COUPLAND – Coupland Independent School District trustees have approved two principals for the 2026-27 school year, including one for the new junior high-senior high campus.
During the Feb. 12 school board meeting, Brian Booker was named the new principal for Coupland Junior High and High School, slated to open in August.
Booker currently is principal of the Coupland School, which enrolls prekindergarten through eighth grade.
Current Coupland School Assistant Principal Kate Knapek will move into the principal position there.
Superintendent Earl Parcell said he is confident in the abilities of both educators to lead each campus.
“It’s going to be different, it’s going to be hard,” Parcell said of the transition. “We’ve had two principals on the (Coupland School) campus at all times and now there’s just going to be the one.”
Coupland’s last high school closed in the 1940s. Students leaving eighth grade have attended nearby districts.
In other business, trustees also approved a $25,000 purchase of more than 10 staff radios and equipment.
“Last year, the board approved the purchase of radios…this is just expanding that to include (the new) campus,” Parcell said.
He added the security measure allows teachers to carry the radios on the playground during recess, use them for fire drills and communicate with bus drivers.
Project manager Randy Boone with Weaver and Jacobs, the firm building the new campus on CR 460, told trustee construction is on schedule and under budget.
Meanwhile, the district is still short one school board member to replace Royce Hatch, who recently resigned.
For more information about serving on the school board, call 512-856-2422 or visit couplandisd.org/page/ school-board.
The next board meeting is 6 p.m. March 12 in the school library, 620 S. Commerce St.
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“It’s going to be different, it’s going to be hard.”
— Superintendent Earl Parcell
