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RICHARDSON EDITION
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 12 AUG. 31 SEPT. 28, 2023
EDUCATION EDITION 2023
Sugar brings organic treats to Richardson
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DART adds new security o cers EDUCATION EDITION 2023 SPONSORED BY • Methodist Richardson Medical Center
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Building nancial literacy
District data
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Richardson ISD hopes the SMART Branch will help teach nancial literacy, something o cials want all students to know by graduation. COURTESY RICHARDSON ISD
Reopened restaurant o ers Turkish avors
Richardson ISD o cials to unveil student-run bank branch at Berkner High
17
Pull the newest teaser from CC Libraries
BY KEVIN CUMMINGS
V. Berkner High School and STEM Academy campus by the end of Sep- tember. The partnership is designed to bring more nancial services to the community and help give stu- dents the knowledge and skills they’ll need for success after grad- uation. It will also add to the cam- pus’ in-house STEM Academy that focuses on science, technology,
engineering and math education. “Our hope is that students expe- rience what it’s like to work in the banking and nance indus- try,” said Creighton Bryan, RISD executive director of career and technical education, via email. “We want them to put into prac- tice what they have learned CONTINUED ON 12
Area residents will soon be able to take care of their personal nances while helping the next generation learn nancial literacy at a new bank to besta edbyRichardsonISDstudents. In partnership with Dallas-based Credit Union of Texas, the district is planning to open a fully func- tioning bank branch on the Lloyd
THIS ISSUE
MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Tracy Ruckel EDITOR Kevin Cummings REPORTERS Dustin Butler, Cecilia Lenzen, Connor Pittman GRAPHIC DESIGNER José Jiménez ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Collin Rohr METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Leanne Libby MANAGING EDITOR William C. Wadsack MANAGING COPY EDITOR Beth Marshall SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Breanna Flores CONTACT US 7460 Warren Parkway, Ste. 160 Frisco, TX 75034 • 512-989-6808 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES ricnews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING ricads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH
FROM TRACY: Welcome to the Education Edition. Within, readers can find information on student demographics across Richardson ISD (see Page 11), along with a Q&A with Superintendent Tabitha Branum about the upcoming school year (see Page 16). In addition, readers can learn about an expansion of a cellphone-free enforcement effort within the district that involves locking them up in individual pouches during the school day (see Page 15). Tracy Ruckel, GENERAL MANAGER
FROM KEVIN: As Richardson ISD enters a new school year, in this edition we look into how the district is improving financial literacy with a new student-run bank (see Pages 12- 13). Also in this edition, readers can learn more about increased security efforts on Dallas Area Rapid Transit trains (see Page 7), along with information about how the city’s new budget could affect residents (see Page 9) and the reopening of a Middle Eastern restaurant in the southern part of the city (see Page 17). Kevin Cummings, EDITOR
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RICHARDSON EDITION • AUGUST 2023
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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Pu’er Taiwan Tea & Co ee
DUSTIN BUTLER COMMUNITY IMPACT
BUCKINGHAM RD.
RENOVATIONS 7 Walmart sta held a ribbon cutting and grand reopening ceremony Aug. 11 for a store located at the border of Richardson and Dallas. The store, located at 15757 Coit Road, Dallas, now has an expanded apparel section with more brands and a new tting room area, up- dated bakery and deli counters, a larger electronics department with a bigger selection of laptops and televisions, and a new self checkout area. 972-235-0681. www.walmart.com NAME CHANGES 8 FirstTea Bubble Tea House reopened July 18, a company spokes- person said. The shop was previously named ShareTea and serves similar products, such as fruit tea, milk tea and brewed tea, with plans to eventually sell food. The shop is located at 1386 E. Belt Line Road., Richardson 469-372-6023.
