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RICHARDSON EDITION
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 6 MARCH 3 29, 2023
RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS After a 2022 city hall re, Richardson residents will vote on a bond to partially fund construction of a new building. A 2021 bond and an insurance settlement would likely cover the rest, city o cials said. $85 million estimated cost for project $46 million bond proposition 95,000 -square-foot city hall
Operation Kindness takes over pet adoption center
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2023
SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON COMMUNITY IMPACT
PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE
Local private schools
11
City residents will vote on whether to help fund a new city hall in the May 6 election. (Rendering courtesy city of Richardson)
Richardson voters to decide on city hall plans Richardson residents will vote on whether to approve funding that would contribute to the construction of a new city hall in the May 6 general election. BY JACKSON KING city hall was authorized by voters as part of the 2021 bond election to enhance the building. It included restroom renovations and second- oor o ce improvements. However, an August 2022 re on the rst oor of city hall caused structural and equipment damage,
The Popcorn Shack serves up snacks
18
Updating city hall with modern amenities has been a city goal since 2020. A $22.4 million renovation project for
CONTINUED ON 14
Staffing shortages affect sheriff services
“ UNFORTUNATELY, IN MANY SHERIFFS’ OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE BY ANY MEASURE, THIS IS A CRISIS.” JIM SKINNER, COLLIN COUNTY SHERIFF AND CHAIR OF THE GOVERNMENT VACANCY RATE EXCEEDS 35%.
BY SAMANTHA DOUTY
do, but we’re going to get through it,” Denton County Sheri Tracy Murphree said during a Lewisville Chamber of Commerce meeting in the fall, where he described the “dire” sta ng levels the depart- ment experienced as a way to help recruit. Collin County Sheri Jim Skinner said economic factors contribute to public safety sta ng, such as the future of interest rates, in ation, job growth and even the possible
Local bakery draws national recognition
North Texas sheri s’ depart- ments have experienced sta ng shortages at their respective deten- tion centers. These shortages, which have been seen in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties, have been, in part, the result of a growing job market with more competitive sal- aries, according to data from the Workforce Solutions for North Cen- tral Texas. “I don’t know what we’re going to
19
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CONTINUED ON 16
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RICHARDSON EDITION • MARCH 2023
W hen you contribute a new pair of shoes, they will be received by one of the world’s most vulnerable children. Shoes reduce barriers to school attendance, health issues, and self-esteem. New shoes may be a child’s first experience with God’s love for them. Impact a life today by giving shoes.
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Putting our heart into taking care of yours From diagnosing symptoms to managing and treating existing conditions, Methodist Richardson Medical Center can help you develop a personalized care plan and navigate complex heart issues. Here, you’ll also find skilled specialists, innovative technologies, and minimally invasive options. Providing the advanced heart care our friends and neighbors depend on. That’s community and why so many people Trust Methodist.
Caring for a wide range of heart and vascular conditions, including: • Aortic aneurysm • Arrhythmias • Carotid artery disease • Heart attack • Heart failure • Heart valve disease • Peripheral artery disease • Stroke • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) • Watchman device (LAAO) • Congenital heart disease • Coronary artery disease
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Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Methodist Health System, or any of its affiliated hospitals. Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
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THIS ISSUE
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
MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Tracy Ruckel
FROM TRACY: In this edition, be sure to check out the variety of educational options available in Richardson with our annual private school guide (see Page 11). You can also learn about how sta ng shortages at the local sheri o ces are impacting employees and county jails (see Pages 16-17). In addition, you can nd out where to nd some tasty treats in the city (see Page 19). Tracy Ruckel, GENERAL MANAGER
EDITOR Kevin Cummings REPORTER Jackson King
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FROM KEVIN: It has been about six months since a re at Richardson City Hall caused city employees to nd temporary spaces to work. Check out the latest on the city’s plans to rebuild a new city hall and what it means for residents and Richardson’s ability to attract new talent (see Pages 14-15). Also in this edition, get the latest on what the city is doing to enhance mobility for both motorists and those using alternative modes of transportation (see Page 9). Kevin Cummings, EDITOR
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RICHARDSON EDITION • MARCH 2023
