Keller - Roanoke - Northeast Fort Worth | March 2025

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Keller Roanoke Northeast Fort Worth Edition VOLUME 6, ISSUE 11 | MARCH 29-APRIL 29, 2025

2025 Voter Guide

‘No path forward’ for Keller ISD split

viable path forward” to split KISD in two. While the district remains intact, the push for a split has had notable consequences. Superinten- dent Tracy Johnson resigned, lawsuits have been filed against the district and financial challenges that prompted the initial discussion persist.

while maintaining the quality of education, the district’s Reshaping Information webpage states. However, in a March 14 email to district families, KISD board President Charles Randklev and Interim Superintendent Cory Wilson said “managing our existing bond debt” was an insurmountable obstacle to reshape the district and that “there is no

BY MARK FADDEN

In January 2025, the Keller Independent School District board of trustees proposed dividing the district into two separate entities divided by US 377: Keller ISD, which would be east of the highway, and a new district yet to be named. This restructuring aimed to address the district’s financial challenges

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Split statistics

114

35W

These estimates are based on data from KISD’s 2023-24 school year.

OTTINGER RD.

377

WESTPORT PKWY.

W. DOVE RD.

Western portion

170

$13B property values

BLUE MOUND RD. E.

TIMBERLAND BLVD.

34.58 square miles

Keller ISD

21,718 Average daily attendance* $220.2M maintenance and operations revenue

W. SOUTHLAKE BLVD.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE BLVD.

KELLER PKWY.

HERITAGE TRACE PKWY.

KELLER SMITHFIELD RD. S.

Eastern portion

287

SHADY GROVE RD.

$10.7B property values

N. TARRANT PKWY.

37.95 square miles

287

Proposed new district

CHEEK-SPARGER RD. 9,105 average daily attendance* $85.5M maintenance and operations revenue

377

BASSWOOD BLVD.

MID CITIES BLVD.

WESTERN CENTER BLVD.

WATAUGA RD.

*NOTE: AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE DETERMINES HOW MUCH PER-STUDENT ALLOTMENT THE STATE WILL GIVE THE DISTRICTS.

DAVIS BLVD.

35W

SOURCE: MOAK CASEY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

Noon - 3:00 PM Roanoke Soccer Complex SATURDAY APRIL 12 th

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817-837-9930

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Dustin Butler Karen Chaney Mark Fadden Colby Farr Hannah Johnson Heather McCullough Jonathan Perriello Alex Reece Cody Thorn Jacob Vaughn Graphic Designers Nicolas Delgadillo José Jiménez

Arlin Gold General Manager

Chelsea Peters Armando Servin Quality Desk Editor Deekota Diaz Account Executive Arlin Gold Managing Editor Miranda Jaimes Senior Product Manager Breanna Flores

Gabby Bailey Editor

John Alper DFW Market President

Corrections: Volume 6, Issue 10 In a story on page 20 titled “Area businesses grow despite closures,” the article should have stated that Roanoke and its chamber of commerce oer sponsorship packages with city events to promote new business openings. In a story on page 18 titled “KISD students stage walkout to protest district split,” the article should have stated that students who joined the walkout without a parent note received Saturday school.

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KELLER ROANOKE NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

Northeast Fort Worth

Impacts

114

• 11001 N. Freeway, Fort Worth • www.alliancehyundai.net

114

CHAMPIONSHIP PKWY.

GRAPEVINE LAKE

Coming soon

BYRON NELSON BLVD.

5 Super Star Car Wash The business will offer self-service car washes and full- service detailing. • Opening in September • 3500 N. Tarrant Parkway, Fort Worth • www.superstarcarwashaz.com 6 Texas Health Breeze Urgent Care The medical clinic will welcome walk-ins and offer online reservations for convenient scheduling. • Opening in September 7 Take 5 Oil Change Services such as oil changes and filling vital fluids will be offered while drivers stay in their cars. • Opening June 13 • SH 114 and Championship Parkway, Fort Worth • www.take5.com 8 Urban Egg The restaurant, a local “daytime eatery,” will feature breakfast items, lunch items, shareables and healthy meal options. • Opening in May • 2828 N. Tarrant Parkway, Ste. 100, Fort Worth • www.urbanegg.com • 173 E. Bonds Ranch Road, Fort Worth • www.breezeurgentcare.texashealth.org 9 Chick-fil-A The chain will serve chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, salads, breakfast items, drinks and desserts. • Opening in October • 13121 US 287, Fort Worth • www.chickfila.com 10 Drybar The business will specialize in hair blowouts, hair masks, hair brightening treatments and scalp scrubs.

