School district forging ahead despite loss
COUPLAND — Election night Tuesday proved bittersweet for Coupland.
The city Nov. 4 saw its road-tax proposition pass at the ballot box, but a Voter-Approved Tax Rate Election for the Coupland Independent School District calling for a hike was turned down by voters.
The road tax for street upkeep passed by 21 percentage points (60.94% to 39.06%), but the VATRE election failed by 11 percentage points (55.34% to 44.66%), according to a tally.
“The road tax is a city issue and more of a renewal than a new tax, which I am thankful to citizens for their support,” said Mayor Russell Schmidt.
The road tax was a 1 cent per $100 home valuation increase necessary for road maintenance and repair in the small town. While Schmidt expressed happiness the electorate approved the road levy by a landslide, he had a different reaction regarding the defeat of the VATRE.
“On the subject of VATRE, I’m very disappointed that it did not work out,” he said. “The support for our school is very important. Our future is tied to education of our children, city, county and country.”
The school district referendum called for a 3-cent tax increase. If passed, an extra $240,000 in revenue would have been generated for Coupland schools, supporters said.
A VATRE funds the maintenance and operations tax rate to support daily needs at campuses, including salaries, utilities, paper, fuel, repairs and textbooks.
Coupland ISD is opening a new junior high school next fall that will also house a high school in stages.
Although the ballot measure failed, Superintendent Earl Parcell was grateful for the voter turnout.
“I would like to thank each and every voter in the Coupland ISD community who took the time to provide their input on the district’s 2025 Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election,” Parcell said. “While we are disappointed in the results of this election, we will continue to prioritize the needs of our students and staff, first and foremost in everything we do.”
Parcell said the mission of his school district will remain the same.
“We will continue the great work of teaching, supporting and growing the students in Coupland ISD, now and in the future,” he said. “A future that will see Coupland ISD serve secondary students (grades seven to nine) in our brand-new secondary campus next school year. With the addition of Coupland Junior High and High School, all Coupland ISD students will be able to start their educational careers and graduate as Cowboys and Cowgirls in Coupland ISD.”
The junior high will open next fall and grade levels will be added each year until the campus houses seventh through 12th grades. The first Coupland High School graduating class is projected for the 2029-30 school year.
Coupland at one time had a high school, but it closed in the 1940s.
“Together, with our community, we will continue working to instill a foundation of academics and character and empower all students to achieve excellence,” Parcell said. “Coupland ISD is ‘the best little school in Texas — where excellence is tradition.’”