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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ian-style rice dishes, including a surf-and- turf plate, a coconut shrimp plate and Spam Musubi, which is a slice of mari- nated Spam in the eatery’s seasoned rice that is wrapped into a sushi-like handroll. The Richardson location—the second for the company outside of its Watauga, Texas, restaurant—has an open-kitch- en concept where guests can see their food being cooked. 972-504-5676. www.alohachickenandshrimp.com COMING SOON 6 The Burger Shop is expected to open a location in Richardson by the end of the spring. The restaurant will be located at 101 S. Coit Road, Ste. 1, Richardson. No grand opening date has been announced. The Burger Shop, which has a location in Forney, sells a variety of American cuisine, including burgers, salads, milkshakes and wings. www.theburgershopforney.com 7 UrgentVet is opening a new Richard- son clinic at 338 W. Campbell Road. The location is tentatively expected to open
MAP NOT TO SCALE
N TM; © 2023 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NOW OPEN 1 MF Creative Designs opened in mid-January in Richardson at 2051 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 102. The branding house is designed for events and corporations as a meeting and production space by appointment only. MF Creative Designs, which is owned and operated by Principal Design- er Melanie Frazier, o ers a variety of boutique and graphic design needs, according to its website. 214-412-1051. www.mfcreativedesigns.com 2 Twisted Grip Fitness opened in Richardson on Jan. 23. The pole dance tness studio is located at 430 N. Coit Road, Ste. 300, Richardson. The tness studio hosts pole dancing classes and private events designed as a high-aerobic workout. According to the company’s website, pole dancing tness is designed to “tone and de ne
abs, chest and back.” 214-600-8364. www.twistedgrip tness.com
a ghost kitchen, according to Bob Pascal, Franklin Junction chief revenue o cer. Franklin Junction runs e-commerce plat- forms for restaurants and partnered with the Dallas-based Bennigan’s to o er to- go orders and delivery in the Richardson area and other parts of North Texas. The o erings are an abridged version of items on the menu at Bennigan’s, which include the Monte Cristo, the Kilkenny Country Chicken Salad and Bu alo wings. Orders are available for lunch and dinner through online marketplaces, such as Uber Eats, DoorDash and Deliverbee. Pascal noted there is a digital-facing food hall at the hotel, where people can pick up a to-go order, or hotel guests can order to their rooms. www.bennigans.com 5 Aloha Chicken and Shrimp opened in Richardson at the end of November at 581 W. Campbell Road, Ste. 127, next to the former space of I Love You A Latte co ee shop. Aloha serves a variety of Hawai-
3 Modern Image Institute opened Jan. 17 in Richardson at 1300 E. Belt Line Road. Owner Albert Arias, a licensed barber who also operates two Modern Image Stylist locations in Garland and Mesquite, said students at the bar- ber school will be taught theory and techniques in the classroom. From there, students will continue their training on the main salon oor’s cutting sta- tions. Graduates are given the ability to obtain their license and operate at the barbershop. 469-432-0286. www.modernimageco.com 4 Bennigan’s On The Fly opened a “host” kitchen location in January at the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel, which is located at 900 E. Lookout Drive. The location is a host kitchen rather than
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Operation Kindness opened a pet adoption center for cats and dogs Feb. 1 inside the PetSmart North Dallas store. FEATURED IMPACT NEW OWNERSHIP PetSmart has expanded its partnership with Operation Kindness to have the nonpro t operate an COURTESY OPERATION KINDNESS
according to a press release. Founded in 1976, Operation Kindness assists animals in need of veterinary care, companionship and a home, according to the press release. In addition to adoptions, Operation Kindness’ programs provide foster care for vulnerable animals, behavior and training support, and a ordable veterinary services for pets. Operation Kindness o cials said they are seeking out volunteers for the adoption center to assist with feeding, walking, providing a clean space and caring for the pets. Volunteers can sign up here: www.operationkindness.org/volunteer In addition to the center, Operation Kindness has adoptable pets available at its Carrollton shelter, located at 3201 Earhart Drive. 972-381-1588. www.petsmart.com/ stores/us/tx/dallas-store1044
adoption center inside the PetSmart North Dallas store, which is located near Richardson at 16821 Coit Road. The adoption center, which underwent renovations in late 2022 after changing ownership, o ers 15 kennels for adoptable dogs and 10 kennels for adoptable cats. Called the Everyday Adoption Center, the site o cially reopened Feb. 1 with pets available to adopt on the same day. Pets at the adoption center will be provided by Operation Kindness’ shelter in Carrollton, allowing the nonpro t to place more dogs and cats with new families, according to Operation Kindness CEO Ed Jamison. “We are thrilled to be expanding our partnership with PetSmart Charities to help even more animals nd loving homes,” Jamison said in a statement. “Our goal is to have 2,000 adoptions take place within our rst year at the North Dallas store.” PetSmart and Operation Kindness began partnering on adoptions in 2022 with adoptable cats available at the Coit Road location as well as the PetSmart location in Addison, in March, according to the company’s website. UrgentVet is an urgent care clinic for pets, providing care to cats and dogs with illness and injuries, such as fe- ver, upper respiratory infections, cuts and scrapes, stomach concerns, and more, per its website. www.urgentvet.com 8 Visionworks is set to open in its rst location in Richardson on March 10 at 1225 E. Belt Line Road, Ste. 300. The optical retail store was initially expected to open in June 2022 next to Dunkin’. Visionworks o ers eye exams and sells a variety of prescription lenses, sunglass- es and contact lenses. The store will be Visionworks’ rst location in Richardson, according to the company’s website. 800-669-1183. www.visionworks.com
MCCALLUM BLVD.
