Lake Highlands - Lakewood | July 2023

CITY & SCHOOLS

News from Dallas, Dallas County, Dallas ISD & Richardson ISD

Dallas City Council will meet Aug. 9 at 9 a.m. at 1500 Marilla St., Dallas. www.dallascityhall.com Dallas ISD board of trustees meets Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. at 5151 Samuell Blvd., Dallas. www.dallasisd.org. MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS DALLAS ISD The types of backpacks students can have is set to change for the upcoming school year. Dallas ISD will require all students to use clear backpacks during the 2023-24 school year, ocials announced May 31. The mandate comes as part of an ongoing eort to ensure safer schools, according to a news release. Last year, DISD required all students in sixth-12th grades to use clear backpacks as a response to mass shootings across the state. In addition to clear backpacks, mesh backpacks will also be acceptable, although clear ones are preferred. DISD students may also carry a small pouch in their clear backpacks for personal items, such as cellphones, money and hygiene items, according to the news release. DISD will provide each of its students a free clear backpack before the start of the school year.

$3M budgeted for supportive housing project

Dallas PD changes reporting policy

Richardson ISD adopts $407M budget with $15M shortfall for FY 202324

Dallas ISD approves new $2B budget

BY KEVIN CUMMINGS

BY CECILIA LENZEN

one-time use of the district’s fund balance, which is used when property tax collections and state funding don’t cover operating costs. Despite the shortfall, the budget includes increases for teacher compensation and incentives. What’s next: Trustees created a community budget steering com- mittee, which will assist in guiding decisions for FY 2024-25.

DALLAS Starting July 3, reports of nonemergency oenses to the city police department are required to be made online. Online reporting of nonemergency oenses has been voluntary since 2020. According to ocials, the change is meant to save time for those reporting oenses and to allow ocers to focus on emergency calls. Examples of nonemergency oenses that will require online reporting include harassing phone calls, burglary of a motor vehicle, grati, shoplifting and identity theft. To make a report for a nonemer- gency oense, residents will need to visit the Dallas PD website, select the oense they are reporting and complete an online form.

RICHARDSON ISD The board of trustees voted in June to adopt a $407.7 million budget for scal year 2023-24, which includes a shortfall of nearly $15 million. The new budget is the fourth con- secutive shortfall budget adopted by RISD, per the district’s website. The details: The new budget includes a $14.8 million shortfall that will be funded through a

DALLAS ISD The board of trustees voted June 22 to set a $2 billion bud- get for scal year 2023-24, allowing increases for teacher compensation. The budget is about 7% higher than last year, but came with decreased allotments for sta development, social work and food services. The details: With the new budget, teachers will be paid a starting salary of at least $61,000, up from $60,000, based on experience. The new budget also includes about $63 million in perfor- mance-based retention incentives. Employees evaluated with high per- formance levels will receive a $4,000 bonus divided into three payments, while those with “unsatisfactory” levels will only get a $500 incentive. Employees with ve or more years of experience with DISD will get a $1,000 incentive.

BY CECILIA LENZEN

DALLAS COUNTY A proposed housing project meant to provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness has taken the next step in securing funding before acquiring a property site in Lake Highlands. What happened: Dallas County entered into an agreement with St. Jude Inc. to provide $3 million for the housing project, St. Jude Center Vantage Point, during a Commission- ers Court meeting June 6. The contribution comes through Dallas County’s American Rescue Plan Act funds, which are meant to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. The backstory: St. Jude Center Vantage Point would replace a hotel

Extended Stay America was designated a habitual crime property in 2022 for the amount of crime that took place there. (Cecilia Lenzen/Community Impact)

that was designated as a habitual crime property by the Dallas Police Department in 2022. Plans to replace the hotel have been in the works since 2022. During its May 24 meeting, City Council voted to rezone the nearly 3-acre property to host multifamily housing. A St. Jude Inc. represen- tative said the nonprot intends to open the new facility in early 2024. The details: St. Jude Center Vantage Point will oer 132 housing

units along with “intensive case- work to ... resolve the root causes of homelessness,” according to June 6 meeting documents. The cost: The total budget for the project is $11 million with $7 million for purchasing the property and $4 million for renovating it, according to meeting documents. In addition to the $3 million in funding from the county, St. Jude Inc. is seeking $6 million in funding from the city of Dallas.

BUDGET BREAKDOWN Richardson ISD's budget for scal year 2023-24 will include a one-time use of the district’s fund balance to cover the shortfall.

$407.7M budget

$60K starting salary for teachers

$14.8M shortfall

$6K stipend for “critical needs” teachers

To make a report for a nonemergency oense, visit www.dallaspolice.net .

SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

DALLAS 9500 N Central Expressway (214) 369-2800

PRESTON CENTER 8123 Preston Road (214) 361-6697

MARSH LANE 9972 Marsh Lane (214) 353-2701