.

E. 16TH ST.

E. 15TH ST.

14TH ST.

Developer plans to add single-family homes to The Shops at Willow Bend Dallas-based real estate developer Centennial plans to update its redevelopment plan for The Shops at Willow Bend, according to a filing with the city of Plano. CHAPEL HILL BLVD. Shops at Willow Bend

rezoning requests for a property, Development Review Manager Michael Bell said. What you need to know Officials added that changes include the addi- tion of single-family residences to Centennial’s redevelopment plan. Plano City Council approved a rezoning request to allow for the redevelopment of the site in February.

PARKWOOD BLVD.

The planning and zoning commission granted a waiver to allow a rezoning request for the planned development district that includes The Shops at Willow Bend at the Sept. 3 meeting. Usually, there is a two-year waiting period for subsequent

DNT TOLL

W. PARK BLVD

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY CONNOR PITTMAN

$1.8 million approved for Bob Woodruff Park improvements Further improvements are planned in Plano’s Bob Woodruff Park, including additional shade structures in the dog park and a new restroom facility. The overview The cost for the restroom replacement is nearly $1.2 million, according to city documents. The second project is within the dog park at Bob Woodruff Park and includes the addition of shade structures and accessible walkways to each dog paddock, Parks and Recreation Community Outreach Specialist Kelley Crimmins said. Per city documents, the cost for the dog park improvements is $684,200.

The incentive will go toward the Texas Research Quarter, a life sciences project developed by NexPoint.

RENDERING COURTESY NEXPOINT

Council approves $15M incentive for redevelopment

As part of an ongoing partnership between Plano and Dallas-based developer NexPoint, the city is providing a $15 million economic incentive for the redevelopment of the existing Electronic Data Systems campus NexPoint purchased in 2018. Plano City Council approved the incentive during the Aug. 26 meeting, which will be paid for using funds from a tax increment reinvestment zone created around the development.

What you need to know According to city documents, NexPoint is required to invest close to $136 million to fulfill terms of the agreement. Construction could begin this fall and is expected to last until 2026, according to city doc- uments. Improvements in the first phase include a new 200,000 square foot manufacturing facility and upgrades to the site’s power infrastructure.

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PLANO NORTH EDITION

Education

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Education edition

2024

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Education Edition! This guide features the latest updates and resources from local public schools in your community. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists, and all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news—show them your gratitude by supporting them. Inside this year’s education guide, readers can find the continuation of our front page story on Plano ISD’s upcoming Career and Technical Education Center, which starts construction this year and will provide a variety of new opportunities for local high school students. That project is funded by district’s 2020 bond, and another large Plano ISD bond project is featured with an update on the Robbie & Lynore Robinson Fine Arts Center. The Fine Arts Center has now been open to the community for a year after a lawsuit delayed its opening. Our section also features updates on Plano ISD’s reduced tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year, and updates on changes to school zones and proposed changes to the district’s hazardous roadways plan—both of which will aim to make the commute to school safer for Plano kids.

What's inside

Plano ISD trustees approve fine arts center lawsuit settlement agreement (Page 13)

Tracy Ruckel General Manager truckel@ communityimpact.com

Plano ISD approves reduced tax rate for 2024-25. (Page 14)

Nonprofit provides workforce training for autistic adults (Page 19)

For relevant news and daily updates subscribe to our free email newsletter!

Plano ISD grows programs to serve increasing multilingual population

As Plano ISD sees continued growth in multi- lingual populations, the district is continuing to expand its bilingual education program. The one-way dual language program is cur- rently offered at 15 elementary campuses, and the 2024-25 school year is the first year that program extends to sixth grade, with a pilot program at two middle school campuses. The expansion will help serve Plano ISD’s multilingual students, a population Talle Gomez, PISD executive director of bilingual services, said has “the highest enrollment we’ve seen at Plano ISD.” “We talk a lot about the district’s declining enrollment, but this is not an area where we are seeing declining enrollment,” she said. “Over the last several years, we have just steadily increased the number of emergent bilinguals in Plano ISD.” What’s next? Gomez said that the “biggest barrier” for the

Emerging bilingual students in PISD Students in bilingual program Students in ESL programs

Grades served

Program

Goal

Attain fluency in English and student's native language. Transfer concepts and skills to English.

2,570 2,471

6,709 6,779

2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24

Bilingual program

1-6

2,894 3,065

7,726

ESL program

8,514

Attain fluency in English.

K-12

3,426

8,905

Elementary growth

program is finding bilingual certified teachers. “We’ve created some of our own programs, just this last school year, to really have more candi- dates available,” she said. Gomez said the district is aiming to offer the program at all grade levels. “We are moving in that direction,” she said. “We will have continued committee work moving forward on what that will look like through secondary and up towards graduation.”