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NEW OWNERSHIP 9 Dayton Street Partners , a Chica- go-based real estate investment rm, purchased the 65-acre Fujitsu Network Communications property located at 2821 Telecom Parkway in late 2022. The 845,000-square-foot campus housed the headquarters of Fujitsu Network Com- munications and certain operations of Celestica, an electronics manufacturing services rm and business partner of Fu- jitsu. Howard Wedren, founder and man- aging principal of Dayton Street Partners, said the move “falls in line with DSP’s mission to acquire and develop high-bar- rier-to-entry logistics real estate across the U.S.” www.daytonstreetllc.com
jaspersrichardson.com | (214)-716-2610 |
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RICHARDSON EDITION • MARCH 2023
TO DO LIST
March events
COMPILED BY JACKSON KING
MARCH 04 LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC AT SIX SPRINGS TAVERN Six Springs Tavern is hosting the Texas- based Patrice Pike Band. After getting her start as the front woman for the band Sister Seven, Pike developed a solo career mixing rock and soul, and becoming the youngest member of the Austin/Texas Music Hall of Fame in 2007, according to the event’s description. Pike will be joined by special guest Ronda Ray, who released a new album in 2022. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online. $12.50-$120. Six Springs Tavern, 147 N. Plano Road, Richardson. 469-917-3040. www.sixspringslive.com 13 TRY A CALLIGRAPHY WORKSHOP CityLine Plaza is hosting a calligraphy workshop for beginners. The workshop is designed as an introduction to modern calligraphy with a pointed dip pen and ink, covering all the basics for creating mail, wedding paper goods and home decor, according to the event’s description. The class includes 1.5 hours of instruction and a beginner’s calligraphy kit, which includes two nibs, a black ink pot, two letter guides, tracing paper and a straight
Free. Richardson Public Library, 900 Civic Center Drive, Richardson. 972-744-4350. www.cor.net/departments/public-library 19 CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY AT THE EISEMANN CENTER The Charles W. Eisemann Center is hosting an Irish celebration with a performance by the Celtic Angels during their American tour. Headed by a creative team direct from Ireland, the show features award-winning Irish singers, dancers and musicians. 3 p.m. $37-$49. Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson. 972-744-4650. www.eisemanncenter.com/events-tickets 31 THROUGH APRIL 15 ATTEND A PERFORMANCE OF ‘DRIVING MISS DAISY’ The Richardson Theatre Centre is hosting performances of the play “Driving Miss Daisy” March 31- April 15. The play is about Daisy Wertham, an elderly Southern widow, who is forced to rely on a Black man to get her from one place to the next, which leads to analyzing the prejudices and insecurities in the South during the 20th Century. Showtimes vary. $18-$22. Richardson Theatre Centre, 518 W. Arapaho Road, Ste. 113, Richardson. 972-699-1130. www.richardsontheatrecentre.net
pen holder. Paper goods to practice on will also be provided. Attendees can bring their own food and drinks. 6-7:30 p.m. $65. CityLine Plaza, 1150 State St., Richardson. 972-739-5080. https://citylinedfw.com/events 16 DIVE INTO RICHARDSON HISTORY Local history librarian Stacey Davis leads a presentation on city history at the Richardson Public Library. The event highlights each decade of Richardson’s history with activities and fun facts. The event is designed for all ages, but is geared toward students in grades 3-5, according to the event’s description. The presentation will take place in the First Floor Program Room. 2-3 p.m. Free. Richardson Public Library, 900 Civic Center Drive, Richardson. 972-744-4350. www.cor.net/departments/public-library 18 LEARN MAGIC: THE GATHERING AT THE LIBRARY The Richardson Public Library is hosting a class that is focused on teaching residents about the card game Magic: the Gathering. In the class, residents can learn about the real-world history of the card game along with the in-game lore, the mechanics of the game and how to play, according to the event’s description. Online registration is required. 2-4 p.m.
Neil Diamond tribute the “Sweet Caroline Tour” is coming to Richardson.