Roanoke

AVONDALE- HASLET RD.

377

35W

DOVE RD.

287

170

WESTPORT PKWY.

OTTINGER RD.

BLUE MOUND RD. E.

TIMBERLAND BLVD.

RANDOL MILL AVE.

ALTA VISTA RD.

T H LAKE BLVD.

KELLER PKWY.

RIVERSIDE DR.

CONTINENTAL BLVD.

HERITAGE TRACE PKWY.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE BLVD.

E. HILL ST.

377

35W

BONDS RANCH RD.

Keller

TARRANT PKWY.

RIVERSIDE DR.

287

SAGE MEADOW TRL.

E. HARMON RD.

8 16

BASSWOOD BLVD.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

• 1665 US 377, Roanoke • www.brakesplus.com HIGHTOWER DR.

Now open

BASSWOOD BLVD.

WESTERN CENTER BLVD.

WATAUGA RD.

1 Kura Revolving Sushi The restaurant has a revolving sushi bar on a conveyor belt and menu items like udon and ramen. • Opened Feb. 10 • 2700 N. Tarrant Parkway, Ste. 130, Fort Worth • www.kurasushi.com 2 Brakes Plus The business offers brake services and inspections. • Opened Nov. 18

3 Spice & Slice Halal Market The halal restaurant also has market and butcher shop. • Opened Feb. 14 • 7451 N. Beach St., Ste. 172, Fort Worth • www.tinyurl.com/yc33cb44 4 Hyundai Alliance The car dealership sells new and used gas and hybrid vehicles. • Opened March 8

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

14 Houghton Horns The music store expanded its operations to include

• Opening in August • 9409 Sage Meadow Trail, Ste. 177, Fort Worth • www.drybarshops.com

Coming soon

music showcases. • Opened Feb. 21 • 137 E. Hill St., Keller • www.houghtonhorns.com

Relocations

11 Keller Glass & Mirror The business moved locations from 605 Keller Parkway in Keller to have more space. • Relocated Jan. 15

In the news

15 Medical City Alliance The Alliance hospital held a ribbon cutting to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. • 3101 N. Tarrant Parkway, Fort Worth • www.medicalcityhealthcare.com/locations/medical- city-alliance-hospital

• 12065 Katy Road, Fort Worth • www.kellerglassandmirror.com

12 County Line Records The record shop relocated from its Old Town Keller location to a new spot just up US 377. • Relocated Feb. 20 • 600 N. Main St., Keller • www.countylinerecords.square.site 13 Vista Eye Associates The company offers eye exams, eyeglasses, computer vision treatment, Lasik and other eye surgeries. • Relocated Jan. 27 • 12652 Timberland Blvd., Ste. 100, Fort Worth • www.vistaeyeassociates.com

16 Mister 01 Extraordinary Pizza The shop is opening its fifth location in Texas and will specialize in artisanal pizza, calzones, salads and fresh burrata. The menu also offers red, white and sparkling Italian wines. • Opening in April • 2828 N. Tarrant Parkway, Ste. 110, Fort Worth • www.mistero1.com

Worth the trip

Pinstack The entertainment facility is divided up into three distinct parts: gaming, dining and bowling. • Opened March 7 • 3650 Parish Lane, Westlake • www.pinstackbowl.com

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Election

BY GABBY BAILEY

Voter Guide

2025

Dates to know

Where to vote

April 22: First day of early voting April 22: Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) April 29: Last day of early voting April 3 : Election Day and the last day to receive ballot by mail. May 3: Election day

Tarrant County residents can vote at any polling location during early voting or on election day. Visit www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/elections.html for polling locations. Denton County residents can vote at any county voting location during the early voting period but only at their precinct location between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on election day. Visit www.votedenton.gov/election-day-information/current-and-upcoming-election- information for more information.

Only candidates in contested elections are included. Go to county election websites for information on uncontested races.

KEY : *Incumbent

District 4 Charlie Lauersdorf* Teresa Ramirez Northwest ISD Place 3

Place 3 Chelsea Kelly*

Sample ballot

Ed Duncan Phil Perez Nikki Paris

City of Keller Place 4

Cesar Tovar Tag Green*

Northeast Fort Worth Mayor Donnell Ballard Alyson Kennedy Jeremy F. Labelle Josh Lucas Mattie Parker* Lawrence E. Walker II Chris Wood Millennium Anton C. Woods Jr.

