Sponsor, Welcome, And Context

SPEAKER_01 0:00

This episode brought to you by Kathy Elwall, State Farm Insurance Agent. Visit her at Kathylwall.com. Welcome to the Bubba Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson. Today's episode focuses on a topic that has generated a great deal of conversation throughout the park cities over the past several months. The proposed move of the Compass School of Texas to the Northway Christian Church campus adjacent to Boone Elementary. If you've followed neighborhood Facebook groups, attended community meetings, driven through the area, or see in the yard slides around town, you're likely heard some of the discussion. While the conversation has quieted somewhat over the summer, this issue is very much still active with important decisions expected in the coming months. As always, my goal is not to tell you what to think. My goal is to help our community better understand the issues, hear directly from the people involved, and provide a platform for respectful dialogue.

Proposal Overview And Key Concerns

SPEAKER_01 0:58

For those of you that may not be familiar with the proposal, Northway Christian Church recently announced plans to close its day school, which has served local families for more than 60 years beginning in 2027. The church has entered into an agreement that would allow the Compass School of Texas to operate on the Northway campus while Compass continues planning and developing its permanent home. Compass currently serves students in pre-K through elementary grades and plans to grow into pre-K through eighth grade school. Under the current proposal, enrollment would be capped at approximately 340 students. The proposal requires approval through the City of Dallas zoning process and has not yet been approved. The case will ultimately be reviewed by the Dallas City Plan Commission and then the Dallas City Council. While some residents have expressed support for the proposals, others have raised questions about traffic, pedestrian safety, enrollment growth, and long-term impact on placing another K-8 school immediately adjacent to Boone Elementary. While some residents have expressed support for the proposal, others have raised questions about traffic, pedestrian safety, enrollment growth, and long-term impact of placing another K-8 school immediately adjacent to Boone, where many children walk and bike to school every day. One of the recurring themes throughout the conversation has been safety. Neighbors, parents, HPISD officials, city planners, Northway Christian Church, and compass school representatives have all been engaged in discussions about traffic management, arrival and dismissal schedules, crossing guards, and how the surrounding neighborhood would be impacted.

A Parent With Two Campuses

SPEAKER_01 2:31

Joining me today is Caitlin Clinton. Caitlin is both a Boone elementary parent and a Northway Christian Day School parent. She has attended meetings, reviewed documents, has spoken with city officials, and has become one of the community members helping neighbors understand the process and voice concerns about the proposal. I also want to note that I've extended invitations to representatives from the Compass School as well as Northway Christian Church. And I would welcome the opportunity to have them join me on the podcast as well. I believe these community conversations are most valuable when listeners have the opportunity to hear directly from all perspectives involved. My hope today is simple to better understand the concerns being raised, learn more about where things currently stand, and help listeners stay informed as this process moves forward. Caitlin, thank you for joining me today. Thanks for having me, Martha. Well, let's get some background on you. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

SPEAKER_00 3:23

Absolutely. I'm a Park Cities parent. I actually moved to the area about two years ago, specifically for the schools as my son was entering kindergarten. So he does attend Boone Elementary, and then our youngest daughter actually attends Northway Christian Day School right next door. So I genuinely have a foot in both communities that are being impacted by this zoning case.

SPEAKER_01 3:44

Well, I think it's really interesting that you have one at each school because that really gives perspective there. How did you first hear about this news?

SPEAKER_00 3:52

I actually um figured out the news. I didn't hear directly from the school or the church, but we started to notice rezoning signs on the playground. Yes. Um so obviously that prompted questions and we reached out to school leadership and they actually didn't know what they were for. So it was really unsettling at the time as a Northway um mom and parent. And then the next update we got was from the church about a week later, stating that they were gonna close the school. So as a Northway parent, it was super disappointing. Um, it just felt like a decision was made that impacted a lot of other families without being consulted or brought into the process until it was already done.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

Well, what was the initial reaction just amongst the other parents of the preschoolers?

SPEAKER_00 4:40

It was um honestly, we weren't sure at the time whether the school was going to be displaced or whether a new school was actually gonna be coming onto the church campus and operating in tandem with the preschool. So at the time, nobody jumped to any conclusions because we didn't have all of the information and answers. Um, but it wasn't until we got the notification from the church that for sure our school was closing um due to financial constraints from a church perspective and they would be bringing in a new school tenant.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

Well, when could you all tell that this was, you know, this was really becoming a thing? It's it's a pretty significant issue in the community.