KEVIN CUMMINGS COMMUNITY IMPACT
FEATURED EVENT Rock out at a Neil Diamond tribute concert The Charles W. Eisemann Center hosts the “Sweet Caroline Tour” March 12. The Neil Diamond tribute concert pays homage to the native New Yorker by performing his hits. Diamond has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, according to Universal Music Enterprises. His songs include “Sweet Caroline,” “Longfellow Serenade” and “Heartlight.” 2 p.m. $45-$60. Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson 972-744-4650 www.eisemanncenter.com/ events-tickets
Find more or submit Richardson 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
COMPILED BY JACKSON KING
ONGOING PROJECTS
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN Richardson’s proposed bike network would include 141 miles of trails, with 87 miles of bike trails already existing. Once completed, 63% of roadways would include dedicated bike/trail facilities.
Richardson is aiming to improve tra c signals across the city.
New miles of bike trails
Total miles of bike trails 141
54
A PR���� L���L��� L�AD�R with U�PARALL�L�D QUAL����A����� ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF FEB. 10. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT RICNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. technologies. The bond-funded project will improve 17 intersections with 14 receiving signal replacements and three receiving signals for the rst time. The project will have four phases with the rst set to nish in October. Others are expected to be improved over the next three scal years. Timeline: December 2022- October 2026 Cost: $7.6 million Funding source: 2021 Bond Program City tra c signal improvements Richardson o cials are planning to improve tra c signals across the city as part of the 2021 bond program. O cials said the goal is to improve safety, ease congestion and help adapt to new transportation designs and
SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON COMMUNITY IMPACT
Richardson City Council discussed the Active Transportation Plan’s expected improvements to biking infrastructure during a Feb. 6 meeting.
PHOTOS BY JACKSON KING COMMUNITY IMPACT
Richardson looks to expand biking infrastructure Richardson o cials are looking to add future transportation projects to improve nonvehicle travel across the city as part of its upcoming Active Transportation Plan. eyeing include adopting bike-share programs, improving access to those covered by the Americans with Dis- abilities Act, creating safe routes to schools and scheduling community walks/rides. According to Project Manager The plan, which builds on a pre-existing Bicycle Facilities and Trailways Plan, is designed to con- nect o - and on-street infrastructure to increase nonvehicle accessibility. It integrates multiple forms of trans- portation, with the aim of creating safe bike trails, making regional connections and eliminating biking network gaps. Other measures city o cials are Christian Lentz, 96% of Richardson residents would be able to access the active transportation network within a ve-minute walk. “[These] initiatives will generate an environment for walking, bicycling and using assisted-mobility devices that are an integrated component of our transportation system,” Project Manager Daniel Herrig said.
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RICHARDSON EDITION • MARCH 2023
AT THE CAPITOL
News from the 88th legislative session
QUOTE OF NOTE
Texas Democrats propose $15K pay raise for teachers
NUMBER TO KNOW $57.5 million This is how much state Senators have allocated in the draft 2024-25 biennium budget for anti-human tra cking e orts, including victims services, mental health treatment for survivors and law enforcement training. UPDATES FROM LOCAL LEGISLATORS “THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: WE’RE NOT GOING TO END THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITHOUT HAVING STRATEGIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE POWER TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.” GOV. GREG ABBOTT, DURING A JAN. 31 WINTER STORM MARA UPDATE
BY HANNAH NORTON
National Education Association, Texas now ranks 28th. “In Texas, it’s go big or go home. And it’s time, at this moment, to go big on teacher pay,” Talarico said at a Jan. 24 news conference. Before becoming a lawmaker, Tala- rico taught language arts at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio. “I struggled to make ends meet, and my coworkers at Rhodes Middle School drove Ubers at night and sold their own blood plasma to make extra money,” Talarico said. “Now, 40% of Texas teachers work a second job just to pay the bills.” Other supporters of the bill include state Reps. Trey Martinez Fischer, D San Antonio; Gina Hinojosa, D Aus- tin; and Terry Meza, D Irving. Many districts lost up to one-third of their teachers, Austin ISD board President Arati Singh said. “This leads to bigger class sizes, ... smaller course o erings and an increased likelihood that you have an
EDUCATOR PAY RAISE Under House Bill 1548, lawmakers would propose a:
One proposed bill by Texas Demo- crats aims to increase teacher pay after 11.6% of teachers—over 42,000—left their jobs at public schools ahead of the 2021-22 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency. State Rep. James Talarico, D Round Rock, led House Bill 1548—which is supported by the Texas House Democratic Caucus—that would raise teacher salaries by $15,000 and increase pay for school support sta by 25%. This would bring the minimum annual salary for Texas teachers to $48,660. During the 2022-23 school year, classroom teachers, full-time librarians, counselors and registered nurses with less than one year of expe- rience must receive at least $33,660 per year, according to the TEA. Under the bill, the average teacher salary would be $73,887, making Texas the seventh-best state for teacher pay, Democrats said. According to the
Anti-human tra cking e ort aims to raise recognition, reporting The bill would also reduce property taxes, Singh said. The TEA partially funds schools based on attendance. The rest of the money schools receive comes from local property taxes. uncerti ed teacher teaching your kids how to read,” Singh said. This session, Texas lawmakers have $188 billion available for the 2024-25 biennium state budget, including nearly $33 billion leftover from the previous biennium. $15,000 teacher salary increase 25% increase in pay for school support sta $48,660 minimum teacher salary, up from $33,660 $73,887 average teacher salary SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE COMMUNITY IMPACT
ANGIE CHEN BUTTON, DISTRICT 112 Republican-Richardson Elected: 2009
Residents can report latest winter storm damage
BY HANNAH NORTON
Texans are not guaranteed disaster relief assistance when reporting to the state. “I urge any Texan who sustained property damage to report it in order to aid o cials in identifying com- munity needs,” said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Abbott also issued a statewide disaster declaration for the seven counties of Denton, Hays, Hen- derson, Milam, Smith, Travis and Williamson. The declaration makes state emergency resources available to help cities and counties as they continue to repair infrastructure, clean up debris and restore electricity in local power outages.
Texans impacted by Winter Storm Mara can report damage to their homes and businesses. The Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool, which can be found in English and Spanish, allows emergency management o cials to measure how much damage occurred during the storm and determine where resources are most needed, according to a Feb. 2 news release from Gov. Greg Abbott’s o ce. It also helps with receiving federal disaster assistance as a result of the storm. Reporting damage online is entirely voluntary and should not be done in place of submitting reports to insurance agencies, the release said.
HB 796 Chen Button led a bill that would create a new section for the state’s tax code, requiring the chief appraiser of each appraisal district in Texas to maintain a publicly available, searchable online database of its protest hearings by the beginning of 2024. The bill would not apply retroactively.
BY HANNAH NORTON
State and community leaders relaunched the “Can You See Me?” human tra cking campaign Jan. 26 aimed at spreading awareness of the signs of tra cking and how to report suspicious activity. About 300 billboards will be displayed in over 70 Texas cities with information about the cam- paign and hotlines to call to report possible human tra cking. “These victims are not invisible if we learn to look for the signs, and if we learn how to report suspected abuse, exploitation and tra ck- ing,” said Texas rst lady Cecilia Abbott, who led the campaign’s relaunch. The state’s initial budget in Senate Bill 1 includes $57.5 million for anti-human tra cking e orts, including victims services, mental health treatment for survivors and law enforcement training, Sen. Joan Hu man, R Houston, said.
JUSTIN HOLLAND, DISTRICT 33 Republican-Rockwall Elected: 2017
HB 1514 Holland led a bill that would make changes to existing legislation regarding residents’ protest of municipal zoning regulations and boundaries. If passed, the bill would increase the percentage of residents either inside the boundaries of the zoning change or within 200 feet of the a ected property required to protest a proposal from 20% to 50%. Sign up for our newsletter at communityimpact.com for daily updates throughout the session. SUBSCRIBE TODAY
HOW TO REPORT STORM DAMAGE
Residents a ected by Winter Storm Mara can report their damage to help with disaster assistance.
When submitting, include: • Photos • Key information • Location of the damage • Scope of loss • Livability of the building
Visit Select “ Ice Storm/Winter Weather January 29-Ongoing ” under “ active incidents .” There is no deadline to report damage. https://damage.tdem.texas.gov.
SOURCE: TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
2023
PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE
GUIDE
A noncomprehensive guide to xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxx private schools A noncomprehensive guide to Richardson's private schools
COMPILED BY XXXXXXXX COMPILED BY JACKSON KING
PLANO PKWY.