2018-19 school year

2023-24 school year 2,126 2,192

East Cluster Central Cluster West Cluster

1,628

2,271

1,413

2,537

SOURCE: PLANO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY CONNOR PITTMAN

PISD approves ne arts center lawsuit settlement agreement

After more than two years, a settlement agree- ment could signal the end of a lawsuit over the Robby & Lynore Robinson Fine Arts Center in Plano. Plano ISD trustees unanimously voted to approve the settlement Aug. 20. The lawsuit was led against the district by law rm Peckar & Abramson P.C. on behalf of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. What happened District ocials said settlement details are subject to a condentiality agreement. McCarthy Building Companies, the construction manager at-risk, sought $11.45 million in damages for alleged breach of contract. The lawsuit claims they were not paid for the project’s entire balance, as previously reported by Community Impact. How we got here The ne arts center was included in PISD’s $481 million 2016 bond program. The 82,000-square-foot facility opened after several delays in July 2023 and

Plano ISD trustees approved a settlement agreement for a lawsuit centered on the ne arts center at the Aug. 20 meeting.

MICHAEL CROUCHLEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

includes a visual arts gallery, 1,500-seat perfor- mance hall and a black-box theater. Completion was planned for January 2022, then delayed due to district claims of “signicant crack- ing as a result of poor workmanship and/or design,” as previously reported by Community Impact.

W. PARK BLVD.

Learn More

PLANO NORTH EDITION

Education

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & CONNOR PITTMAN

PISD trustees approve reduced tax rate for 2024-25

Roadway guidelines under construction Plano ISD is working toward updating its hazardous roadway policy. Why it matters One goal of the new plan is to be more “spe- cific and less subjective” about what qualifies as a hazardous roadway, Steven Ewing, PISD’s chief of business services, said. Any students that are ineligible for regular busing due to living within 2 miles of their school would be eligible for hazardous bus routes if they need to cross a road that qualifies. The district can apply for up to 10% of its regular transportation allotment from the state to fund hazardous bus routes, and Ewing said that the district regularly exceeds that allotment under the current guidelines.

PISD summer learning programs serve 20% more students in 2024 Over 1,000 more students enrolled in Plano ISD’s summer learning programs, according to a staff report. A total of 5,300 students, a 20% year-over-year increase, participated in the district’s summer programs, PISD Director of Expanded Learning Pathways Stacy Singleton said. The big picture Singleton said PISD’s summer programs focus on several aspects, such as helping students earn high school credits, bridging learning gaps for stu- dents and allowing students to explore additional coursework in areas of interest. Per the staff report, there was growth in the number of enrollments in the 2023-24 programs, including:

Plano ISD to join lawsuit against TEA Plano ISD will join a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency regarding the revised accountability system and State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. What you need to know PISD officials highlighted concerns with the lack of third-party validation of the revamped STAAR, along with the fact that it is not mathematically possible for all cam- puses and districts to receive an “A” rating.

6 new summer courses

Advanced vertical robotics

Coding

Plano ISD trustees approved a total tax rate of $1.04245 per $100 of assessed value, which is 3 cents lower than the 2023-24 tax rate. The new rate was unanimously approved during an Aug. 20 work session. What you need to know PISD officials recommended adopting the voter-approval tax rate, which is the maximum a taxing entity can adopt without triggering a Voter-Approval Tax-Rate Ratification Election. It results in a maximum 3.5% in property tax revenue. The PISD rate is divided into two components: maintenance and operations, which covers day-to- day expenses, and the interest and sinking, which is used to repay debt issued by the school district. The M&O for 2024-25 is $0.80510 and the I&S is $0.23735 per $100 of assessed value. Based on the presentation, the over 3-cent reduction in the tax rate came from reducing M&O.

Adopted tax rate

Animal science

Podcasting

Maintenance and operations rate

Interest and sinking rate

Broadcasting

Social media

Fiscal Year

2024-25

$0.8051

$0.237

PLANO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

2023-24

$0.237 $0.8405

• 87% growth to students in the elementary pathways to excellence, which bridges learning gaps to catch students up to their grade level • 82% growth in middle school exploration enrollment • 25% growth in high school credit recovery credits earned Quote of note “We’re trying to find innovative and exciting things for students to want to get involved in,” Singleton said.

2022-23

$1.0224

$0.237

2021-22

$1.0518

$0.269

2020-21

$1.0548

$0.269

SOURCE: PLANO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

“School districts across the state are being measured by a tool that is not delivered with efficacy.” JERI CHAMBERS, PLANO ISD TRUSTEE

What else Board President Nancy Humphrey explained that residents may still see higher taxes due to increases in appraised property value, which is assessed by appraisal districts.