Jeff Dearing Joe Washam

Keller ISD Place 1 Randy Campbell Scott Bruce Marissa Bryce Place 2 Jennifer Erickson Joni Shaw Smith* Jade Holbrook

Roanoke Bond election

On Feb. 11, the Roanoke City Council voted to call a bond election May 3 to ask voters to consider a $62 million bond proposition for a convention center. The bond would include costs for designing, constructing and equipping the convention center facility. The center would include conference and meeting rooms, ballrooms and gathering space that will be attached to a full-service hotel.

SOURCES: CITIES OF KELLER, ROANOKE AND FORT WORTH; NORTHWEST ISD, KELLER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

GRAND REOPENING CELEBRATION: YOU’RE INVITED!

Did you hear the news? Our community recently underwent full renovations, including updated décor — and we’d love for you to take a look! Grab your friends and join us for an open house celebrating our brand-new space. Be among the first to tour, all while enjoying live music and delicious hors d’oeuvres. See you there!

Kindly RSVP by Tuesday, April 15 , if you plan to attend.

Thursday, April 24 5 to 7 p.m. | Complimentary admission For more information, email slyons7@brookdale.com or call (817) 973-4143.

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Election

BY CODY THORN

Fort Worth Mayor

KEY : *Incumbent

Donnell Ballard Occupation & experience: Radio/ TV personality donnellballard50@ yahoo.com

Alyson Kennedy Occupation & experience: Socialist Workers Party 817-899-6720

Josh Lucas Occupation & experience: Treasurer for Cindy Stormer 817-502-3982

Jeremy F. Labelle

Candidate did not respond to request for interview

What would your top priorities be if you are elected?

It’s crucial that we take swift and decisive action to address gun violence before the summer season arrives and the risk of escalation increases. This issue cannot be ignored any longer.

Supporting the right of Israel to defend itself as a refuge for Jews! Fighting the growing Jew-hatred and antisemitism. Supporting sovereignty for Ukraine. Moscow out now! Defending constitutional protections. Backing union struggles. Workers need to take power and create a new state based on solidarity and cooperation.

As mayor, I’d prioritize infrastructure, public safety and jail diversion, including a youth program using Fort Worth’s cultural arts. I’d also lead a national search for our next police chief to ensure strong, accountable leadership. These steps will create a safer, more vibrant city for everyone.

Candidate did not respond to request for interview

Mattie Parker* Candidate did not respond to request for interview

Lawrence E. Walker II Occupation & experience: Entrepreneur 817-207-9898

Chris Wood Occupation & experience:

Millennium Anton C. Woods Occupation & experience: Linguistics expert antoncwoods1@ gmail.com

Website developer, Sierra Club founder www. woodformayor.com

What would your top priorities be if you are elected?

Candidate did not respond to request for interview

Housing, education, transportation, public works, economic development and parks and recreation.

Promote safety rst in public, at home and around acquaintances. Encourage self-care, foster citizen mutual support, measure life satisfaction of citizens, then take action based on areas needing enhancement. Improve communication between citizens and council and raise crime prevention eorts by increasing mental health resources.

I will investigate the Civil Rights Act to see if it has been upheld properly by the U.S. government. Then I will address the educational, nancial and environmental reciprocity in the courts on behalf of my community by utilizing the resources in the authority of the local government to address such issues.

Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

Kindly requesting gift cards and diapers Adopt a family in need this Mother’s Day!

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Fort Worth Tx • (817) 753-6222 www.ph4upartners.org

KELLER ROANOKE NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

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A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MARCH 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: An El Paso Refuge CRITTER: American Bumblebee OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas

MADE IN TEXAS: A Leathermaking Legacy FEATURE PREVIEW: Where to Eat Now

Above: The Ysleta Mission, in El Paso.

KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

DETOURS

A Tribal Sanctuary On a Sacred Trail

Location: eleven miles southeast of downtown El Paso. BY JOSH ALVAREZ

CRITTER

American Bumblebee

The bumblebee does something most bees don't: buzz pollination, which involves gripping the plant with its legs and vibrating its whole body. If you eat blueberries, potatoes, or tomatoes— all of which rely on buzz pollination— you’ve got a bumblebee to thank. WHY IS IT SO BIG? The better to collect all that sweet pollen to feed its young. That fuzz is actually densely packed hairs, or setae, that trap pollen as the bumblebee floats from flower to flower. Its large body likely evolved to provide even more surface area.

DOES IT STING? Only if you mess with its nest.