972 234 6322 www.ndaacademy.org 7 Qalam Collegiate Academy Grades served: 5 12 Religious orientation: Islamic Extracurricular activities: clubs and programs Enrollment: 88 Tuition: $800 monthly (grades 5 10), $600 monthly (grades 11 12) 1111 Digital Drive, Ste. 101, Richardson 972 437 2526 www.myqca.org 8 Saint Paul Catholic Classical School Grades served: pre-K 8 Religious orientation: Catholic Extracurricular activities: athletics, clubs, ne arts Enrollment: 137 Tuition: $8,990 annually (parishioner), $10,500 annually (nonparishioner) 720 S. Floyd Road, Richardson | 972 235 3263 www.spsdfw.org 9 Salam Academy Grades served: pre-K 12 Religious orientation: Islamic Extracurricular activities: sports and recreation program Enrollment: 220 Tuition: $375 monthly 735 N. Plano Road, Ste. 100, Richardson 972 704 4373 www.salamfoundation.us 10 St. Joseph Catholic School Grades served: pre-K 8 Religious orientation: Catholic Extracurricular activities: athletics, clubs, ne arts, robotics Enrollment: 289 Tuition: $8,200 annually (parishioner),
PGBT TOLL
RENNER RD.
6
CUSTER PKWY.
BRECKINRIDGE BLVD.
75
3
RICHARDSON
1
CAMPBELL RD.
7
2
DIGITAL DR.
ARAPAHO RD.
4
9
78
NEWBERRY DR.
S. FLOYD RD.
BELT LINE RD.
8
5
SPRING VALLEY RD.
10
MAP NOT TO SCALE
N TM; © 2023 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
KEY
Montessori
Religion based Traditional
BUCKINGHAM RD.
Private schools around Richardson o er a variety of specialized instruction from di erent religious a liations and various types of curriculum. This guide features primary and middle schools with grade levels through eighth grade as well as high schools with grade levels through 12th grade.
3 Dallas International School Grades served: 5 12 (Upper School) Extracurricular activities: athletics, electives, programs Enrollment: 230 Tuition: $24,000-$28,400 annually 17811 Waterview Parkway, Dallas 469 250 0001 www.dallasinternationalschool.org 4 Dallas Learning Center Grades served: 6 12 Extracurricular activities: art Enrollment: 40 Tuition: $4,500 per semester (middle school), $7,000 per semester (high school) 1021 Newberry Drive, Richardson | 972 231 3723 www.dallaslearningcenter.com
5 IANT Quranic Academy Grades served: K 12 Religious orientation: Islamic Extracurricular activities: student council Enrollment: 325 Tuition: $7,000 annually 840 Abrams Road, Richardson | 972 231 8451 www.myiqa.org 6 North Dallas Adventist Academy Grades served: pre-K 12 Religious orientation: Seventh-Day Adventist Extracurricular activities: athletics, clubs, community service, ne arts, National Honor Society, outdoor education, robotics team Enrollment: 253
1 Breckinridge Montessori School Grades served: pre-K 5 Extracurricular activities: n/a Enrollment: n/a Tuition: n/a 3900 Breckinridge Blvd., Richardson 972 664 1177 www.breckinridgemontessori.com 2 Bridge Builder Academy Grades served: 1 12 Extracurricular activities: none Enrollment: 32 Tuition: $35,000-$45,000 annually 1221 W. Campbell Road, Ste. 209, Richardson 972 516 8844 www.bridgebuilderacademy.com
$9,400 annually (nonparishioner) 600 S. Jupiter Road, Richardson 972 234 4679 www.stjosephccschool.net
Tuition: $700-$1,800 monthly 2800 Custer Parkway, Richardson
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
FAITH WISDOM VIRTUE FAITH WISDOM VIRTUE ONE OF ONLY SIX INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION MEMBER SCHOOLS IN TEXAS AND THE ONLY PREMIER MEMBER 972.235.3263 | SPSDFW.ORG | 720 S FLOYD RD RICHARDSON, TX 75080
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RICHARDSON EDITION • MARCH 2023
CITY & SCHOOLS
News from Richardson & Richardson ISD
Richardson City Council will meet March 20 and 27 at 6 p.m. Due to a re at City Hall, council meetings have been temporarily relocated to the Richardson Police Department at 200 N. Greenville Ave. www.cor.net Richardson ISD board of trustees will meet March 9 and 30 at 6 p.m. at the RISD Administrative Building, 400 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson. The meetings are streamed live online. www.risd.org MEETINGS WE COVER tax rate of $1.0409 per $100 valuation. The portion of RISD’s tax rate used to pay principal and interest on bonds approved by voters, known as the debt service tax rate, remains unchanged at $0.35. The total tax rate is set at $1.3146 per $100 valuation, the lowest overall rate in seven years. HIGHLIGHTS RICHARDSON ISD The district set a maintenance and operations tax rate that is its lowest in 30 years, according to a Jan. 12 board of trustees meeting. District o cials said Richardson ISD’s M&O tax rate will be $0.9646 per $100 valuation, which is 7.3% lower than last year’s operating
Dubey, DePuy running for mayor position; 3 city council races have multiple candidates
Richardson ISD board election draws challengers for 2 trustee positions
School district adds weather makeup day
WHEN TO VOTE
Here is when to vote in the upcoming 2023 Richardson City Council and Richardson ISD elections.
