Frisco | September 2024

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Frisco Edition VOLUME 12, ISSUE 2 SEPT. 12OCT. 10, 2024

2024 Education Edition

Expanding education Esports teacher David Loosli welcomes his students to class during the rst week of school. The classroom is a new addition to Frisco ISD and was added to the CTE Center when its new wing was nished for the 202425 school year.

SAMANTHA DOUTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Frisco ISD opens new Career and Technical Education Center wing, expands student capacity

to our program to provide a more competitive product for the esports industry,” teacher David Loosli said in an email. “With the new addition and all the excitement the esports lab brings, there will hopefully be an increase of students.”

FISD debuted its $22.1 million CTE wing addition for the 2024-25 school year. With the new wing comes nearly 30 extra classrooms and 45,363 additional square feet along with new rooms and labs like the esports lab. “I see esports evolving as we add more students

BY SAMANTHA DOUTY

Esports students nestled into their computer chairs as the neon lights subtly changed colors overhead. It’s the rst week of school, and their rst week in Frisco ISD’s newest addition to its Career and Technical Education Center.

CONTINUED ON 20

Also in this issue

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INSIDE

Impacts: Active Arena paragliding to Frisco—see what it oers (Page 8)

Dining: Sr. Ozzy’s Tacos Y Mariscos oers authentic Mexican food (Page 35)

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1 Bears and Bellas Grooming The business offers grooming services for cats and dogs, including baths and facial treatments. • Opened Aug. 1

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2 Curry Pizza House The restaurant serves traditional pizza and Indian fusion flavors, such as curry chicken masala and malai chicken pizza. • Opened in July • 1606 FM 423, Ste. 400, Frisco • www.currypizzahouse.com 3 iCode The business—which has eight other locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area—offers STEM-based learning opportunities in game design, coding and robotics. • Opened Aug. 17 • 1648 FM 423, Ste. 400, Frisco • www.icodeschool.com/west-frisco-tx

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4 Panda Express The fast-casual restaurant offers menu options such as orange chicken, black pepper steak and honey walnut shrimp. • Opened Aug. 1 • 599 University Drive, Frisco • www.pandaexpress.com

In the news

Now open

7 CosMc’s The business, a concept from McDonald’s, will sell coffee, frozen drinks and breakfast food. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation documents indicate that construction will begin in October. • 1895 W. University Drive, Frisco • www.cosmcs.com

Coming soon

5 Desi Village The restaurant will serve Southern Indian food, offering vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes such as curry, masala and paneer. • Opening in late 2024 • 12455 Eldorado Parkway, Ste. 270, Frisco • www.desivillageus.com 6 Salience Health The new clinic will offer a full spectrum of mental health services, including depression care.

Closings

8 Stumpy’s Hatchet House The business offered recreational axe throwing for small

10 Dash Nail Spa The new spa offers a wide variety of manicure and pedicure services for men, women and children aged nine and younger including nail polish painting and designs, cuticle care, heel buffing, sugar scrubs, hand massages and more. Dash Nail Spa does not offer acrylic services but does offer gel extensions and shaping, according to its website. • Opened June 20 • 3420 Main St., Ste. 500, Frisco • www.dashnailspa.com

and large groups. • Closed Aug. 17 • 9410 N. Dallas Parkway, Ste. 150, Frisco • www.stumpyshh.com/friscotx

9 Taco Shack The eatery closed its doors after nearly five years. Its Austin locations are still open. • Closed in July • 8333 Preston Road, Frisco • www.tacoshack.com

• Opening in September • Frisco Medical Pavilion, 12850 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 200, Frisco • www.saliencehealth.com