Community Meeting And Safety Focus

SPEAKER_00 5:20

Absolutely. Um, you know, I wasn't sure if really just the Northway parents were impacted by it because that was the chatter for me personally that was loudest at the moment in time. Um, but when I went to the community meeting in April, the room was full. Um, so many people beyond just Northway parents showed up. Boon families, um, immediate neighbors that were impacted. And the meeting lasted over two hours. Um, so just lots of comments, lots of questions, a lot of concern um about what this new school would bring to the area.

SPEAKER_01 5:57

Well, what do you feel like was the main concern or objective that the parents in general were raising?

SPEAKER_00 6:03

Absolutely. So the main concern was traffic and safety. Uh, first and foremost. I drop my son off at school many days of the week, and or I bike to school with him on a weekly basis. Um, and the traffic around that area at our drop-off and pickup, it's congested. Um, so it was just hard for the families that live and breathe the daily drop-off and pickup at Boone to understand how the traffic plan they had put forward could actually work logistically, if that makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 6:37

Well, let's talk about the traffic around Boone.

Drop-Off Traffic, Walkers, And Bikers

SPEAKER_01 6:39

Um, I had one child that was there for all of one year while you're okay. The transition I have been over there. I kind of have a visual of what that looks like, but walk us through a typical morning.

SPEAKER_00 6:50

Absolutely. Um, and again, this is one kind of block where two schools will be. Um, but the carpal line faces Durham. Um, so families are instructed to drive up airline, then onto the service road of Northwest Highway, and then you make a right on Durham so that you're dropping off directly in front of the front door. However, that's just one of two drop-off methods. So the second drop-off method, um, which is very much concerning, um, because Northway plans for that back parking lot that faces Wentwood to be where this new school would do their own carpool drop-off and pickup um at this just about at the same time as Boonewood. So right now, I think in the proposal at the community meeting, there was only a five-minute overlap between, you know, starts and dismissals, which just seems logistically impossible to get that many kids and that many families dropped off. Right, right.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

And then you also have the the added part of all the little kids on bicycles.

SPEAKER_00 7:56

Yes, yeah. Um, and that was one piece of the puzzle that frankly wasn't addressed. Um, so when we talk about traffic and safety concerns and looking at the proposal, when the initial observation was done, it was done in January of this year, um, which was right around the time that we had freezing temperatures. So again, there were no bikers observed and no pedestrians walking to school. Um, so it frankly was not a normal day to do an observation.

SPEAKER_01 8:26

Well, is there a new one scheduled that will make it a little bit more accurate?

SPEAKER_00 8:31

So we actually uh had a professional engineer who is also a parent at Boone come out and do a statistical study one morning at drop off, um, which was incredible. And so he reported back that there were over 300 pedestrians that cross the street to Boone. Um, so that is both parents and children, which is huge, an astronomical number, um, in addition to over 70 bikers. Um, and those bikers are my son and I. We bike from our home on Purdue to Boone because it'd be a lengthy walk. It I have it has been done before. I have done it. Um, but we love biking to Boone. Um so we would be one of those particular bikers um that could be impacted by this influx of additional drop-off traffic.

SPEAKER_01 9:22

Well, it really is one of the many things that makes our community so special. It's just those families walking and biking. I actually really early. I mean, I try to do it with my high school son, but he's just not too independent. He's just not on board. Yes, that wouldn't go over very well. Well, you've been extremely vocal about the traffic management plan. What concerns specifically do you have?

SPEAKER_00 9:45

Yeah, so one for me in particular, um, with Northway wanting this new school to do their carpool, um, so they've expressed it would be carpool drop-off only, no walk-ups, um, because it sounds like most of the students for the potential tenant, Compass, um, don't live in the area with within walkability. So they want to restrict it to just drop-off only. Um, but based on the map that they had laid out for that back parking lot at Northway, which is actually where I drop my daughter off every day, um, they seem to express or think that they can fit all of the carp cars for every single family at Compass in that particular parking lot at any given time. Um, so that is just not logistically feasible. Um, and one of the questions I have personally is what happens when it gets backed up and everyone can't fit in that particular parking lot? Where are those cars? Are they being, you know, flowed onto Wentwood, which is already an incredibly tight street? Um, cars park on both sides. So, in my opinion, I feel like Wentwood is kind of a one-way street, so to speak. Um, so that's the main question is where does that carpool overflow direct? Is it on Wentwood? Is it airline? Um, that question hasn't been answered.

