Park Cities and Dallas leaders shared updates on their successes and plans for the future on Oct. 28 during the annual joint meeting of Highland Park, University Park, and Highland Park ISD, which was also attended by Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Gay Donnell Willis.
“We so appreciate the partnerships we have with both of our cities and our town,” HPISD board of trustees president Maryjane Bonfield said as she kicked off the breakfast discussion. “We know we couldn’t be HPISD without your partnership in a lot of ways, so thank you.”
HPISD superintendent Mike Rockwood reviewed the school district’s recent achievements, which include receiving A grades for every campus in the most recent Texas Education Agency ratings, as well as the highest score of any 5A/6A district in the state.
Highland Park High School was awarded Platinum status on the 2024 AP School Honor Roll, and 18 of its students were named National Merit Semifinalists this fall, Rockwood said.
The district’s extracurricular achievements include wins from the volleyball, cross country, and football teams, as well as a trip to area finals for the Highlander Band, he continued.
Rockwood also reviewed the progress of projects funded by the $137.3 million bond approved by voters in Nov. 2024, and the district’s success in raising this year’s teacher pay by between 7 and 10%, a move which catapulted HPISD salaries to near the top of school districts in north Texas.
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“If you get the people in this room, and you get the people all throughout our school district together and aligned, great things happen,” Rockwood said.
Rockwood said that parking relief is on the way for neighborhoods around Highland Park High School.
In the short term, the district plans to put surface parking on some of the property it is acquiring with bond dollars, which will move student parkers off city streets.
The solution, Rockwood said, will be ready in either the 2026 or 2027 school year, and could be in place for five to 10 years. The district plans to have conversations with the community about strategic long term plans for the property.
Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Willis said that staffing in the Dallas police department is at its highest since 2016, and that the city is investing in its streets and alleyways.
She spoke about the need for affordable housing, and touched on one of the area’s “hottest issues” — potentially moving from alley to curbside trash pickup.
University Park Mayor Tommy Stewart updated listeners on the progress of the city’s improvements to the Miracle Mile and Snider Plaza, and construction of its new police training facility.
Highland Park Mayor Pro Tem Don Snell said that the town is working to develop its first comprehensive strategic plan, is rewriting its zoning ordinance, and is working on a comprehensive study to ensure that employees are receiving appropriate compensation.
Highland Park received outstanding results on its community survey, with 99 to 100% of residents satisfied with their services and quality of life, Snell said. He also reviewed the town’s major capital improvement projects.