BY JACKSON KING
BY JACKSON KING
in the 2014 board election. Abadie lost to Kristin Kuhne for at-large Place 7 in 2014. Rentería was rst elected in 2020. Incumbent Eric Eager is running against challenger Blake Sawyer in the at-large Place 6 race. Sawyer previously ran for at-large Place 7 in the 2021 election, nishing third out of seven candidates. Eager was rst elected in 2020. Board members serve three-year staggered terms and are not subject to term limits. Five of the seven The exemption for people who are over age 65 and/or disabled is used by Richardson to alleviate some of their property tax burden, according to city o cials. It is designed to be about 30% of the average value of a senior’s house. With the increase, senior residents
BY JACKSON KING
RICHARDSON ISD The district announced during a Feb. 16 board of trustees meeting that it is designating April 10 as an instructional day to account for inclement weather cancellations in late January and early February. That day was previously earmarked by the district as a weather makeup day. Superintendent Tabitha Branum said the district needs to use that day to o set the four- day school closure between Jan. 31-Feb. 3 due to inclement weather conditions. Branum said the district has no plans to alter its other designated weather makeup date, April 7, at this time. According to state regulations, RISD is required to have 75,600 instructional minutes per year. The district intentionally includes 440 instructional minutes in its school days, more than the 420 required by the state, to bank for additional weather makeup days. District o - cials said the rst two school cancellations, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, were o set by banked minutes. During the Feb. 16 meeting, the RISD board also approved an action item to compensate employees during the four school closure days.
RICHARDSON ISD The ling deadline for the district’s May 6 board of trustees general election ended Feb. 17 with four candidates signing up for the two seats that are up for election. Both the at-large Place 6 and single-member District 3 seats will see contested races in the upcoming election. In the District 3 race, incumbent Debbie Rentería will face challenger Bonnie Abadie, who previously ran
ELECTION CONTENDERS
RICHARDSON The mayoral seat and all six City Council seats are on the ballot for the May 6 election, and four of those races are contested. Council Members Bob Dubey and Janet DePuy are running for Richardson mayor. Dubey, who retired as Richardson ISD athletic director in 2016, has represented Place 1 since 2017. DePuy was elected to council’s Place 3 seat in 2019 after serving on the Richardson City Plan Commission for over 10 years. Mayor Paul Voelker previously announced that he was not seeking re-election, stating he did not want to head into the next cycle as a “lame duck” mayor. In the three contested council races, Curtis Dorian is running against G. Scott Waddell to succeed Dubey for Place 1. For Place 3, which was left vacant by DePuy, Stephen Springs is facing o against Dan Barrios. The only incumbent facing a challenger for re-election is Council Member Ken Hutchenrider. He is running against Todd Hunter for Place 5, which is an at-large seat. Three other incumbents are unopposed for the remaining council races with Jennifer Justice running for Place 2, Joe Corcoran running for Place 4
Early voting: April 24 - May 2
Council Members Bob Dubey and Janet DePuy are running in the Richardson mayoral election after Paul Voelker announced he would not seek re-election.
Election Day: May 6
SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON COMMUNITY IMPACT
seats on the board are chosen by registered voters of speci c dis- tricts, while the remaining two seats are elected at large by all voters.
Bob Dubey
Janet DePuy
Curtis Dorian and G. Scott Waddell are running for Place 1. Stephen Springs and Dan Barrios are running for Place 3.
City approves raising senior tax exemption
are expected to collectively save more than $6.2 million in taxes. City o cials said the increase provides a more than 31% estimated tax bene t on the average value of a senior’s home for scal year 2023-24, adding it will cut an additional $140 from tax bills annually for eligible households.
SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON COMMUNITY IMPACT
and Are n Shamsul running for Place 6. The mayor and all council members are elected to two-year terms with no member allowed to serve more than six consecutive two-year terms in any place, according to city o cials.
BY JACKSON KING
RICHARDSON The city increased its senior tax exemption by $25,000 to $130,000 at a Feb. 13 meeting.
DALLAS 9500 North Central Expressway (214) 369-2800 ADDISON 15055 Inwood Road (972) 239-5891
CHANGING PLANS
RENEWING RICHARDSON After initially planning to renovate city hall, Richardson officials are asking voters for funds to build a new city hall due to renovation costs increasing because of a fire.