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NOW OPEN 1 Organic dessert shop Sugar opened Aug. 4 in Richardson at 1403 E. Campbell Road, Ste. 110. Sugar features a large outdoor patio and serves a selection of desserts, including organic gelato and baked goods. It also serves a variety of drinks, including co ee, tea and boba. 214-484-6446 2 Richardson Guitar Works opened Aug. 1 in the city. The shop, located at 420 N. Coit Road, Ste. 2017, Richard- son, o ers full-service string instru- ment repair with a focus on guitars and guitar lessons. 214-534-6161. www.richardsonguitarworks.com 3 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is now open in Richardson. The restaurant, located at 1445 E. Belt Line Road, opened July 27, a company representative said. The Louisiana-inspired restaurant serves
several fried chicken options with Cajun avoring, including chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, biscuits and sides. 682-282-6766. www.popeyes.com 4 Pu’er Taiwan Tea & Co ee is now open in Richardson. The shop opened July 22, a company representative said. Located at 2000 N. Plano Road, Ste. 103, Pu’er Taiwan Tea & Co ee serves co ee, boba tea, fruit tea, smoothies and sandwiches. In addition to the Richardson location, Pu’er also has a location in Katy. 469-988-6868. www.puerteaco ee.com 5 Austin-based grocery store chain Desi Brothers held a soft opening on Aug. 24 with a grand opening planned Aug. 31 for its rst North Texas store, a company representative said. The Rich- ardson grocery store, located at 100 S. Central Expressway, Ste. 26C, will o er a variety of dry goods, frozen
meals and fresh produce focused on avors found in South Asia and the Middle East, according to the company’s website. No phone number is available at this time. www.desibrothers.com EXPANSIONS 6 Talley Riggins Construction Group’s headquarters were expanded Aug. 14 in the Campbell Creative Center, a four-building development positioned within the Richardson Innovation Quar- ter. According to a news release, this is the third expansion for the construction group, making it the second-largest tenant in the Campbell Creative Center. Talley Riggins Construction Group, located at 1217 Digital Drive, Ste. 100, provides general contracting ser- vices within several business sectors. 469-409-1050. www.talley-riggins.com
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Happy Hippie Brewing Company primarily brews beer in the Belgian tradition but also o ers IPAs, pale ales and milk stouts.
COURTESY HAPPY HIPPIE BREWING COMPANY
CLOSINGS 9 The Serpentarium in Richardson is temporarily closed after a re on Aug. 12. Owners of the specialty pet store, located at 630 S. Central Expressway, Ste. 102, said they hope to relocate into the space next door, according to the company’s social media account. A re- opening date has not been announced. The Serpentarium sells a variety of live pets, such as amphibians, snakes and turtles, along with the items need- ed to care for them. 972-803-4004. www.snakemuseum.com 10 Archie’s Guitar in Richardson, which rst opened in 2016, has permanently closed, according to the company’s social media. The guitar store was an authorized dealer for several name-brand guitars. In addition to selling accessories, Archie’s also o ered guitar lessons. The shop was located at 100 S. Central Express- way, Ste. 46, and closed in early June. www.archiesguitars.com opening date still hasn’t been set, but Frederick said he expects the brewery to open in early to mid-October, adding that the taproom will be the location’s main focus. “Being a hippie is a philosophy of walking your path, being who you are regardless of what society may expect you to be,” Frederick said in a news release. “Hippies come in all FEATURED IMPACT COMING SOON Happy Hippie Brewing Company is opening soon in the Lockwood district of Richardson. Owner Michael Frederick said the brewery and taproom, located at 500 Lockwood Drive, primarily brews beer in the Belgian tradition but also o ers IPAs, pale ales and milk stout. An
shapes and sizes and have diverse perspectives that span the spectrums of political, philosophic and religious views. It is our mission to build a destination brewery in Richardson built upon these principles.” No phone number is available at this time. www.happyhippiebeer.com
LOCKWOOD DR.