SPEAKER_01 11:11

Well, what do you feel like is missing from the plan

What The Permit Must Lock In

SPEAKER_01 11:14

right now? I mean, obviously a traffic traffic study absolutely on a on a normal day.

SPEAKER_00 11:18

Yes, yeah. Traffic in particular on a normal day is really important from a study perspective when it comes to the permit itself. Um, you know, we've also been told that this situation is temporary, um, that this tenant, you know, is renovating and building on their own property on Northwest Highway, which is great. So it's understandable that they need a place for their students in the short term. So if that's the case, we want a timestamp on this particular permit. So when it was initially filed, it did not have an end date. And the concern with that is that these, you know, whatever restrictions are in this particular permit can go on indefinitely, um, as well as transfer to another tenant. Say Compass, they're actually the tenant, so they're not filing this permit application. That's the church as the landowner. If Compass leaves in three to five years, um, then Northway still has this permit and can bring any school into the facility. So it is really important now that, you know, the modifications are written into this permit for a certain amount of time so that it is binding for not only this school, but potentially another school in the future. Right.

SPEAKER_01 12:36

Well, you're very plugged in with all the parents. I know there's been a lot of discussions. Is there anything that you all feel that Compass could do that would address all of your concerns and make you all feel more comfortable with the situation?

SPEAKER_00 12:50

Absolutely. Um, you know, and we've already had um good faith conversations. Um, and the last update I received to some individuals who are doing the heavy lifting and working with both Northway as the, you know, permit requester and the city zoning committee is that they have agreed to a classroom cap, which is very encouraging. Um, so that is how the city tracks capacity or enrollment. It's not by number of students, it's by classrooms. So the last that I heard is that yes, they were willing to write in a maximum of 21 classrooms. So that shows progress. That's tremendous progress. Um, the items that are still outstanding are, you know, the timestamp on the permit. Um, the community we would really like it to be three years or less. Um, so that is one piece of the puzzle, as well as that revised traffic plan so that everyone feels comfortable about going to school, whether they're dropping off, biking, doing carpool, um, the staggering of dismissal. So right now it was listed as five minutes. We really feel strongly that it should be 30 to 45 minutes to truly allow for each community um, you know, to leave the area and get home safely or to their next destination. So those are just a couple that are top of mind for me personally.

SPEAKER_01 14:15

Well, you know, you're driving around, you see signs around the neighborhood. I'm just curious, do you feel like the bulk of the parents are saying, no, absolutely not? We don't want this. Or are they saying, you know, with some revisions and plans, we can all make this work?

SPEAKER_00 14:28

Absolutely. Um I think that's probably the most misunderstood perspective from the community is that we don't want, you know, another school or a private school directly next to Boone. And that is certainly not the case. Um, I have friends that go to Compass. So I know that this is a tremendous school bringing tremendous students and families. Um, I certainly see it as additive to the community. And so for us, this is a show us a safe plan that is realistically gonna work well so that as parents, we feel comfortable continuing to walk, bike, drop-off, um, and that these schools can operate safely in tandem with each other. Well, Caitlin, what has surprised you most about this process?

How The City Process Works

SPEAKER_00 15:17

Um, it is very detailed. Um, navigating, you know, city code and how the ins and outs of city planning works has been fascinating to see. And I have not been on the front line. So I am really just an informed neighbor and citizen that is supporting this initiative. Um, there are others who are pouring hours of time into this particular process. Um, so that has really surprised me, as well as just learning um about how special use permits work. Um, I certainly thought that the school who is wanting to occupy this space um applies for the permit. And it turns out that the landowners actually apply for the permit. So, really, all of our requests and questions are directed to Northway Church, who is applying for this particular permit as the landowner currently. Yeah, that's interesting. I I know pretty much nothing about that process. It's an it's been enlightening. I'm sure it has been. Well, how many neighbors would you say have become involved? That is a great question. Um, and there are over 300 unified neighbors and families that are supporting this particular initiative. Um, and that probably also corresponds to the number of people and households that were represented at the April community meeting at Northway Church.