Cost of new city hall construction
Scope of library renovations
Initially set for renovations, Richardson City Hall could now be fully replaced after a 2022 fire caused significant
$35.8M total base construction $5.3M escalation due to fire delay $4.2M relocation expenses $2.8M scope/site enhancements
$46M general obligation bond (Proposition A in the May 6 general election) $22.4M in 2021 bond funding $16.5M+ expected insurance settlement It will cost around $25M more to build a new city hall compared to renovating the existing building.
$85M* expected total cost
$48.1M total cost
infrastructure damage.
1980 Richardson City Hall and Public Library are built 2020 City hall and library identified as areas in need of major renovations November 2021 Richardson City Hall and Public Library bond program passes February 2022 Richardson outlines initial timeline for city hall and library projects August 2022 Fire at Richardson City Hall damages building, delays renovation projects January 2023 City officials present plan for constructing new city hall February 2023 Richardson City Council calls election on $46 million general obligation bond May 6, 2023 General election date for city hall bond project Summer 2023 Move-in date for temporary city hall facility Summer 2026 Estimated completion for construction of new city hall
To fund the construction of a new city hall, Richardson was approved by the Texas Attorney General’s Office to access the initial $22.4 million from the 2021 bond project, Magner said. Rich- ardson officials also said they expect to receive at least $16.5 million in insur- ance claims for the damaged city hall. To fund the remainder of the proj- ect, voters will decide May 6 on a prop- osition for a general obligation bond referendum that would raise $46 mil- lion in new funds to help pay for the construction of a new city hall at its existing site. Richardson Director of Communi- cations Greg Sowell said the option to renovate city hall is still available if the proposition fails, among other possibilities. Richardson City Council showed support for the idea of a new city hall when Magner presented options on whether to renovate or construct during a January meeting. “With new construction, we’re going to probably eliminate or reduce the probability of having fires so easily,” Council Member Arefin Shamsul said at a Jan. 23 meeting. “Even though [the cost of the project] is a lot of money, I think the benefit it provides as a whole to the city is a positive sign.” If approved during the election, con- struction on a new city hall building *COST FIGURES ARE PRELIMINARY AND DO NOT EQUAL EXPECTED TOTAL DUE TO ROUNDING AND ESTIMATES. SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON/COMMUNITY IMPACT
with plans to renovate the library. A temporary site for both facilities will be set up through the end of 2026. Resident Matthew Martin, a long- time city hall user who spoke at several council meetings on the construction effort, said Richardson’s pursuit of a new city hall is an opportunity to reju- venate interest in its projects. “At the end of the day, if we try to revitalize the building, you’re still going to have a [40-year-old] building,” he said. “This way, we can build fresh and have a more efficient structure that fits in with the community better.” New city hall By building a new city hall, Richard- son officials said they hope to create a more community-friendly site that would provide a number of benefits to residents. Magner said the construction project is designed to provide more efficiency overall for city officials, with the build- ing being at least 15% more energy efficient than the existing structure. It would also give Richardson an edge on attracting and retaining talent by hav- ing up-to-date facilities. “By having staff better organized and more strategically located, we think people will be able to do their jobs more efficiently, which will trans- late to better services,” he said.
CONTINUED FROM 1
forcing Richardson officials to relocate services to other facilities and con- sider building a new city hall. The fire also forced a delay to the concurrent Richardson Public Library renovation project, which was also part of the 2021 bond program. Richardson City Manager Don Mag- ner recommended the expected $85 million project to build a new city hall on the same property during a Jan- uary City Council meeting. The esti- mated 95,000-square-foot building, if approved, would be located near the existing city hall across from the Rich- ardson Public Library at the corner of West Arapaho Road and North Central Expressway. Plans also call for leveling the existing building to create a general community space. If the bond proposition is approved, no tax rate increase would be associated with the sale of the bonds, Magner said. Magner added the new city hall and a renovated library should provide residents with a more streamlined experience. “[Residents] need to be able to do their business more efficiently and feel at home in both facilities,” he said. Separate from the May 6 bond elec- tion, city officials are moving forward
SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
NORTH DALLAS ADVENTIST ACADEMY Faith-based Academic Exellence College Prep
Call 972-708-1036 to schedule a 15-minute free case evaluation.
100 N Central Expy, Suite 416 Richardson, TX 75080 972-708-1036 Tran Fawcett Law, PLLC
WILLS TRUSTS ESTATE PLANNING PROBATE
2800 Custer Parkway, Richardson, TX 75080 972-234-6322 NDAAcademy.org
Phuong M. Tran Fawcett, JD, LLM Attorney
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