75
W. BELT LINE RD.
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11
La Casita Bakeshop
DUSTIN BUTLER COMMUNITY IMPACT
IN THE NEWS 11 La Casita Bakeshop is now open on certain weekdays. According to a compa- ny representative, the bakery, located at 580 W. Arapaho Road, Ste. 154, expanded its operating hours to include weekdays July 12. The shop is now open Wednes- days-Fridays from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturdays-Sundays from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. La Casita serves co ee, pastries and other baked goods. 972-863-8786. www.lacasitabakeshop.com
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RICHARDSON EDITION • AUGUST 2023
TO DO LIST
September events
COMPILED BY DUSTIN BUTLER
SEPTEMBER 01 THROUGH 17
Rocky Athas will perform at Six Springs Tavern. Lopez has released several studio albums, most recently “Tell the Truth” in 2018 and has received acclaim for his music. 7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (showtime). $15-$150. 147 N. Plano Road, Richardson. 469-917-3040. https://bit.ly/3OExu6I 23 CHECK OUT FIRST RESPONDER GEAR The Richardson Police Department is hosting its Public Safety Expo, a free event for families where police and re department vehicles will be on display. In addition, attendees will see demonstrations from the K9 Unit and drone team, visit with SWAT Team members and see a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter. Vendors and city o cials will provide safety and emergency preparedness information. 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Hu ines Park, 300 N. Plano Road, Richardson. 972-744-4955. https://bit.ly/44RizMd 23 SEE FRANKENSTEIN’S MONSTER Chicago-based performance collective and design studio Manual Cinema will perform author Mary Shelley’s classic gothic tale “Frankenstein” at the Charles W. Eisemann Center. The group combines shadow puppets, cinematic techniques, sound e ects
and live music into the show, according to the event’s description. 8 p.m. $47-$57. 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson. 972-744-4650. www.eisemanncenter.com/events-tickets 27 ATTEND AN AUTHOR LUNCHEON The University of Texas at Dallas will host an author luncheon and conversation with novelist Shelby Van Pelt, author of “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” which tells the story of a widow and her connection with a giant octopus. The novel is also the 2023 Richardson Reads One Book selection. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $30. Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson. 972-883-5393. https://bit.ly/43RmSpu 29 CELEBRATE REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC Musical group Mariachi Herencia de Mexico, along with special guest and Grammy-winner La Marisoul, will perform at the Eisemann Center. The concert will honor regional Mexican music and culture of the past and present. 8 p.m. $$32-$42. 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson. 972-744-4650. https://bit.ly/3KqrUlW
GO TO THE THEATRE The Richardson Theatre Centre will host performances of “Misery,” based on the book by Stephen King. The story follows novelist Paul Sheldon, who wakes up captive by his No. 1 fan, Anne Wilkes, following a car crash. Thu. 7:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $20-$22. 518 W. Arapaho Road, Ste. 113, Richardson. 972-699-1130. www.richardsontheatrecentre.net/ season23.html 09 SEE A TRIBUTE TO THE KING OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Kraig Parker, an award-winning Elvis Presley tribute artist, will perform with an 18-piece orchestra conducted by Dallas resident Bryan English at the Charles W. Eisemann Center. The event promises a powerful, electric and dramatic tribute to Elvis. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. $45-$60. 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson. 972-744-4650. www.eisemanncenter.com/events-tickets 22 ATTEND A BLUES ROCK CONCERT Dallas-based blues musician Lance Lopez, with special guests Shaw Davis, The Black Ties and “Texas Tornado”
Light Up Lockwood will feature a laser light show, vendors and live entertainment.
COURTESY CITY OF RICHARDSON
FEATURED EVENT Attend Light Up Lockwood On Sept. 16, the city of Richardson and the CORE district will host Light Up Lockwood, featuring a laser light show. There will also be a variety of local food options, drinks, shopping and live entertainment. Vendors include Lockwood Distilling Co., Greenville Avenue Pizza Co. and Happy Hippie Brewing Company, among others. 6-10 p.m. Free (admission). 510 Lockwood Drive, Richardson https://bit.ly/3OEUWRi
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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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES DART planning to hire 100 new security o cers
COMPILED BY CECILIA LENZEN
UPCOMING PROJECTS
WATERVIEW PKWY.
FRANKFORD RD.
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SYNERGY PARK BLVD.
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Dallas Area Rapid Transit will add more than 100 transit security o cers to its eet, agency o cials announced July 25. The details: The new security o cers will provide “enhanced service” on DART’s light rail vehicles and plat- forms along with the Trinity Railway Express, according to a news release. They will focus on monitoring violations to DART’s code of conduct and any unlawful activities on DART property. The o cers will add to DART’s already existing sta of 252 DART police o cers and fare enforcement o cers. Funded by the agency’s Ridership Improvement Funds, the program will cost $15.3 million in its rst year, a DART spokesperson said.