SPEAKER_01 16:38

So it was really a full house, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_00 16:39

It was a full house, absolutely. Um, I think the pastor had even made a joke that this was the, you know, fullest the sanctuary had been in quite a while. Um so really just demonstrated the amount of individuals that showed up to this particular meeting. Um, so yes, this is not a small group of angry neighbors or, you know, individuals that live directly across the church. Like, yes, they are absolutely part of that 300 household. Um, but this is also in coordination with HPISD. Um, so this is a very coordinated effort between the community and HPISD asking Northway for very much the same things. Um, in fact, in May, shortly after that community meeting, um, our superintendent of HPISD, uh, Dr. Mike Rockwood, actually sent an email to all parents, I assume all parents, or at least Boone families, um, letting them know that he absolutely was prioritizing the safety and security of all families and students at Boone and supported a number of the same requests we have made, including a new traffic plan, staggering dismissals, you know, by at least 30 minutes and more to ensure that both schools um can operate well next to each other on a single block. Well, I believe it went to everyone because I have a lot of fun as well.

SPEAKER_01 18:09

I definitely got it. Well, you talked about uh Dr. Rockwood's involvement, but what about Commissioner Hall? What's going on there?

SPEAKER_00 18:16

Yes, uh, Commissioner Hall, he has been very engaged in the process as well. Um, I even saw him at the community meeting, and I know he's received plenty of emails from myself and other concerned citizens. Um and so I we absolutely feel like he is engaging the community and hearing our concerns, which is phenomenal. Um, and what I'm hearing from those who are on the front lines partnering with both Commissioner Hall and Northwood on some of those considerations and writing requests into um the special use permit. He's been very engaged in the process. So um I think that's a win for the community. Um, and I'm very optimistic that, you know, we will come to a permit that serves both the community and this new school tenant well.

SPEAKER_01 19:05

Well, I think that that's so important. I mean, in a situation like this, you just want to be heard, right?

SPEAKER_00 19:10

Absolutely. Um, and so I think, you know, we have engaged the proper channels through the city, through Commissioner Hall, um, and other individuals. And so, you know, I think that some of the compromises that have already been agreed to, like the 21 classroom cap, does demonstrate the progress that has made, uh, has been made to date. So that's really encouraging. However, there's still kind of a short list of outstanding items that we do want addressed and written into the permit. Um, and so, you know, we are really just tracking what has been addressed, what hasn't been addressed, and ensuring that we circle back and tie off any loose ends.

What Happens Next And What “Success” Means

SPEAKER_00 19:53

So well, what happens next?

SPEAKER_01 19:56

Like what can residents expect over the next few months?

SPEAKER_00 19:59

Yeah, so the next um, I would say big, you know, touch point or meeting between the community, the planning commission, um, as well as Northway really surrounds around that updated traffic management plan because a lot of those decisions hinge on that piece. So we have actually asked that as soon as it is updated, uh that it would be shared with the communities so that we have sufficient time to review, actually engage a traffic engineer as well to get their professional opinion on it before it goes to the city planning commission, followed by the city council. So those are really the next two critical points in meetings which have not been scheduled. So that first meeting with um the recommendation, they'll take a recommendation to the city planners. Um we're anticipating that would get scheduled in July, August, or September. Um, it's kind of open-ended. Um, until that traffic management plan is updated, it won't be added to the official agenda. But I do believe the community um will be notified 10 days prior to that meeting. And so that will be another critical point for the community to show up because they will be able to ask questions live.

SPEAKER_01 21:19

All right. Well, we definitely need to stay on the loop on that so we can share it with everyone. Absolutely. Well, let's just say that you could sit down with Compass and Northway Christian tomorrow. What would you want them to understand and know?