HOW MANY SPECIES ARE THERE? Texas has between seven and eleven types. The most common is the American bumblebee, found statewide. North Texans might spot the brown-belted bumblebee, while those in the west are likely to see the Sonoran variant. The gentle giant is in trouble, though: Since 1974, popula- tions across North America have fallen by 46 percent. SCIENTISTS KEEP TABS, RIGHT? Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is one of several Texas orga- nizations partnering with Jacqueline Staab, the owner of Darwin’s Bee Dogs. Her German shorthaired pointers are trained to sniff out bumblebee nests for population surveys. “If we lose bees,” says Staab, “we lose Texas ecosystems.” —Rose Cahalan

INSIDE THE ADOBE walls of the Ysleta Mis- sion are clues to a deep history of acculturation that characterizes El Paso to this day. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribe, more commonly known as the Tigua, established the mission in 1682, making it one of the oldest in Texas (much of the current structure was built in 1851). The Tigua arrivedherefromNewMexico,whichtheyfled after the Pueblo Indians there overthrew the

Spanish colonial system, in 1680, forcing Span- iards and Christianized Pueblos to seek safety elsewhere. The Tigua dedicated the mission to Anthony of Padua, patron saint of things that have been lost, whose figure stands atop the entrance; inside are blankets dyed in brilliant blues and reds and a statue of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Catholic Church’s first Native American saint. The structure, part of the El Paso Mission Trail, holds a mass every day. If you can, plan your visit for June 13, when the Tigua celebrate Saint Anthony with traditional dancing.

The church interior at the Ysleta Mission, in El Paso.

KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

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MADE IN TEXAS

He Goes With the Grain Clint Wilkinson carries on his grandfather’s leatherworking legacy out of the same downtown Denton storefront. BY PAUL L. UNDERWOOD

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

After the San Antonio Zoo announced the birth of Tupi, the first capybara born there since 2000, it had to clarify to X users that it was “not associated with or benefiting from” a crypto- currency named after the baby animal. The number one item on the TSA’s top ten list of the most unusual airport confiscations in 2024 was a gun tucked into the back of a baby stroller at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport. The Texas State Aquarium, in Corpus Christi, released into the Gulf of Mex- ico some 270 green sea turtles it had rescued when they became hypother- mic during a recent cold snap. A Temple woman was sentenced to felony probation for theft after with- drawing money from a GoFundMe account created for her after she lied about a cancer diagnosis so that her friends “would like her more.” A Bexar County jail officer was arrest- ed and fired after allegedly giving an inmate food from Whataburger . After the Houston Police Department announced plans to clean up its prop- erty warehouse, authorities revealed that rats had possibly compromised ongoing cases by eating mushrooms and other drugs stored as evidence. A man stole a pickup truck and led police on a chase to the Midland airport, where he drove through the perimeter fence and onto the runways before abandoning the vehicle. —Meher Yeda

George W. Bush and Fort Worth soul star Leon Bridges, as well as Stetson and 7-Eleven. Wilkinson works out of the downtown cor- ner storefront once owned by his grandfather Weldon Burgoon, who opened Weldon’s Sad- dle Shop & Western Wear in 1957. Burgoon, who helped cover the cost of Clint’s birth, in 1982, by giving a saddle to the obstetrician, taught his grandson the craft. Wilkinson started an e-commerce site for the shop and, with his grandfather’s encour- agement, began branding his own handsewn leather goods with his name. In 2019, a year after Burgoon died, Wilkin- son reopened the shop, which he renamed Wilkinson’s Fine Goods. He’s known for his leather tote bags, belts, and wallets, and he sells wares from other brands, like Nocona- based Fenoglio Boot Company. He’s also de- veloping a line of leather-crafting supplies. The intention, he says, is to create “a way that I can still be in the leather community when I’m seventy-five years old and can’t make anything anymore.”

LAST SUMMER, WILKINSON’S FineGoods, in Denton, received its biggest online order to date. Owner Clint Wilkinson was intrigued by his new client, who purchased a massive array of custom desk mats, bootjacks, and cherrywood boxes with hand-tooled leather accents. “I was just like, ‘Holy crap,’�” Wilkin- son recalls. “He must be a politician or lawyer or something.” Not quite. Wilkinson looked up the buyer, a Utah resident named Austin Post, and re- alized that he was doing business with Post Malone, the rapper who was raised in nearby Grapevine. Wilkinson emailed him to explain that fulfillment would take some time be- cause every item would be handmade. The two now exchange texts about everything from the order’s progress to the woes of their be- loved Dallas Cowboys. Eventually Wilkinson’s client list would include former President

Clint Wilkinson and Charlie Talkington in the Wilkinson’s Fine Goods workshop, in Denton.

KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

2025

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Japanese hand rolls, sashimi, and sushi and en- joy the restaurant’s excellent vinyl collection. What does all this say about dining in Texas as weapproachtheendofthefirstquarterofthe twenty-firstcentury?Maybejustthis:Weneed to make room for more fun. The hospitality industry knows hard times all too well, with the ever-rising costs of raw ingredients and labor and the hollowing out of once vibrant restaurant-centric neighborhoods. Given all that, who wouldn’t opt for a break from the real world? It was in the same spirit that we selected the ten best new restaurants in Texas, along with a handful of honorable mentions. So get out there. Ask some friends to dinner; try some wild and crazy dishes; visit a place not on your radar. Life is serious enough—live a little. And eat a lot. To read the list of the best new restaurants in Texas, please subscribe to Texas Monthly .

IS IT OUR imagination, or are Texas restau- rants more, well, imaginative than ever? On our visit to an idiosyncratic spot in the Gulf Coast town of Kemah, we were treated to bil- lowing dry ice, a blowtorch, and a pasta cre- ation that was a dead ringer for a coral snake. In Dallas, we settled into a long, narrow dining room that looked as if it had been uncoupled from the Orient Express. In Fort Worth, we were sure that characters in The Crown would have felt right at home in a convincing replica of a posh London townhouse. Of course, not everything we loved this past year was stagy. One of our favorite venues was a comfy lit- tle place in Houston where guests can order

FEATURE PREVIEW

Where to Eat Now Dining in Texas has been one big experiment this year. Dry ice. Pasta snakes. Whey foam. Corn bubbles. (That’s right: corn bubbles.) Our best new restaurants want you to have a meal you’ll never forget.

BY COURTNEY BOND AND PATRICIA SHARPE

A scallop dish from Ishtia, in Kemah; smoked king salmon crudo at the Chumley House, in Fort Worth; sabering a bottle of wine at Isidore, in San Antonio.

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KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

Election

BY HEATHER MCCULLOUGH

A $62 million bond is on Roanoke’s May 3 election ballot for a downtown-centric convention center, city officials announced during their Feb. 11 council meeting. The city discussed funding for the center during its March 4 council meeting and how it plans to pay the debt using hotel revenue from: • 1% local sales tax • 6.25% state sales tax due to qualified city status • Hotel Occupancy Tax, which levies 13% per room price • User fees • 0.5% economic development sales tax Roanoke voters to decide on $62M bond in May

The breakdown

The impact

Convention center location

Roanoke hotel and convention center

On the ballot

1 Meeting areas

2 Ballroom/ convention center

3 Hotel entrance, restaurant and hotel amenities

4 Hotel reception lobby and administrative services

5 Market/ retail

6 Hotel rooms

7 Parking garage

PEABODY WAY

Ray Garfield, founder of Garfield Public/ Private LLC, said that with a hotel in downtown Roanoke, guests will go from spending $30 a day in the area to $300 per day, including the hotel room cost. “As a business owner close to the location of the hotel, it can only be a positive impact on my business,” said Annett Van Grinsven, owner of Wine:30 on Oak Street. The convention center will also provide a large space for organizations to meet, bringing in more revenue for Roanoke. “We are limited with facilities in the area that can accommodate large groups, [including] large businesses for conventions and retreats, nonprofit organizations for fundraising events and even our schools for proms and celebrations,” Metroport Cham- ber of Commerce CEO Sally Aldridge said.

The plans include a hotel and convention center east of city hall with the hotel being privately owned and funded, officials said. The convention center will be owned by the city and leased to the hotel owner for operation. The project would include conference rooms, meeting rooms, a ballroom, the hotel entrance, hotel amenities and a restaurant. The convention center is the only piece of the project included on the May 3 election ballot for bond approval. The hotel portion is not on the election ballot. “We really want to be where people come during the week to conventions and stay several days and then walk up and down the street and spend time and money,” City Manager Cody Petree said. Roanoke City Council stated the bond would not increase property taxes since city officials expect the convention center to pay for itself using sales tax produced from the project. The bond would also include costs for designing, constructing and equipping the convention center facility.

MONROE AVE.

Hotel details: 200

377

Roanoke

PARISH LN.

rooms Market and retail spaces

A venue tax could be voted on in a future elec- tion to increase revenue by $350,000 to $400,000 annually, Mayor Scooter Gierisch said. Garfield Public/Private LLC, the project’s design manager, predicted the hotel operating revenue will be $22 million by 2030 with a net income of $7.5 million, assuming a 72% occupancy of the hotel, city officials told Community Impact . The convention center’s annual debt is about $3.6 million, officials said. The net income will first pay off the hotel debt, then the convention center debt.

Restaurant

Fitness area

Pool

SOURCE: CITY OF ROANOKE/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Ground floor

Hotel room accommodations

KELLER 101 Keller Smithfield Rd S (817) 482-8295

WESTLAKE 2341 Highway 377 (817) 490-9072

CITADEL 9564 Citadel Way Dr (817) 200-3080

Government

BY CODY THORN & JACOB VAUGHN

Keller officials approve housing plans at Center Stage Keller City Council approved plans for a 42-lot subdivision in the existing Center Stage mixed-use planned development during its March 4 meeting. The subdivision will be called The Summit at Center Stage. What’s happening? MOUNT GILEAD RD. 377 MOUNT GILEAD RD.

Fort Worth approves water main work; Northlake rejects bids Fort Worth City Council approved an ordi- nance for $216,500 for costs related to the Northside II water main project as part of the 2025-29 capital improvement program. The details During the Feb. 11 meeting, city docu- ments stated Northlake received bids for the project and should be awarding a con- struction contract soon. Northlake officials said they rejected the bids they originally received and are in the process of rebidding. The municipalities both approved a wholesale water contract in January 2023 for increased water capacity, according to city documents. The water main asset will be owned by Fort Worth.

The plan proposed is for The Summit to be on an 8.08-acre property about 425 feet east of the North Main Street and Mount Gilead Road intersection. Keller officials unanimously voted to approve a detailed site plan for the subdivision. The site plan considered by City Council March 4 is specifically for the single-family lots in one block of the development. A timeline to start the project was not given. The site plan is for 42 single-family lots, related streets, alleyways and open space in the devel- opment. Center Stage was approved in 2020 as a mixed-use development with residential and commercial uses, according to city documents.

Once completed, the Center Stage development will include loft-style apartments, the 42 sin- gle-family homes, tens of thousands of square feet of commercial space and a community lawn. The site plan complied with Center Stage planned development standards, so the council had to approve it, according to city documents.

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Education

BY MARK FADDEN

State funding bill draws criticism from NISD leaders During Northwest ISD’s board meeting Feb. 25, Superintendent Mark Foust gave an update on the state’s 89th Legislature, including House Bill 2, the house’s version of the school funding bill to increase the basic per-student allotment by $220. Zooming in Foust said NISD asked for $1,340 more in the

170

VD.

I M B E R L A N D

administrations to private vendors. Foust said one bill has up to ve companies helping the comptroller manage the system. “That’s $320 million in taxpayer dollars that goes to private companies to manage an entitle- ment program,” he said. Zooming out On. Feb. 2, Gov. Greg Abbott said one of his priorities for 89th legislative session is pay raises for public school teachers. The Senate’s plan would raise these teachers’ salaries by $4,000, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s oce stated.

Northwest ISD to build new high school Northwest ISD announced Feb. 26 it broke ground on its fourth comprehensive high school, which will open in August 2027. What’s happening? The campus will be located on North Riverside Drive near Highway 170 and I-35. NISD is forecasted to enroll more than 38,700 students by the 2029-30 school year, up from 32,022 in 2024-25, according to previous reporting.

basic allotment—the state funds given to districts per full-time student—to go from $6,160 to $7,500. This would address the 23% rise in ination since 2019, the last time the basic allotment was raised. Foust said the district will advocate “very aggres- sively” for most of the educational items put forth so far in the 89th legislature to not happen. “We’re in defense or preventative mode,” he said. Other items Place 7 Trustee Jennifer Murphy said the bill should be referred to as the “vendor bill” since it includes language that would outsource voucher

“$220 in basic allotment is between a 1% and 2% raise for teachers. It’s not enough.” MARK FOUST, NORTHWEST ISD SUPERINTENDENT

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KELLER ROANOKE NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

Transportation

BY HEATHER MCCULLOUGH & JACOB VAUGHN

Median beautification project underway along Keller Parkway Keller is undergoing a beautification process to add greenery on different stretches of medians on Keller Parkway/FM 1709. The details Phase 1 of the project is currently under con- struction and is funded by the Texas Department of Transportation through a $400,000 grant, according to city documents. The process involves adding plants on the medians throughout the city. The first two medians on Keller Parkway at US 377 have been completed and a third median will begin construction in the spring, Rachel Reynolds, Keller’s communication and public engagement manager, said in an email.

Roanoke OKs $1.36M Dorman Street project Roanoke officials approved a $1,360,099 contract to reconstruct Dorman Street. The details Construction will start March 31 and the project could take a year to complete, city officials said. Improvements are funded by the Denton County bond and include new drainage, sidewalks, street lighting and a concrete street. Public Works Director Shawn Wilkin- son said the project may cause traffic delays.

KELLER PKWY.

1709

Keller

What’s next? Phase 2 of the project will complete the design and construction of the remaining medians on Keller Parkway to the city’s eastern border. The city will use a TxDOT grant of $600,000 to help pay for the second phase of the project. Reyn- olds said the city’s architect submitted 60% of the plans to TxDOT officials for their review in February. City officials said they plan to receive bids for the project this spring and potentially see con- struction run from summer to fall 2025.

L O I S S T .

Roanoke

114

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Events

BY HEATHER MCCULLOUGH

Moxie Band Live at Soul Fire Brewery Grunge band Moxie will perform live at Soul Fire Brewery. Enjoy the music with craft beer, cocktails,

April

Keller Senior Activities Craft Show Visit the Keller Seniors Activity Center to shop handmade jewelry, original art and other items. • April 5, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. • Free (admission) • 640 Johnson Road, Keller • www.cityofkeller.com/visitors/special-events Guitar Basics Learn guitar basics and rudimentary music theory at the Golden Triangle Library in Fort Worth. Bring a guitar or check one out from the library.

wines or bourbon. • April 19, 7 p.m. • Free (admission) • 206 N. Oak St., Ste. 180, Roanoke • www.tinyurl.com/5bcmamuk

Earth Day Springtime Seed Bombs For International Earth Day, learn about sustainability and conservation and make a seed bomb at the Golden Triangle Library in Fort Worth.

• April 22, 2-3 p.m. • Free (admission) • 4264 Golden Triangle Blvd., Fort Worth • www.tinyurl.com/yzfepedm

• April 5, 1-2 p.m. • Free (admission) • 4264 Golden Triangle Blvd., Fort Worth • www.tinyurl.com/3uhssjzd

Houseplant Cookie Class Decorate six sugar cookies into houseplants with the assistance of a cookie artist from Cupid Sweets. The event is for people age 16 and up and all supplies will be provided. • April 22, 7-8:30 p.m. • $60 • Salt & Light Collective, 138 Olive St., Keller • www.tinyurl.com/3uszv8kf

Spring festivities on Bates Bates Street in Keller will be transformed into a spring festival and market and include vendors, a DJ, a bounce house, food trucks and children’s activities. • April 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • Free (admission) • 133 Bates St., Keller • www.tinyurl.com/wyeu25fa

Eggapalooza Located at the Roanoke Soccer Complex, there will be arts and crafts, bounce houses, food trucks, Easter bunny photos, face painting, vendors and a petting zoo. • April 12, noon-3 p.m. • Free (admission) • 505 Roanoke Road, Roanoke • www.roanoketexas.com/248/EggAPalooza

Show your appreciation at Fired Up! – the perfect event to celebrate your top clients, partners, or team members Delicious steak dinner • Live music • Open bar Cigars • Casual outdoor attire • Auction & raffle MAY 8, 2025 - 6:00PM LANDSCAPE SYSTEMS, 1823 KELLER PARKWAY

TICKETS: Individual: $185

Standard Table (8): $1,375 Premium Table (8): $1,650 Sponsorships available!

For more info, contact the Chamber at 817.431.2169

KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION

‘No path forward’ for Keller ISD split From the cover

The timeline

April 2024

January 2025

February 2025

March 2025

Heritage HOA joins a lawsuit against Keller ISD March 3, claiming the board of trustees violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by discussing splitting the district in a private meeting. TEA issues a letter March 11 addressing “the concern reported about governance of the district should be reviewed.” State Representative David Lowe, R-North Richland Hills, introduces House Bill 4156 on March 10, which would require school district splits to be approved through an election. District officials call off further split discussions March 14.

Students at several KISD middle and high schools organize walkouts in protest of the split. One local homeowner’s association, Heritage HOA, hires law firm Kelly Hart & Hallman to help fight the potential split. The board unanimously accepts Johnson’s resignation Feb. 20. She will stay on as superintendent emeritus through the end of 2025 and receive more than $425,000 in compensation.

Keller officials project a $27.43 million shortfall for fiscal year 2024-25, prompting discussions about potential solutions.

The board of trustees officially proposes the split to resolve the district’s financial struggles. The proposal is met with backlash from many district parents, students and staff who cite potential impacts on KISD schools and resources. Johnson offers her resignation at the Jan. 16 board meeting saying the split isn’t “right for kids.” The board names Cory Wilson, who was the district’s assistant superintendent of education services, as interim superintendent Jan. 30. Johnson remains an “active employee.”

SOURCES: KELLER ISD, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, LEGISCAN, HERITAGE HOA/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

The impact

Keller ISD fund balance history

Amount needed to be at TEA recommendation Fund balance

added they also may not be able to qualify for as much debt funding as a larger district. He said to think about the split like a mortgage: A married couple who qualifies for a $400,000 house together may only be able to qualify for a $200,000 mortgage separately if they got divorced. In terms of property values, Crouch sees short- term pains if KISD resumes talks of a split. “[Property values] may change, whether the split happens or not,” Crouch said. “The shorter the window [of uncertainty], the sooner the real estate market will heal.”

• Family owned & Operated • Flower Mound residents since 2005 • Residential, Commercial, Agriculture Fences • Craftsmanship - Reliability Integrity Discussions of a split prompted officials to assess its impact on property taxes and values. The district’s Reshaping Information webpage states splitting the district would give each district more local control and financial flexibility. Rather than functioning as one large district with a uniform funding approach, each district could make independent decisions on spending, staffing and strategies tailored to its student demographics. However, local Realtor Chandler Crouch said smaller school districts may not get as good a rate when it comes time to issue or refinance debt. He

$79.3M

2018-19

$72.3M

$83.4M $83.4M

2019-20

$87.8M

2020-21

$82M

$87.3M

2021-22

$69.6M

$84.3M

2022-23

$47.1M

SOURCE: KELLER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

TopRailFence.com · 972-746-7487

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY MARK FADDEN

The politics

Next steps

• Initiation of detachment: Creation of a new district by detachment is initiated by resolution of the board of trustees of each district from which territory is to be detached or by a petition presented to the county commissioners court. • Election: If the commissioners court determines the petition is valid, each board of trustees shall order an election to be held on the same date in each district. The creation of a new district needs at least 25% of the registered voters of each district to vote in the election to pass.

Jake Kobersky, director of media relations for the Texas Education Agency, said Chapter 13 of the Texas Education Code spoke to the creation, consolidation and abolition of school districts. In order for Keller ISD to split into two separate districts, several requirements must be met: • Minimum area and attendance requirements: A new district cannot be less than 9 square miles or fewer than 8,000 students in average daily attendance, nor can it be reduced to these numbers. If the district had split, the new entities must have met these requirements.

As the district prepares for the 2025-26 school year, projections indicate a $9.4 million budget shortfall. Despite having a fund balance of $47.1 million that could help address this issue, the balance only covers 56% of the TEA’s recommended funding amount to sustain at least three months of operations. At the Feb. 27 board meeting, Chief Operations Officer John Allison detailed what the district could do to prepare for the shortfall, including increasing the student- teacher ratio by an average of 0.5 in middle and high schools. Other avenues include closing elementary schools, which Allison said district officials will discuss next fall.

Keller ISD trustees

Proposed KISD budget cuts

Supported a possible split

Opposed a possible split

• John Birt • Chris Coker • Charles Randklev

• Heather Washington • Micah Young

• Joni Shaw Smith • Chelsea Kelly

Increasing the high school student-teacher ratio by an average of 0.5: $2.38M Reducing district-level positions: $2.13M Cutting transportation for students not within state requirements: $900K Closing down Early Learning Center North and Early Learning Center South: $1M

SOURCE: KELLER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What they’re saying

Pulling money out of different departments: $800K

forthcoming opinion.” Tarrant County Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons spoke out on the issue during the Jan. 30 KISD board meeting and called for a public vote as well. “They elected [the board] to manage this district and not cede [its] power and authority to the county judge and one or two commissioners,” Simmons said.

Fort Worth City Council members Charlie Lauersdorf and Alan Blaylock questioned the legality of the split and got the city involved. Fort Worth City Attorney Leann Guzman sent a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Feb. 27 to get his interpretation of the situation. “We firmly believe that if a split were to occur, the public has the right to vote on the matter, and the law supports this interpretation,” Blaylock said. “We look forward to the Attorney General’s

Reducing funding for the Keller Wellness Center: $760.5K Increasing the middle school student- teacher ratio by an average of 0.5: $720K

Total: $8.69M

SOURCE: KELLER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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