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF AUG. 7. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT RICNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. nancing programs, DART member cities sales taxes, U.S. Department of Transportation occur through the summer. Timeline: 2010-mid-2026 (entire Silver Line project) Cost: $1.89 billion (entire project) Funding source: DART capital Silver Line Regional Rail Project Dallas Area Rapid Transit o cials gave updates on upcoming work on the Silver Line project on July 26: A A closure on Synergy Park Bou- levard near Point North Parkway will happen early September. B Lane closures on Waterview Crossing between Frankford Road and Synergy Park Boulevard expected to
Dallas Area Rapid Transit o cials are planning a series of security enhancements to the agency’s eet. (William C. Wadsack/Community Impact)
Quote of note: “Having a visible presence on as many of our vehicles as possible will be an important deterrent to misconduct, and I hope it also demonstrates our continued commitment to our customers to keep them safe,” DART Police Chief Charlie Cato stated in the news release. Going forward: DART riders can expect to immediately see the new security o cers being integrated,
but transit agency o cials expect the program to be fully sta ed by mid-August. The new security program is one of a series of planned DART security improvements that riders can expect to see made over the next several months, according to the news release. Improvements will include technology enhancements, physical deterrents and collaborative partner- ships across DART’s 13 member cities.
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CITY & SCHOOLS
News from Collin County, Richardson & Richardson ISD
HIGHLIGHTS RICHARDSON After the
Proposed Richardson budget increases city employee pay RICHARDSON The city’s proposed budget allocates additional funding to street maintenance while keeping the same property tax rate. BY CONNOR PITTMAN tax bill will increase by $141 due to rising property values.
Richardson City Council meets Sept. 4, 11, 28 and 25 at 6 p.m. Due to a re at City Hall, council meetings have been temporarily relocated to the Richardson Police Department at 600 N. Greenville Ave. www.cor.net Richardson ISD board of trustees meets Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. at the RISD Administrative Building. The meetings are streamed online at www.risd.org. MEETINGS WE COVER retirement of previous Parks and Recreation Director Lori Smeby in June, Yvonne Falgout was named the new parks and recreation director starting Aug. 1. Falgout has served as Richardson’s assistant director of recreation services since 2016, part of her nearly 30-year career as a parks and recreation professional, according to a news release. Falgout will oversee the department’s functions in the city, including managing and maintaining 1,000 acres of parkland and 90 miles of trails, overseeing special events, managing the department’s recreation, athletic and aquatic programs. COLLIN COUNTY The demand for houses in Collin County continues to rise, even as the area recorded a 5.3% decrease in median sales price year over year in June. The county saw a median sales price of $539,580 compared to $569,500 in June 2022, according to a Collin County Association of Realtors news release. Despite the price drop, the county’s months supply of homes for sale indicates a strong seller’s market. More than two months of supply were available in June. A market is considered balanced when there is a six-month supply of homes for sale, according to the news release. Collin County saw a 22.7% decrease in new listings, while houses took 19 days longer on average to sell compared to 2022.
employees. “The focus on people is foremost,” Magner said. The tax rate is expected to remain the same at $0.56095 per $100 valuation, including the $0.34316 maintenance and operations rate and the $0.21779 interest and sinking rate. However, the average homeowner’s
To address infrastructure, the proposed budget allocates over $7.69 million for street maintenance and rehabilitation. City Council is expected to approve the budget Aug. 28, after publication of this article.
Based on city documents, the pro- posed budget has revenues of more than $381 million and expenditures of about $399 million. City o cials expect the shortfall to be o set by the timing of federal grant funding, certain expenditures and previously set aside funds. The big picture: City Manager Don Magner said there were three areas of focus: infrastructure, public safety, and recruitment and retention. To help ll vacancies and retain talent, Magner said city sta included a 6% compensation increase for all city
RATE INCREASES In addition to a likely property tax bill increase, Richardson residents will also deal with other annual increases related to water and waste.
$29
$14 $12
increase for water service for 8,000 gallons per
wastewater bill increase based on 98% of water usage increase for solid waste to be paid with a at $1 monthly
month usage between October and May and 18,000 gallons per month between June and September
bill increase
SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON COMMUNITY IMPACT
Richardson ISD to hire new campus security
Election set for $683M Collin County bond
BY CECILIA LENZEN
BY SAMANTHA DOUTY
RICHARDSON ISD O cials are planning to hire 36 new campus secu- rity o cers who will mostly focus on elementary schools to comply with House Bill 2, which requires armed guards at every Texas school. To fund the e ort, districts have received $15,000 in state funding per campus, which equals about $825,000 for RISD per year, along with a 28-cent increase in the state’s safety and security allotment per stu- dent that brings it to $10 per student. The expected cost for RISD is about $2.4 million.