SPEAKER_00 21:32

Yeah, I I would say first and foremost, we are not asking the city to deny children quality education. Um, that is far from it. Our ask is really how do we have um another school next to Boone that serves both the community as well as both school families well? Um, because I imagine, you know, if if nothing is addressed, And compass families show up in August on their first day of school, five minutes after Boone families have gone in. I think they're going to be really frustrated as well. So I want to express to them that as a parent that has been to this school for the past year, have lived and breathed drop-off, not to mention after-school sporting events. Many of our why events were held on the Boone Fields. It is imperative that for them to have a successful integration into the community, they've got to have a rock solid traffic and safety plan. Right. Right.

SPEAKER_01 22:41

Well, how what do you think has been most misunderstood about the neighbors' concerns? There was, I had a post on Instagram that blew up with a lot of comments. I saw some of the comments. I feel like for the most part, people were respectful, but then there were some that were starting to get a little out of hand and I had to say something.

SPEAKER_00 23:00

Yes. Um I, you know, I think that after that first community meeting, just emotions and tensions ran high. Um, and I am certain having sat, you know, in that community meeting and seeing some of the compass founders there, um, I've I think they felt attack can candidly. Um, and so from our perspective, it was just surprise of what was happening seemed like it had already been so far down a process without engaging the community, the school, the people that are going to be impacted by um this big transition. So I think that's been the biggest misunderstanding is that we don't want this school in our backyard or we don't want a private school um competing with our public school. I don't think that's it at all. You know, if people want to go to private schools, they will go to amazing private schools. You can drive around the park cities and see many signs for these schools that they attend. Um, however, the greater majority of us, myself included, we moved to University Park to go to the amazing school district to be able to bike and walk there. Um, and so that's why we are so protective about the safety of both our kids and theirs. Um, and so I think that's probably been the misunderstanding. And I think we're getting to a positive place where um everyone sees how we can coexist with some of those parameters in place. Well, talk to me about what a successful outcome would look like. Yes, I think successful outcome first and foremost, that that permit has a time limit, um, ideally three years or less, so that it really is a trial period. Um, because you know, one thing I haven't mentioned is that there is not another case that we have seen or has been shared with us of two different school entities, a private and a public school, operating on the same block. Um so, yes, like the traffic and safety concerns are one thing, um, but emergency response is also concerning as well, because you're talking about almost three different departments needing to coordinate in the event of an emergency. Um, I don't think that they've shown an example where this has happened. Um, so the emergency response is really critical as well, because you could have, you know, Dallas showing up, as well as HPISD response, as well as University Park to a single school. Um, so it is really important that those entities coordinate. Um, and unfortunately, that cannot be deemed by the city and/or this special use permit. Um, that would really just have to be in partnership with um all of those entities and in both of those schools. So, yes, I um a time limit on the permit would be huge, really staggering the arrival and dismissal by at least 30 or 45 minutes is important. There's also talks about a storm shelter being built on the campus. Um, don't quote me, but it was a couple thousand square feet, um, which is a very big storm shelter for the number of students that they're gonna have there. Um, and so the community has asked to be able to review that and ensure that it complements the current building and facility before, you know, any construction permit for that particular piece is granted. Um so those are some of the big ones. And then, you know, the most important is really that traffic management plan and ensuring that we're all crystal clear exactly how things are gonna flow, where carpool overflow is, um, what that looks like to ensure that both schools can thrive and have a really strong experience.

SPEAKER_01 26:55

Well, you're obviously very passionate about this. You've shared so much wonderful information. Can't thank you enough. But at the end of the day, what is your motivation to be so involved?

SPEAKER_00 27:05

Yeah, my motivation is this impacts me and my kiddos, um, not just my son, but my daughter will ultimately be at Boone as well. Um, and you know, even three years is not a short amount of time, you know, to deal with some of the traffic and safety concerns that could be coming our way. So it is really important for me to stay engaged, um, to voice my opinion on the matter, to help other families understand what's happening and how they could be impacted. Um, even if they're not at Boone. Um, you know, there are there's going to be traffic that flows from Boone over to Hillcrest, past Hillcrest to Thackeray. Um so it's important for all of those individuals to understand what's at stake as well. Um, and ultimately, we just want safety and security for all of our kids.

SPEAKER_01 27:59

Well, I can't thank you enough for being here today. This has been such a wealth of information. I can't and I really appreciate your time. Thanks for having me. That's

Closing

SPEAKER_01 28:08

been another episode of the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha, and I'll see you next time.