PLANO 5930 West Park Blvd (972) 250-0500

ALLEN 1839 N Central Expressway (972) 908-3488

EAST PLANO 3404 N Central Expressway (972) 423-6688

COIT ROAD 1453 Coit Rd (972) 867-2821

PLANO NORTH 5420 State Hwy 121 (469) 687-2581

Prep for the future From the cover

The breakdown

Construction on the Career and Technical Education Center will cost over $76.7 million and is financed through Plano ISD’s 2022 bond. “This new facility will provide state-of-the-art resources to support both new and expanded CTE programs, reflecting our commitment to equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in high- demand industries,” Williams said. Williams added that it will allow the district to more efficiently utilize spaces for career and technical education, including expanding current offerings, to meet the needs of all students as part of the district’s Plano for Your Future initiative. “This will enable us to offer a broader range of courses and ensure that all students have access to high-quality CTE education, regardless of their campus,” Williams said. Karen Buechman, PISD’s director of Career and Technical Education said students will be able to take building maintenance, construction technology, cybersecurity, radiology and robotics courses once the new facility opens. “We’re preparing kids to enter that workforce ... and really shine through that application and interview process,” Buechman said.

Plano ISD’s new Career and Technical Education Center should welcome students in time for the 202627 school year.

RENDERING COURTESY PLANO ISD

Expected industry growth

Key:

2023 2028 (projected)

Hospitals & physicians +16.9%

+9.5%

Computer technology +33.9%

+20.6%

+19.6%

Construction

Automotive

Restaurant

SOURCE: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS FOR NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

• $6,776 for students enrolled in non-state sponsored career and technical education courses • $7,884.80 for students enrolled in Level 1 or Level 2 career and technical education courses • $9,055.20 for students enrolled in Level 3 or Level 4 career and technical education courses

Additionally, more spaces for students to take CTE courses opens up more funding opportunities. According to the Texas Education Agency, districts can receive between 10% and 47% more in funding for students enrolled in career and technical education courses, based on an average daily attendance allotment of $6,160.

Why it matters

us,” Buechman said. With the new facilities, the district will be able to host more specialized classes and provide more space to programs, which could lead to higher enrollment, Buechman added.

education centers to get a feel for what was needed. “We want to make sure that we’re removing barriers for kids, and we’re able to serve the stu- dents who are interested in those areas to connect them to college or a career right after they leave

For the first time, the district will have a centralized career and technical education center, compared to having students meet at different campuses based on which courses they are enrolled in. Buechman said staff toured several other school districts’ career and technical

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BY CONNOR PITTMAN

The impact

What’s next?

Industry based certifications awarded through PISD’s CTE program

The new building is expected to open ahead of the 2026-27 school year. There will be the option to further expand the new building, said Konrad Judd, Huckabee Architects Chief Design Officer. Unlike current programs that are spread across the district, the new center will offer a centralized location that will reduce the commute for students, Buechman said. “Having a centralized location allows us to serve students from across the district, whether it’s the east side, central or west side [of Plano],” Buechman said.

Buechman said students will have the oppor- tunity to gain experiences through work-based learning. “Work-based learning just takes learning to the next level by the real world experiences that the students can have,” Buechman added. Steven Pilat, the culinary instructor at Plano East Senior High School, said the new facility will allow students wanting to focus on pastries in the culinary program to have a dedicated space and teach, which is not the case in the current setup. “I’m not big and proficient in pastries, but we do them,” Pilat said. “Having a pastry instructor that just is designated for that is going to help out the [students]. The new space will also have separate spaces for students to sell items at the in-house restaurant, which has a seating capacity of 200, an in-house event center or the district store planned within the new facility. “They can all work together to serve some of our

2019-20

2020-21 2021-22

2023-24 2022-23

SOURCE: PLANO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

partners or the community with needs in a variety of areas,” Buechman said. The district’s career and technical education programs are part of a larger trend in preparing students for the future by equipping them with necessary knowledge and skills, Williams added. “This comprehensive approach aligns perfectly with our district’s goal of preparing students not just for college or careers, but for fulfilling success- ful lives,” Williams said.