COLLIN COUNTY Residents will see a $683 million bond package with ve propositions on the Nov. 7 ballot. The details: Proposition A includes $261.86 million for justice facility projects. Proposition B includes $5.7 mil- lion for the county’s animal shelter. Proposition C includes $13.36 mil- lion for a medical examiner’s o ce at 2300 Bloomdale Road, McKinney. Proposition D encompasses $22.45 million for parks and open
A dog at the Collin County Animal Shelter. (Community Impact sta )
spaces throughout the county. Proposition E would dedicate $380 million for various road projects. Collin County last called a bond election in 2018, which was approved. The $750 million bond package funded roadways and park projects.
Sain Catholic is one of o schools in ICLE school Catholic C is one of o schools in ICLE school
WHY A CATHOLIC CLASSICAL EDUCATION? Encouraging children to seek truth, goodness and beauty in all things will ultimately lead them to walk with Christ. At SPCCS, our fundamental tenets are faith, wisdom and virtue; the devel- opment of these tenets in our students helps build a foundation in Christ while providing them an enriching education. a classical curriculum includes the liberal arts, grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy, and Latin. a classical curriculum includes the liberal arts, grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy, and Latin. see beautiful works of art on the walls, the great books on our shelves, and thriving gardens outside our windows. The Catholic Classical student is curious, asks questions, and approaches the exciting journey of learning with a sense of wonder. In addition to the pursuit of goodness, truth and beauty, exciting journey of learning with a sense of wonder. In addition to the pursuit of goodness, truth and beauty, see beautiful works of art on the walls, the great books on our shelves, and thriving gardens outside our windows. The Catholic Classical student is curious, asks questions, and approaches the
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RICHARDSON EDITION • AUGUST 2023
Advanced digestive care built around you
When digestive diseases disrupt your life, Methodist Richardson Medical Center is ready with sophisticated diagnostic tools, advanced technology, and personalized treatment. From digestive screenings to high-tech procedures, specialists on the medical staff are here to help you get back to being you. Delivering the digestive health resources our friends and neighbors depend on. That’s community and why so many people Trust Methodist.
Find a doctor at
or call (469) 535-6586 MethodistHealthSystem.org/RichardsonDigestive
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 Health System or Methodist Richardson Medical Center. 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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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
2023 EDUCATION EDITION COMMUNITY IMPACT IS PROUD TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS.
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Advanced digestive care built around you. When digestive diseases disrupt your life, Methodist Richardson Medical Center is ready with sophisticated diagnostic tools, advanced technology, and personalized treatment. From digestive screenings to high- tech procedures, specialists on the medical sta are here to help you get back to being you. Delivering the digestive health resources our friends and neighbors depend on. That’s community and why so many people Trust Methodist.
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ANNUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE REAL ESTATE EDUCATION COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. VISIT
DISTRICT DATA
Data and information from local school districts
COMPILED BY KEVIN CUMMINGS
SOURCES: PLANO ISD, RICHARDSON ISD, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
RICHARDSON ISD
PLANO ISD
Richardson ISD covers the portion of the city that is in Dallas County and also includes areas of Garland and northern Dallas. The district has experienced a decline in enrollment since 2019. The district has 55 schools and serves more than 37,000 students.
Plano ISD is the assigned school district for students living in the Collin County portion of Richardson. Like Richardson ISD, PISD has also seen a decline in student enrollment since 2019. Overall, PISD has 73 campuses and serves nearly 49,000 students.