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5 Peach Cobbler Factory The business serves several desserts, such as cobblers in various flavors and banana pudding with several topping options, cookies, brownies and churros, franchise owner Danni Washington said. In addition, Peach Cobbler Factory also offers dessert flights of cobblers and puddings as well as smoothies. • Opened Aug. 24 • 8874 Coleman Blvd., Frisco • www.peachcobblerfactory.com 6 Romp n’ Roll It offers themed gym, art, music, cooking and science classes as well as camps and parties for children aged 3 7 Savanna The business offers early childhood education and family care for children five years old and under. Savanna provides a sensory-rich environment that encourages exploration and discovery, founder and CEO Jessica Bravo said in an email. • Opened July 2 • 6850 Gaylord Parkway, Frisco • www.mysavanna.co 8 Thai Charm The restaurant serves authentic Thai food including curries, hand rolls, fried rice dishes and more, according to the company’s website. • Opened July 23 • 5355 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 600, Frisco • www.thaicharmfrisco.com months-5 years. • Opened Aug. 12 • 5480 FM 423, Ste. 300, Frisco • https://rompnroll.com/locations/frisco 9 The Little Gym of Frisco West The business offers noncompetitive gymnastics classes and imaginative play for children aged 4 months to 12 years old, split into classes by age. Members can also attend summer camps and host birthday parties, according to The Little Gym’s website. • Opened Aug. 31 • 252 W. Stonebrook Parkway, Ste. 710, Frisco • www.thelittlegym.com/texas-frisco-west

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3 Elevate Eyecare of Frisco The practice offers a number of services, such as routine eye exams, specialty contact lens fittings and emergency eye care services. • Opened July 30

Now open

1 Arwa Yemeni Coffee The business sells Yemeni coffee and pastries, such as honeycomb bread served with syrup. • Opened July 25

• 2727 Main St., Ste. 620, Frisco • www.elevateeyecarefrisco.com

• 3211 Preston Road, Ste. 1, Frisco • www.arwayemenicoffee.com

4 Garage The store, located inside Stonebriar Centre, sells women’s apparel such as dresses, jumpsuits, denim and swimwear. The store will also sell tops and accessories such as jewelry and handbags. • Opened June 28 • 2601 Preston Road, Ste. 2234, Frisco • www.garageclothing.com

2 Brunch at Lili’s The eatery serves breakfast and lunch options such as omelets, burgers, sandwiches, wraps and more. • Opened Aug. 5 • 5285 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 400, Frisco • Facebook: Brunch at Lili’s

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BY DUSTIN BUTLER, SAMANTHA DOUTY & ALEX REECE

• Expected opening Sept. 12 • 4577 Ohio Drive, Frisco • www.paragoned.org

Coming soon

Now open

10 Discount Tire The business will offer a number of wheel and tire services such as flat tire repair, TPMS services, tire rotation and balance, tire inspection and pressure checks and windshield wiper repair.

Relocations

13 Loveland & Hurley, PLLC The law offices have officially moved into a new space inside Hall Park, according to an email from the attorneys. Services offered include asset protection, business planning and formation, estate planning, trust administration and more. • Relocated Aug. 19 • 2600 Network Blvd., Ste. 560, Frisco • www.lhestatelaw.com

• Opening mid-September • 7855 Preston Road, Frisco • www.discounttire.com

11 Hummus Republic Signage is already up at the new location. The Frisco location is under construction, according to the company website. The restaurant chain offers Mediterranean cuisine such as bowls, wraps, salads and pitas. • Opening TBA 12 ParagonED The private school will cater to students kindergarten through 12th grade. It will partner with the Frisco School of Music and Performing Arts to provide an enriched educational experience for students, according to a ParagonED news release. • 3311 Preston Road, Ste. 7, Frisco • www.thehummusrepublic.com

15 Active Arena Guests can experience paragliding, skiing and more through virtual reality in Frisco. Active Arena is an indoor sports education and entertainment venue created to make sports accessible to all, according to its website. The location features a soccer game with a robot goalie, a simulated boxing match and other experiences including baseball, basketball, softball and sports-themed minigames. • Opened July 20 • 8008 SH 121, Ste.103, Frisco • www.activearena.com

Closings

14 Twin Peaks The restaurant served burgers, tacos, sandwiches and more. The announcement did not include an exact reason for the closure but stated that the lease for the location had expired. • Closed Aug. 18 • 3475 Preston Road, Frisco • www.twinpeaksrestaurant.com

