Coppell ISD attempts to clear up rumors about the new “Academy”

by PegNews wire

Submitted by Pegasus News user littlekinder.

A story worth following in Coppell is the planning of the new "Academy." The CISD Express Summer Newsletter came out last week with "rumor busters" regarding the Academy. The planners deserve their own TAKS writing award for vague wording. Although this new school is set to open in the fall of '08, "the criteria for the application have not been set, but more information will be provided in the coming months. Before students actually apply, it is hard to know exactly how many students will attend the Academy its first year. However, based on survey data and talking with other area academies, the district anticipates that the Academy will open its doors with up to 300 students. Another survey will be given to students early this fall to identify those interested."

They go on to state that the curriculum has not yet been developed. No one knows whether to apply, and no curriculum seems to be in place until it can be seen who is going to apply - a cat chasing its tail. The impetus for the Academy is to help relieve overcrowding in the 3,000 student high school. However, an elementary school population is being divided up and parceled out to other neighborhood schools to make a space for the Academy, size yet unknown. This has been tough on many families, and there is absolutely no given that anyone will be applying to the Academy. It's also difficult to know if this will make any significant impact on the overcrowded high school any time soon. And with the Cypress Waters development issue looming (another story in itself), Coppell could end up with a second high school in a few years that would render the Academy relatively pointless. I do not know why the planning committee is called Pinnacle 2010, but that is clearly the opening date they should be shooting for, not 2008.

It's a hot topic, considering the Coppell vibe - everything for our children! - and though it has very little direct impact on my family, it has been a sore subject with many. But for now, at least the rumors are... busted?? Not so much.

Posted by Laura S.

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txgibsongirl, says:

I appreciate your input, Littlekinder. There are many parents who have their heads in the sand about many of the issues in our city. Overcrowded schools and the Academy are just a couple of them. The Robin Hood tax makes all this so much harder.

These decisions were not made based on voter response. These decisions were made based on a handful of committee personnel. Only approximately 3000 voters show up at the polls at any given time, so there are only a handful that really try to appeal to the school board. The survey that they referred to in the article was filled out mostly by students who oh by the way take the classes their helicopter parents make them take.

The decision to have only one high school is a direct result of poor planning of the school districts in the past. The decision to have only one school based on athletic status has hurt the other 2000 students.

The school closing shows the continual lack of proactive planning on the school district's part. Some of the students forced out of Lee Elementary will move to other schools which are already at maximum capacity. The Superintendent made sure all teachers were at maximum capacity in their classrooms the first year of his tenure. The school board's decision to close Lee was based on low enrollment. What they failed to account for are the house sales of young couples in the past 5 years. As empty nesters and disgusted residents leave, they seem to always sell to young couples.

The committee also does not have any contingency plans if the lawsuit is not won. If lost, we have no land to build a second school. I have lived in Coppell since 2000. The school district sold a large tract of land since I have lived here for short term monetary gain which we could be using to build the Academy on today with no dependency on the outcome of a lawsuit.

Why do we stay? Many of us hope things will improve. Some of us have homes paid off and would have to spend a lot more to replace what we already have. The location is awesome.

Anonymous

2 years, 3 months ago
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littlekinder, says:

txgibsongirl- you are so right about short term thinking. We have been here since 1996, and we moved here specifically for the schools. I wish I had more hard data to predict CHS enrollment, say, 6 or 7 years from now. I think in a landlocked community like this there will always be ebb and flow and that in a few years the numbers may be down at CHS and the Academy completely unnecessary. I know that we will still be here, but our kids will be gone to college in only a couple of years. Surely the population ages from time to time. But everyone seems so sure that this is an endless trend. Well, it can't be! We are landlocked.

Of course, that doesn't take into consideration the Cypress Waters issue, and I can't really say I fault the city/school board for not having ready land for a second high school. They had no way of knowing this would crop up so suddenly. I'm sure they believed that if they really needed a second high school that they would be able to formulate a plan over a period of years. That whole issue just stinks, from the developers to the cities of Irving and Dallas. I have wondered if the Academy is the second high school in its embryonic stage. Maybe they figure if they start SOME kind of school, they can eventually spread it out... I don't know. I feel, and it seems you agree, that many, many decisions are made based on athletics and band. Unbelievable, but true as far as I can see. I think parents and committees will go to any lengths to keep from dividing those up. They certainly aren't sending any of those kids to the Academy - at least not after the next couple of years.

My kids seem to be ok with the size of the high school - and I feel they are getting an excellent education. Obviously it is not the ideal situation, but I went to UT and never minded the size of that student population, either... maybe you adjust and move on. I do feel for the teachers, I know the size makes things harder for them. All I know is the Academy seems to be as much a mystery to the planners as to the rest of us. I see from their verbage that they are trying to make it look like it can be all things to all people - identical classes for gifted and vocational students. I don't see that working. I have a teaching background, and I can see the concept, but I don't think it will flesh out in practice that way. Call me pessimistic. If they have to choose, they need to add more vocational ed and less g/t. The options for non-college bound kids are just not there.

I'm really glad to see that someone else in "the bubble" reads Pegasus. I was sure I was the only one - we must spread the word that there is another whole world out there! But I suspect that might fall on deaf ears - unless it has to do with something really essential, like school rank. Unfortunately, I'm only half joking.