STUDENT STATISTICS, 2022 23
STUDENT ENROLLMENT
Economically disadvantaged students
English learners
Special education students
Percent change from 2019-20:
5.95%
30.3%
14.17%
57.02%
7.05%
36.85%
23.6%
13.41%
Statewide
62%
23.02%
12.74%
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
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RICHARDSON EDITION • AUGUST 2023
CONTINUED FROM 1
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
POST GRADUATION PERFORMANCE The Texas Education Agency scores districts based on how much students learn in each grade, whether they are prepared for the next grade and their readiness for post- graduation success, which for Richardson ISD includes learning nancial literacy.
to re ne the real-world knowledge and skills needed to gain and sustain employment after high school.” The bank is called a SMART Branch, which is named for its focus on ser- vant leadership, motivation, active learning, reasoning and technology. Students from the career and tech- nical education program will accept deposits, process withdrawals and open accounts. It will include a lobby, o ces, a classroom and an ATM. RISD Director of Community Engagement Carrie Thomas said hav- ing students working in a functioning bank will help instill a sense of respon- sibility in the workers while interacting with customers’ nances. It will also help give students a leg up on future college and job applications. “Richardson ISD wants each one of our students ... to lead produc- tive and successful lives,” Bryan said. “Financial literacy equips our students to make decisions that will directly impact their future.” Student workers will be selected based on things such as their academic record, communication skills and cus- tomer service mindset, Thomas said.
education or employment, the graduate pro le includes nancial literacy, criti- cal thinking/problem solving, e ective communication and real-world con- nections as components. Those are all things Bryan said students will get by working in the branch. “Prospective employers and college admissions will place value on stu- dents who ... worked at an accredited nancial institution,” Bryan said. Bryan said by teaching nancial literacy in a hands-on setting, the SMART Branch will also help equip students to make future personal nancial decisions—something sup- ported by a report from public policy nonpro t Brookings Institute, which stated teaching nancial literacy to teenagers is positively correlated with asset accumulation and net worth by the time they reach the age of 25. “If we can set students up for suc- cess ... they’ll have an advantage that will continue to pay dividends,” Coss said.
70% of those are students of color, and nearly 56% are considered economi- cally disadvantaged. On Measure of Academic Progress exams, which were administered in January to test readiness for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, about 50% of RISD students met their growth projections in math. Overall, the district received a B rating from the TEA in the areas of STAAR performance, college and career read- iness, and graduation rates. “The students interning with the SMART Branch will be engaged in preparing for and earning specialized industry-based certi cations to further enhance their experience,” Bryan said. Preparing for the future Having students make real-world connections and learn nancial liter- acy is part of the goals RISD o cials’ established for preparing them for post-graduation life. In June 2022, the board of trustees updated the district’s graduate pro le for the rst time in about a decade. Meant to be a description of the attributes graduates need for future
INSIDE THE BANK The SMART Branch at Berkner High School and STEM Academy will be the rst for Credit Union of Texas in Dallas County and will be open to residents in the area during school hours.
E. SPRING VALLEY RD.
Component score
Scaled score Rating
18
2-4
students will work in the branch at any given time
students selected for the program
Overall
84 81 82 83 75 85 85 85 82
B B
Student achievement STAAR performance
student works at the branch $1,000
1 2,000 2
scholarships will be given for each year a
CUTX branch manager will oversee the SMART Branch
Lloyd V. Berkner High School & STEM Academy
50 55
College, career & military readiness
square feet
Graduation rate School progress Academic growth
93.1
9 a.m.-4:20 p.m. during academic calendar Open
W. BUCKINGHAM RD.
B
N
teller windows
73 53 68
SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
Relative performance
Closing the gaps
B
literacy” among students. The RISD SMART Branch is the rst in Dallas County and joins two other permanent locations in Allen High School and Little Elm High School. Coss said CUTX will consider opening more in the future. “The goal for our SMART branches is to provide students with the nancial resources and education that will pre- pare them for life,” Coss said. Teaching nancial literacy in high
They will receive a $1,000 scholar- ship earmarked for future educational needs for each year of work. Because the branch will be run in part by students, it will only be open from 9 a.m.-4:20 p.m. during the academic calendar. And to ease any concerns from customers about their nances, CUTX Chief Retail O cer Courtney Coss said student work- ers will undergo the same training as any other employee. Plus they’ll be
overseen by an on-site CUTX manager and Berkner CTE teachers. To address safety, Thomas said the branch will have a separate entrance and will be patrolled by Richardson police and school resource o cers. “Like any ... branch, checks and bal- ances will be in place,” Thomas said. Teaching nances Coss said the project will aid in closing the “widening gap in nancial
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
school has been a growing trend. According to nonpro t Next Gen Per- sonal Finances’ 2022 State of Financial Education Report, nearly 23% of U.S. high school students have guaranteed access to personal nance courses, up from a little over 16% in 2018. How- ever, the report notes that just over
2% of Texas high school students had access to these courses, with students of color, economically disadvantaged students and those in urban areas lack- ing access the most. According to the Texas Education Agency, RISD has more than 37,000 students across 55 campuses. About
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EDUCATION
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
Richardson ISD to expand locked cellphone program for 2023 24
WHO SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM
program gave teachers back 10-15 minutes of class time daily. Also of note Despite the positive impact on learning, the Yondr program has raised concerns among parents about safety during emergencies. Addressing those concerns, RISD Assistant Superintendent Sandra Hayes said students are always discouraged from using cellphones— regardless of the Yondr program— during an emergency so they can follow emergency protocols. Branum added students all have access to email through their dis- trict-provided laptops, and parents can call the district’s front o ce team. Going forward Branum said she hopes the imple- mentation of a strict cellphone-free environment becomes part of each school’s culture. Branum said she doesn’t plan to use the Yondr program districtwide. “Our job is to support the needs of the campus, but it doesn’t always ... look the exact same,” Branum said.