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FRISCO EDITION

Government

Frisco confirms 6th West Nile positive mosquito pool

Frisco officials confirmed another two mosquito pools tested positive for West Nile virus—the city’s fifth and sixth positives this month—in an Aug. 30 city news release. According to the release, the two positives were confirmed at the following locations: • Near Oakbrook Park, its second positive of the season • Along Panther Creek Parkway A third-party contractor ground sprayed overnight in some areas of the neighborhoods surrounding the positives Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, according to the release. Ground spraying uses adulticide, a mosquito-specific insecticide, to decrease the number of adult mosquitoes as much as possible, according to Frisco’s Mosquito Surveillance and Response Plan. Adulticides do not harm humans or pets when used correctly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only the areas around the four most recent positives have been sprayed as of Sept. 4.

Going forward To limit the chance of being bit by a mosquito, the Texas Depart- ment of State Health Services recommends residents take the following precautions: • Wear: Wear long sleeves and pants outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. • Apply: Use insect repellants if outside. Approved repellents contain DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. • Remove: Drain standing water that collects in bird baths, French drains, clogged gutters, saucers under potted plants and splash blocks. The mosquitoes that carry the virus can breed in stagnant water. The city tracks its West Nile virus positives and spray areas on a public map, which keeps a record of mosquito testing dating back to September 2018. The six confirmed positives so far are the city’s first since 2022, which saw 13 cases during the city’s May 1-Nov. 15 mosquito testing season.

FUNCTIONAL, SAFE, AND COST-EFFECTIVE SPACES FOR STUDENTS, COMPETITIVE SALARIES FOR TEACHERS

THE 2024 PROPOSAL WILL:

Allow Frisco ISD to keep providing student programs at the current levels. Upgrade HVAC, roofing, electrical, and plumbing systems over 10 years old districtwide. Enhance districtwide safety, security, and emergency services. Build a new Staley Middle School and repurpose the existing building for the ASPIRE program.

West Nile positive mosquito pools

Treated areas as of Sept. 4

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ALEX REECE

Frisco proposes lower property tax rate Frisco City Council members held two public hearings on the FY 2024-25 budget with a third planned for the property tax rate on Sept. 17. What you need to know Council members are expected to adopt the budget and tax rate during the Sept. 17 meeting. Here is a quick look at what is being considered: • A $273.42 million general fund budget • $0.425517 per $100 valuation property tax rate The details Property taxes are the No. 1 source of revenue for Frisco, Chief Financial Officer Derrick Cotten said during an Aug. 12 budget meeting. Even with the new rate, which is roughly $0.01 lower than FY 2023-24’s, the city is expecting to raise an additional $16.31 million in property taxes overall, according to an Aug. 12 presentation.

City Council approves $15M renovations Frisco City Council members approved a $15.14 million price tag with Crossland Con- struction Company for George A. Purefoy Municipal Center renovations on Aug. 6. The big picture The center, or city hall, is the home of multiple city departments and the resident meeting place for council members. The renovations will take place over 19 months and refresh existing city employee workspaces, council chambers and vacated library spaces. The details The number comes from city bond funds, according to meeting documents. Not included is a $750,000 contingency fee, bringing the total cost to $15.89 million.

FY 2024-25 general fund breakdown by department Frisco’s $273.42 million general fund budget pays for the day-to-day operations of the city and its departments.

General government: 3% Development services: 4% Police department: 27% Fire department and EMS: 23% Parks and recreation: 10% Information technologies: 8% Public works: 7% Administrative services: 7%

Engineering: 2% Human resources: 2% Financial services: 2% Budget and strategic planning department: 2% Library services: 3%

SOURCE: CITY OF FRISCO/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY ALEX REECE

Education Edition

2024

Welcome to Community Impact 's annual Education Edition. This guide features the latest updates and resources about local K-12 public school options in your community. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists, and all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news—please show them your gratitude by supporting them.

