Lewisville - Coppell | February 2025

Education

BY JONATHAN PERRIELLO

CISD faces $5M in cuts to support continued raises Coppell ISD is facing inflation, dipping enroll- ment, underfunded mandates and a state funding plateau, according to district officials. These issues led the district to close Pinkerton Elementary last year and call a voter-approval tax rate election, which failed to pass last November. Approval of a higher tax rate would have gener- ated $2.4 million in revenue for the district. The overview Chief Financial Officer Diana Sircar presented budget updates to the board Jan. 15, which projected an $8.7 million shortfall for fiscal year 2024-25 and an $18.7 million shortfall by 2027-28. Despite budget shortfalls, the board approved a 3% midpoint staff salary increase last year, but to do so every year going forward, the district will need to reduce expenses by $5 million each year, Sircar said.

LISD could save $50K with solar panels Lewisville ISD could install its first solar panels this summer. LISD could see a return on the investment within 10 years and reap up to $500,000 in future energy cost savings. In addition, Jason Hughes, LISD executive director of facilities, said solar panels at Downing Middle School could save $50,000 annually. In a nutshell Staff identified the school as the ideal location for this project due to maintenance scheduled for summer that will include roof resurfacing. Installation of the panels is expected to cost up to $800,000, but a $280,000 rebate could bring the cost down to around $500,000, Hughes said.

Coppell ISD projected budget shortfalls CISD officials expect an $8.7 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2024-25. While not listed as an expense, CISD is required to pay recapture funds back and contribute to budget shortfalls.

Revenue

Expenses

Recapture

$163.1M

$142.22M

2024-25

$29.5M

$170.5M

$144.5M

2025-26

$38.1M

$182.16M

$148.07M

2026-27

$49.4M

$194.7M

$151.8M

2027-28

$61.6M

$0 $50M $100M $150M $200M

SOURCE: COPPELL ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

CISD saves $10.3M on high school roof replacement

Coppell ISD can allocate over $10 million as savings or for other bond projects. The numbers are:

Coppell ISD is set to save over $10 million on a 2023 bond project at Coppell High School. The details The district originally allocated $16 million to replace 75% of the school’s roof, Bond Project Manager Sid Grant said at the Jan. 13 meeting. Instead, an architect with the firm Armko recom- mended removing the water-proofing material,

placing another half-inch backer board with a severe hail rating on top of the existing backer board and covering the new top layer with a similar water-proofing material rated for 20 years, Grant said. The change dropped the project cost from $16 million to $5.7 million. District officials said that the $10.3 million saved could be either reallocated into other bond projects or placed into savings.

District savings:

Original project cost:

$16M $10.3M

Updated project cost: $5.7M

SOURCE: COPPELL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION