Though the crowd in the room was sparse, the energy in the room remained serious. Projector screens clicking through slideshows. 

Coppell ISD chief operations officer Sid Grant presented the district’s plans to renovate Lakeside Elementary School. 

With the initiative to save costs with the district’s $8.5 million deficit, the district plans to move students to the former New Tech @ Coppell campus. 

“If we decide that we can house students at a separate campus, costs can be aimed more toward further renovations towards elementary schools, which will total to 1.5 to 2 million in construction laws,” Grant said. 

The board unanimously approved the LES renovation plan.

Texas Senate Bill 11 Section 5 requires that school boards take record votes to decide on a resolution. 

Assistant superintendent of leadership and administrative services Cooper Hilton presented a draft resolution to the board. 

“If the resolution was adopted, all participants, whether they are staff or students, participating in a period of prayer or religious texture, would have to have signed consent from the parent or guardian,” Hilton said. “That policy would prohibit reading prayers or religious texts over the voice alarm systems. That policy would specify that this period may not substitute for instructional time.”

Additional questions progressed in response to this resolution forming, with concerns from the trustees over students First Amendment rights. 

“Our current board policy already gives our students the right to exercise their First Amendment and their religious beliefs as they so choose,” Board president David Caviness said. 

Following closing remarks in regards to the resolution, the board voted unanimously against the resolution being implemented in schools.

The district also recognized Teacher of the Year winners throughout Coppell ISD, each of them were individually recognized alongside their principals.