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What's inside

FISD shows increase in advanced academics (Page 15)

Voters to see $1.08 billion bond —learn the details (Page 17)

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Frisco ISD achieves 2nd-highest PTA participation in Texas “A No. 1 priority for us, aside from supporting at that local level, is advocating for all kids and making sure every child’s potential is a reality and we do that [by] advocating at the local level, making sure that every kid is treated the same no matter what their background is, what their family is, how old they are,” Arakas said. “We make sure that everyone is treated equally throughout the district.” 2nd largest Parent Teacher Association in the state 24,796 members in 2023

When the Frisco ISD 2024-25 school year began, more than 24,000 Parent Teacher Association members also headed back to school. FISD has the second-highest participation rate for PTAs in Texas at 24,796 members in 2023, said Cyndi Arakas, president of the FISD Council of PTAs, a support network for FISD’s 74 campuses and 73 PTA groups. “The goal [of a PTA] is having a voice for every child,” Arakas said. The overview A PTA is a volunteer group of parents and teach- ers that strive to ll any gaps in school funding from either the state or the district, Arakas said. For example, Arakas said a common project for elementary school PTAs is to raise money through events like fun runs or carnivals for an outdoor playground cover or for more library books. PTA support goes beyond fundraising, Arakas said.

74 campuses

73 Parent Teacher Association groups

SOURCE: FRISCO ISDCOMMUNIT Y IMPACT

FISD PTAs give out scholarships to high school seniors and, in legislative years, the FISD Council of PTAs will go to the Capitol steps in Austin and rally for legislative procedures that support public schools, Arakas said. “Whatever is purchased by a PTA is hitting the whole school, the whole community, versus a grade or a class,” Arakas said. What it means The high number of PTA members in FISD adds

weight behind their requests to legislators, Arakas said. The 2024-25 school year is also a legislative year, meaning the Frisco Council of PTAs will be traveling to the state Capitol in February, Arakas said. “When we’re coming down and knowing we have almost 25,000 members, that’s what the important part of the membership is,” she said.

FRISCO EDITION

Education

BY SHELBIE HAMILTON & HANNAH JOHNSON

Collin College oers path to four-year degrees A new initiative from Collin College will let students earn a degree from a four-year university without leaving Collin County. Collin College is partnering with Texas State University and The University of Texas at Dallas to create the Collin College Academic Alliance, a new higher education opportunity, according to an Aug. 13 news release. The details The program allows students to earn an asso- ciate’s, then continue to take courses at Collin College that will earn them a bachelor’s degree from either UT Dallas or Texas State University. Students in the program will have access to Collin College courses that are approved to apply to university degree programs. Participants could see a savings of about $20,000 on educational costs, the release stated.

Frisco ISD to host u shot clinics this fall Frisco ISD students, sta and family members can receive vaccinations at onsite clinics. The clinics are scheduled periodically until Dec. 5. Participants must register online and bring copies of their insurance card, primary insured driver’s license and a completed consent form. What parents need to know Parents or guardians must accompany students, and should check on the school’s website if their insurance is accepted. The cost without insurance is $27 for adults and $10 for children 18 and under who qualify for Texas Vaccines for Children. Texas law requires children to be immu- nized against certain diseases to attend school. Flu shots are not required.

University representatives gathered at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new academic partnership.

COURTESY NICK YOUNGCOLLIN COLLEGE

“We know that our shared mission with Collin College makes us great partners to support the incredible population growth in and around Collin County,” Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse said in the release. “Students will not just attend our classes at Collin’s Technical Campus, but they will also be a part of the Texas State experience while saving thousands of dollars through this agreement.” The program will begin in the spring semester of 2025, according to Collin College’s website. Students must apply to and co-enroll at Collin College and the partnering university.

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BY HANNAH JOHNSON

Frisco ISD’s dual credit grows by 32.2%, AP exams see 80% passing rate

Frisco ISD dual-credit enrollment

FISD students can take dual-credit courses through Collin College and the University of North Texas's Frisco campus.

Fall semester

Spring semester

The number of students enrolled in dual credit courses increased 32.2% from the fall 2022 semester to the fall 2023 semester, according to district data. Dual-credit courses are college courses taken at the same time as the high school course. There are 77 academic and technical courses offered through Collin College and eight online courses offered at UNT at Frisco. Students pay the college a course tuition, which ranges from $152-$225, and instructional materials are estimated at $100 per course. “A big sell for a lot of our parents is it can save you a significant amount of money,” Chetty said. Frisco ISD has one of the largest Advanced Placement programs in the state, Chetty said. The district administered 27,428 exams to almost 11,500 students with a passing rate close to 80%

Advanced academics is one way Frisco ISD is preparing students for their paths after high school. Earning college credit in high school is one piece of taking an advanced course, said Krishna Chetty, FISD’s advanced academics coordinator. Taking an advanced course adds to the success of a student when they leave high school because of the skills learned through the course, he said. “We want them, when they leave Frisco, to be prepared,” Chetty said. The district’s advanced academics courses include Advanced Placement, dual credit and International Baccalaureate. Dual credit opportunities are also available through the district’s career and technical education programs.

2022-23

2,586

2,323

2023-24

3,419

3,117

SOURCE: FRISCO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

in 2023. AP courses allow students to earn college credit upon completion of a course, if they pass the end-of-course exam. Cost per exam is $99, according to College Board. FISD will offer 33 AP courses in the 2024-25 school year.

Why it matters

solving that we hope we take them through here, adds to their success when they get out of high school,” Chetty said. Frisco ISD is working to grow its dual credit program, Chetty said. In April, the district’s board of trustees approved expanding the weighted grade point average scale to include dual credit courses, starting for the class of 2030.

Advanced courses are not just beneficial for students attending college after graduation. The skills developed through advanced courses translate into all post-high school paths, such as the military or trade school, Chetty said. Time management, self-advocacy and study habits are all skills that FISD tries to build in students through the courses, he said. “Just having dealt with the rigor and problem-

Most popular AP exams in Frisco ISD

AP world history AP human geography

AP English language

AP U.S. history

0 500 1K 1.5K 2K 2.5K 3K

Number of exams taken

SOURCES: FRISCO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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FRISCO EDITION

Education

BY HANNAH JOHNSON

Frisco ISD board members voted 5-2 to place a tax rate election on the ballot for Nov. 5 during an Aug. 19 meeting. Voters will consider raising the maintenance and operation tax rate by $0.0294 per $100 valuation in a voter-approval tax rate election, also known as a VATRE. A VATRE is used when a district needs to increase its tax rate above a certain threshold. The maintenance and operations, or M&O, portion of the tax rate funds payroll and other operational costs. The district’s total tax rate would be $1.0569 per $100 valuation, if approved by voters. This is broken down between $0.7869 for M&O and $0.27 for interest and sinking, which covers debt payments. Voters to decide district tax rate

Some context

Average homestead tax bill The average Frisco ISD homeowner can expect a higher tax bill this year. Due to rising property valuations, the average tax bill is expected to increase by about 15% from 2023 to 2024.

The average Frisco ISD homeowner can expect their tax bill to increase by $759. If the increase passes, $158 would be due to the tax rate while $601 will be a result of increasing home appraisals. This is based on an average home valuation of $727,914 and a taxable value of $539,763, according to a board workshop presentation. The new tax rate would generate an additional $11.5 million in revenue for the district. In total, the increase would generate $19.5 million in revenue, but $8 million would go to the state in recapture, according to the meeting presentation. FISD voters last approved raising the maintenance and operations portion of the tax rate by $0.13 per $100 valuation in 2018.

$5,722.04

2018

$5,416.38

2019

$5,351.97

2020

$5,484.24

2021

$5,776

2022

$4,945.38

2023

$5,704.76

2024

$0 $1K $2K $3K $4K $5K $6K

SOURCE: FRISCO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

YOU’RE INVITED TO | | OCT. 19 PIONEER PREVIEW DAY

• Tour Campus • Housing Presentation • Academic & Student Services Fair

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HANNAH JOHNSON

Frisco ISD voters to see $1.08B bond on November ballot

Frisco ISD voters can expect a $1.08 billion bond package as well as a tax rate election on the November ballot. Frisco ISD board members placed the bond package and tax rate election on the ballot for the Nov. 5 general election during an Aug. 19 meeting. Approving the tax rate and calling the tax rate election was approved by trustees in 5-2 votes, with Stephanie Elad and Marvin Lowe casting dissenting votes. Calling a bond election was approved in a 6-1 vote, with Elad voting against approval. Elad cited concerns for how the bond propositions were packaged. She would have rather seen the campus refresh and Staley Middle School construction be separated from the rest of Proposition A. “Regardless of where we are Nov. 5, it is my hope this district continues to look at measures to reduce spending, get to a balanced budget and lower the tax burden on our community,” she said. Whether voters approve or deny all the bond propositions, the district’s interest and sinking tax rate—which is used for bonds and debt services— would not increase from its existing rate of $0.27. Sorting out details Frisco ISD voters can expect four propositions on the ballot. Proposition A is the tax rate election to increase the maintenance and operations portion of the rate by $0.0294 per $100 valuation. Proposition B includes $986 million for refresh- ing campuses and replacing furniture and equip- ment, among other costs. The proposition includes: • Refreshing 20 campuses that are reaching 25 years old

• Constructing a new Staley Middle School • Refreshing furniture and equipment for schools not included in the 25-year refresh • Repairing landscaping and paving districtwide • Purchasing new school buses, work trucks, a fueling station and truck wash • Upgrading safety and security The construction of the new Staley Middle School, which opened in 1996, could start in 2025 and be completed in 2026, if approved. Staley students were dismissed early Aug. 19 due to a mal- function in the campus’s cooling system, according to a social media post from the school. The new building will be located next to the existing campus. During construction, students can stay at the existing Staley campus, which will be used for special education students ages 18-21 once it is vacated by its middle school students. Proposition C is $88.2 million and includes a technology update to replace outdated devices to maintain the district’s one-to-one student-to-de- vice ratio from kindergarten through 12th grade. Proposition D comes in at $11.2 million to construct a tennis center of 16 outdoor courts for tournaments. A bond planning committee—which included 34 parents and community members, 18 district staff members and nine students—created the bond program recommendation after about 10 months of discussion. “We talked about how this bond ... is a very different bond package,” said Jamie Heit, bond committee member and district parent, during a July 29 special meeting where the bond was presented to board members. “It’s going to be a

Bond propositions Frisco ISD voters will have the opportunity to vote for or against the propositions on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Proposition D: $11.2M will construct a tennis center of 16 outdoor courts for tournaments.

Total $1.08B

Proposition C $88.2M includes a technology update to replace outdated devices.

Proposition B: $986M refresh campuses and replace furniture and equipment, among other costs.

SOURCE: FRISCO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

lot more renovations versus building new school buildings.” Also of note District voters last saw a Frisco ISD bond on the ballot in November 2018 to build new schools and facilities, which passed for $691 million. Other previous bonds that were approved by FISD voters include:

• 2014 bond for $775 million • 2006 bond for $798 million • 2003 bond for $298 million • 1998 bond for $118 million

The potential 2024 bond is the first for Frisco ISD to reach $1 billion, according to historical bond data presented by the district. Early voting runs Oct. 21 through Nov. 1.

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FRISCO EDITION

Education

BY HANNAH NORTON

Bob Popinski discusses Texas public school funding challenges Amid high operating costs and stagnant state funding, many public school districts across Texas have adopted budget shortfalls for fiscal year 2024- 25. Last year, public education advocates urged lawmakers to increase the basic allotment—which is the base amount of money schools receive per student and has not changed since 2019. Community Impact interviewed Bob Popinski, the senior policy director for education policy nonprofit Raise Your Hand Texas, to learn more. How are Texas public schools funded? Right now, Texas is in the bottom 10 [states] for per-student funding. We’re more than $4,000 below the national average, according to a new National Education Association report. [Texas uses] what is known as an equalized

system, where the Legislature sets the amount of per-student funding and a district is guaranteed that amount. [District] revenue comes from local property taxes and general revenue from the state. On average, when you look at per-student fund- ing across the state, the funding that actually gets down into the classrooms—that pays for day-to-day operations like teachers and cafeteria workers and bus drivers and school principals—is roughly $10,000 per student, on average, across the state. Why are so many districts facing high budget shortfalls? Since 2019, the last time we saw any increase to our school funding formulas, inflation has gone up 22%. School districts are operating at roughly a $1,400 deficit from where they were in 2019. When you look at the basic allotment—[which is] kind of the building block for our school funding for- mula—it’s at $6,160, and that hasn’t been updated since 2019. Federal stimulus funding is ending. And school districts knew that ... but it doesn’t mean that the post-pandemic student achieve- ment loss has gone away.

COURTESY RAISE YOUR HAND TEXAS

Learn More

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY DUSTIN BUTLER

Q&A: Education Service Center Region 11 offers training for local schools With the 2024-25 school year beginning, Educa- tion Service Centers across Texas continue to work to provide services for school districts. ESC Region 10 serves more than 130 school districts, including Richardson, Frisco, McKinney, Celina and Prosper ISDs. Rachel Frost is the chief communications officer of ESC Region 10. Frost recently answered questions from Community Impact , explaining the history of and services provided by Education Service Centers in Texas. What is an Education Service Center? The Texas State Legislature established 20 regional Education Service Centers in 1967 to support schools and create innovative solutions. Per state statute, ESCs are focused on improving student achievement, helping school districts

operate more efficiently and economically, and implementing statewide initiatives. How often does Region 10 offer professional development opportunities? Region 10 offers professional development opportunities nearly all day, every day. If you visit either of our buildings, you will find rooms filled with educators actively engaged and learning. We also offer professional development at school districts, online through virtual learning as well as hybrid learning opportunities. Last year, we offered more than 7,000 professional development courses to more than 500,000 attendees for a total of nearly 850,000 total hours of professional development. In the past five years, have you noticed any trends of what school districts are needing? The COVID-19 pandemic, starting in March 2020, dramatically altered the needs of public schools to serve their students. Initially, Region 10 pivoted to support teachers and administrators in transitioning to virtual settings. As we’ve moved beyond the immediate crisis, we’ve seen a trend toward integrating the lessons learned from virtual

COURTESY EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER REGION 10

instruction into traditional teaching models. This hybrid approach has become increasingly prevalent in professional development for educators. Beyond pandemic-related changes, we’ve noticed several other prominent trends in school district needs: Budget management training for district leadership, school safety and security, and teacher recruitment and retention. These trends reflect the evolving challenges facing our school districts. Region 10 continues to adapt our support and resources to meet these changing needs.

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FRISCO EDITION

Expanding education From the cover

The details

The overview

District ocials plan for the CTE programs to continue to grow as more students and parents learn about the courses oered, such as the esports course, said Victor Jones, FISD’s career and technical education coordinator. “As the community learns the achievements and outcomes at the CTE Center, the programs will showcase their value, resulting in more course enrollments,” Jones said in an email.

One addition is an open space that connects to the esports lab. The walls of the esports lab can open for tournament play, district ocials said. “The new wing will facilitate the organizing and hosting of the annual Frisco ISD Esports Tourna- ment and limit the equipment needed from other campuses,” Loosli said. “Having esports in the new wing provides a larger space for students to learn and use industry-level technology.”

The new wing, known as the G Wing, was added to expand existing courses and oer additional courses in the curriculum, CTE Center Principal Dianna Manuel said. “This will allow students and faculty to better collaborate throughout the entire building,” she said in an email. No new programs were added because of the new G Wing, but it has allowed the district to increase the number of students that the building can serve. For example, 2,000 additional students have been added to courses. This is more than the number of students that were enrolled in CTE courses in 2008 when the center opened, which was 1,134 students with a reduced number of course oerings, according to district data. The CTE center’s student capacity was reached for several years ahead of the wing opening and projections show students enrolling more in classes at the district.

The open space in G Wing allows for tournaments to be held seamlessly with the esports lab, where the glass walls can be opened. The wing opened in August for the 202425 school year.