In a May district survey, all participating teachers at Forest Meadow Junior High School supported the cellphone-free policy and the use of Yondr, parents and students had varied responses.
BY CECILIA LENZEN
The schools joining the program in the upcoming school year were selected based on their principals’ requests, Branum said. How it works Students at participating campuses are required to put their cellphones in Yondr pouches, which remain with them throughout the school day. To use their phone, students would have to get permission from a teacher or administrator, who could unlock the pouch for them. Diving in deeper In 2022-23, district o cials planned to roll out the program at all cam- puses. When parents seemed hesitant about the program, o cials selected Forest Meadow Junior High School to pilot the program. The results were “overwhelmingly positive,” Branum said, adding the
Richardson ISD o cials plan to expand a program to lock up students’ cellphones during the day. The pilot program, which was tested at Forest Meadow Junior High School during the 2022-23 school year, uses Yondr, a company that creates locked pouches for cellphones. During the 2023-24 school year, the program will expand to Lake Highlands High, Lake Highlands Junior High, Apollo Junior High and Liberty Junior High schools. How it happened In July, RISD Superintendent Tabitha Branum said the initiative came from feedback from parents, teachers and students about how much time students spend on the phone. The rst step was strengthening the district’s existing cellphone-free pol- icy. The locked cellphone program was meant to be an enforcement “tool.”
Support the cellphone-free environment policy
Agree
Disagree
Non-Yondr parents
Non-Yondr students
80%
67%
Support the implementation of the Yondr program
Agree
Disagree
Yondr parents
Yondr students
87%
68%
SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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RICHARDSON EDITION • AUGUST 2023
PEOPLE
Tabitha Branum Richardson ISD superintendent
budget right now is the demand for teachers. We need additional support and resources from the state to help us ensure that we have the resources to compensate our educators fairly. HOW HAS THE DISTRICT ADDRESSED OR PLANNED TO CONTINUE ADDRESSING LEARNING LOSS DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC? Our campus leadership and our teachers really recognize that there were two impacts of the pandemic. One was the social and emotional challenges that our students had on the heels of the pandemic, and then academic de cits. Our sta has been all in on really making sure our students have what they need for both of those. [There has been a focus] on how to provide great daily instruction, ... having strong tutoring and strong interventions in place when we see a student doesn’t have a grade-level understanding. WITH THE UPTICK IN SCHOOL VIOLENCE, HOW DOES RISD
BY CECILIA LENZEN
Heading into her second school year as Richardson ISD superintendent, Tabitha Branum spoke with Community Impact about goals and challenges for the upcoming year. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
PLAN TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AMONG STUDENTS? Trauma-informed care is some- thing we’re investing in. We have a strong partnership with places like the Momentous Institute, who come into our schools, work with our teachers and provide them with the strategies they need to identify when a student might be in crisis and help them de-escalate. We also are work- ing with all of our campus counselors so they can partner with parents. If we know that a child is in crisis and we know that they have experienced trauma, we can make sure that they have the resources that they need, even above and beyond what the district can provide. Tabitha Branum was named Richardson ISD’s superintendent in 2022. COURTESY RICHARDSON ISD
WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN GOALS HEADING INTO THE 2023 24 SCHOOL YEAR? We want to ensure that every stu- dent, every teacher and every leader meets or exceeds [their] growth goal. How do we make sure that our entire system is focused on ensuring that they are growing academically, socially and emotionally? That is coupled with a continued emphasis on a safe and secure environment. We know our students can’t focus on learning if they walk into school and don’t feel like they are protected. Continuing to implement our safety measures, making sure that our safety protocols are being followed by our campuses and that