W. PARK BLVD.

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PLANO NORTH EDITION

Education

BY DUSTIN BUTLER

Q&A: Education Service Center Region 11 offers training for local schools With the 2024-25 school year beginning, Educa- tion Service Centers across Texas continue to work to provide services for school districts. ESC Region 10 serves more than 130 school districts, including Richardson, Frisco, McKinney, Celina and Prosper ISDs. Rachel Frost is the chief communications officer of ESC Region 10. Frost recently answered questions from Community Impact , explaining the history of and services provided by Education Service Centers in Texas. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What is an Education Service Center? The Texas State Legislature established 20 regional Education Service Centers in 1967 to support schools and create innovative solutions. Per state statute, ESCs are focused on improving student achievement, helping school districts operate more efficiently and economically, and implementing statewide initiatives. Where does the funding for an ESC come from? ESCs do not possess tax levying or bonding authority, and are funded through grants and contracts for services with school districts. How often does Region 10 offer professional development opportunities? Region 10 offers professional development opportunities nearly all day, every day. If you visit either of our buildings, you will find rooms filled

ESC Region 10 service area 80

Public school districts 35 Charter schools 112 Private schools Nearly 900,000 students

Grayson

Fannin

Collin

Hunt

Dallas

Rockwall

COURTESY EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER REGION 10

Kaufman Van Zandt

with educators actively engaged and learning. We also offer professional development at school districts, online through virtual learning as well as hybrid learning opportunities. Last year, we offered more than 7,000 professional development courses to more than 500,000 attendees for a total of nearly 850,000 total hours of professional development. In the past five years, have you noticed any trends of what school districts are needing? The COVID-19 pandemic, starting in March 2020, dramatically altered the needs of public schools to serve their students. Initially, Region 10 pivoted to support teachers and administrators in transitioning to virtual settings. As we’ve moved beyond the immediate crisis, we’ve seen a trend toward integrating the lessons learned from virtual instruction into traditional teaching models. This hybrid approach has become increasingly prevalent in professional development for educators. Beyond pandemic-related changes, we’ve noticed several other prominent trends in school district needs: • Budget management training for district leader- ship: We’ve seen a rising need for administrators to develop stronger financial skills to navigate

Ellis

Henderson

complex funding scenarios and optimize resource allocation.

• School safety and security: In light of ongoing concerns surrounding school safety, districts are prioritizing comprehensive safety measures and crisis response training. • Teacher recruitment and retention: This has become a critical focus area, with districts looking for innovative ways to attract and keep qualified educators in an increasingly competi- tive job market. These trends reflect the evolving challenges facing our school districts. Region 10 continues to adapt our support and resources to meet these changing needs.

To see the full story and learn more about ESC Region 10, visit communityimpact.com .

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Technology classes, some of which are taught by former nonPareil students, include digital art, graphic design, programming, scripting and more.

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When Gary Moore met Dan Selec in 2008, they bonded over their sons with autism and worries for the future. The duo wanted to teach young adults with autism skills for the workforce, so they led for nonprot status and opened non- Pareil Institute in 2010, followed by locations in Houston in 2015, Austin and Orlando, Florida in 2019. The specics NonPareil oers technology and work readiness classes, including digital art, programming, devel- oping condence and more. The nonprot also allows students to gain real-world work experience through their trade- marked PowerSourcing. “We have companies that have outsourced work to us, and the company pays us and we pay the student. Now they are our employees,” Moore said. “They can hone their work skills here— almost like in an incubator situ- ation or an internship. They can fail here safely and not get red. They are working with others in a safe place and getting paid.”

Challenger School offers uniquely fun and academic programs for preschool to eighth grade students. Our students learn to think for themselves and to value independence.

Students at NonPareil can participate in several clubs.

Independence (PS–G3) (469) 642-2000 10145 Independence Parkway, Plano Legacy (PS–K) (469) 573-0077 6700 Communications Parkway, Plano

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PLANO NORTH EDITION

Transportation

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & CONNOR PITTMAN

School zone signals adjusted to new schedule City sta have adapted school zone signals for Plano ISD’s new schedule, following a resolution passed Aug. 12 by Plano City Council. What you need to know Ahead of the 2024-25 school year, Plano ISD will delay the release time for students in elementary, middle and high schools by ve minutes, accord- ing to city documents. To comply with state regulations, Plano’s trans- portation engineering sta determined changes needed to be made to the timing of school zones for middle schools. What else? School zone speed limits are designed to mitigate risk of pedestrian and vehicle accidents. Violations of the speed limit carry a $500 ne, according to the ordinance.

LEGACY DR.

INDEPENDENCE PKWY.

CUSTER RD.

Legacy Drive work nears completion Road work on three Legacy Drive intersec- tions is on track to nish in September, Plano city sta said. More work will later begin at Archgate Drive and Chase Oaks Drive. What you need to know The projects include additional right- and left-turn lanes, and improvements to trac signals and pedestrian areas, according to city documents.

Plano transportation engineering sta adjusted school zones throughout the city in accordance with Plano ISD's updated schedule for 202425.

CONNOR PITTMANCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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