SAMANTHA DOUTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

6K 5K 4K 3K 2K 1K 0

Zooming out

part of a state-sponsored program of study • $7,884.80 allotted for a student enrolled in Level 1 or Level 2 CTE courses • $9,055.2 allotted for a student enrolled in Level 3 or Level 4 CTE courses At least 55% of the funding provided through this avenue must be used by school districts for providing CTE programs for students, according to the TEA. Remaining funds from the allotment can be used at the discretion of the district.

FISD is eligible to receive weighted funding for full-time equivalent students enrolled in CTE courses, according to the Texas Education Agency’s website. Districts can receive between 10% to 47% more funding each year for full-time CTE students, which is calculated using basic allotment funding. Basic allotment is locked at $6,160 per student counted in average daily attendance. • $6,776 allotted for a student in CTE courses not

School year

*PROJECTED SOURCES: FRISCO ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Full-day Pre-K Needs Full-Day Funding

DID YOU KNOW?

The state requires full-day pre-K but only funds half the day.

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BY SAMANTHA DOUTY

Major takeaways

The breakdown

What they’re saying

In the region, the top in-demand industries, according to Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas data, are: • manufacturing • inance and insurance • real estate FISD’s CTE center reects this, with courses in agriculture, architecture and construction, nance and more. Looking ahead, ocials want to expose the programs to middle schoolers. “This early insight will allow them to take more relevant courses in middle school, freeing up time in high school for CTE courses that will allow for more program completers, internships, and/or certications,” Jones said.

CTE classes open up potential for collabora- tion outside the classroom with local businesses and industries, ocials said. “These programs give students a preview of potential career paths and provide early expo- sure to those careers while oering certications and internships in the higher-level courses,” Jones said. “CTE programs oer both the knowledge and hands-on experience needed in various elds.” The goal is to expose students to potential career elds that may interest them, Manuel said. The district oers internships in many of the CTE pathways where students work o-site with a business that compliments their curricu- lum pathway. For instance, Loosli is currently working with GRID Platform, Complexity Gaming, and Sports Academy at The Star to develop opportunities for students to explore careers in the esports business industry, he said. New programming at the CTE center is being discussed now that the district has additional space, Manuel said.

“Our goal is to expose students to their chosen career eld. This gives students the opportunity to build their learning and understanding in this eld to determine postsecondary and career choices for their future.” DIANNA MANUEL, CTE CENTER PRINCIPAL

“The biggest goal for esports is to introduce students to the realm of esports business management and how esports is more than just playing video games. Students should be able leave esports with a foundation in a variety of elds that fall under

the esports business model.” DAVID LOOSLI, ESPORTS TEACHER

“In Frisco ISD, as we pursue the mission to know every child by name and need, our CTE course oerings cater to students’ interests and passions. We are catering to ... students and what they have the most interest in.” VICTOR JONES, CTE EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Additional 4 5,363 square feet

7 multipurpose rooms

$22.1 million price tag

30 additional classrooms

15 career pathways

Students in Clarzell Gilleylen’s architecture class work together in groups on a class project during the rst week of school.

2,000 students per day starting in 2024-25

SAMANTHA DOUTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: FRISCO ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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FRISCO EDITION

Transportation

Upcoming projects

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1 Custer Road light installation Project: The intersection at Custer Road and Gartner Road will see a new traffic light installed. Update: The project is in the design phase. The design phase was expected to end at the end of quarter two, but it is still in the design phase. Construction is projected to be complete at the end of the year. • Timeline: TBD-December 2024 • Cost: $250,000 • Funding source: city of Frisco 2 Teel Parkway widening Project: The project will span along Teel Parkway from Stafford Middle School to Olive Branch Drive. The project will widen the road from two lanes to four lanes, according to Frisco’s capital improvement database. Update: The project is in its planning phase. • Timeline: September 2025-December 2026 • Cost: $10 million • Funding source : city of Frisco 3 Coit Road at Charismatic Parkway light installation Project: A new traffic signal will be added to the intersection at Coit Road and Charismatic Parkway,

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