we’re communicating with our parents [is a priority]. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES RISD IS FACING? I have to start with the budget. We are currently operating under the same basic allotment per student expenditures as [the district did in] 2019, even though we’ve experienced record in ation. Knowing that we adopted a $14 million de cit budget, how do we rightsize our budget while still ensuring the high-quality programs and instruction that our community deserves? We will continue to advocate with the state to fund public education. One of the greatest strains on our
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DINING FEATURE Another Time and Place Grille Renovated restaurant serves Turkish treats A nother Time and Place Grille as the restaurant’s general manager, said the sta gives the utmost attention to customer service and the food’s quality. BY DUSTIN BUTLER
owner Mehmet Shon Celik said he was encouraged to open the Turkish and Middle Eastern food restaurant in Richardson by former Mayor Paul Voelker. Voelker was impressed with Celik’s Plano restaurant Turkish Cafe and Lounge and approached Celik about a creating a similar concept in Richardson. Celik said he opened the doors to the restaurant in July 2021 to bring Turkish food and culture to area residents. “Everywhere we’d go, we would look for Turkish food or Middle Eastern food,” Celik said. “Sometimes you’d drive an hour, and sometimes you’re happy, and sometimes it’s disappointment.” Celik said his original vision for the restaurant
Since reopening the restaurant, Benjamin said the business has several regular customers that stop by on an almost daily basis. Benjamin noted the atmosphere is much di erent at Another Time and Place Grille than it is at Turkish Cafe and Lounge. “There people go for drinks and to have fun,” Benjamin said. “People come here for dinner.” The menu features a mixture of traditional Turkish and Mediterra- nean dishes as well as fusion dishes, such as the pomegranate and pear salad. Another Time and Place Grille also serves pizzas, such as the lahmacun, which is a thin crust pizza served with beef, red onions and spices. It also o ers American
Hason Berk, who serves as the general manager of the restaurant when Benjamin Celik is away, poses with his son Esat. (Photos by Dustin Butler/Community Impact)
HOOKAH HAVEN In addition to Turkish food, Another Time and Place Grille has a hookah menu that o ers speciality avors. Day to Love: a mix of watermelon, strawberry and rose Forget the Past: rose, safari melon and lemon Forget the Ex: grape, double apple and mint
Shepherd’s salad ($10) has tomatoes, cucumbers and onion tossed with olive oil, lemon juice and feta cheese.
“EVERYWHERE WE’D GO, WE WOULD LOOK FOR TURKISH FOOD OR MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD. SOMETIMES ... YOU’RE HAPPY, AND SOMETIMES IT’S DISAPPOINTMENT.” MEHMET SHON CELIK, OWNER
included a water feature and live entertainment on the outdoor patios. However, a special permit from the city for renovations at the restaurant
avors, such as cheese and margarita pizza. All of the atbreads on the menu are made with traditional Turkish pita
Beet salad ($12) has diced beets, feta cheese, spinach, greens and walnuts with balsamic vinaigrette.
Kapali Pide ($22) is covered atbread with a lling of mozzarella cheese and a choice of ground beef or spinach.
allowed the location to add hookah but restricted outdoor entertainment and alcohol. “It was tough [to compromise],” Celik said. In December 2022, the restaurant closed for renovations and reopened in June. Celik’s son Benjamin, who serves
Another Time and Place Grille 925 Abrams Road, Richardson 469-917-7714 www.anothertimeandplace.com Hours: Tue.-Thu. 11 a.m.-midnight, Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-midnight, Mon. closed
bread. Benjamin said the best-selling dish at the restaurant is the Turkish gyro, which is thinly sliced beef and lamb, and tava, which is ground lamb with vegetables served in a clay pot covered with a type of at dough called lavash.
N
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RICHARDSON EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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