Dallas City Plan Commission action on a zoning case that, if approved, would allow for Northway Christian Church to host the Compass School of Texas has been delayed again.
The case was set for a City Plan Commission hearing on Nov. 5, but District 13 City Plan Commissioner Larry Hall moved to delay action on the case until Nov. 19. The case had already been delayed once, from Oct. 8 to Nov. 5, following a request by a neighbor.
The case has been a hot-button topic since Northway Christian board chair Paul Schmidt announced earlier this year that the church at 7202 W. Northwest Highway, next to Boone Elementary, is planning to shutter its Day School, which serves children from 6 months to 5 years old, in May of 2027 and host The Compass School of Texas.
Schmidt wrote in a letter that hosting The Compass School of Texas “will expand mission reach and provide sustainable revenue” for Northway, while supporting Compass’ “growth as a Pre-K-through 8th-grade school that preserves the community’s warmth and connection to nature.”
The Compass School, which serves students in Pre-K to fifth grade, opened in 2023 and is slated to expand to serve students through eighth grade.
Nearby residents and Highland Park ISD leadership have raised concerns about the about the potential traffic impact of Compass’ close proximity to Boone and future uses of the church space. Neighbors and the district had called for further staggered arrival and dismissal times for Boone Elementary and Compass, among other changes to the proposal.
Meagan Ranallo, a Boone Elementary parent, said she and other Boone Elementary parents and nearby neighbors “have met with the applicant since April and will use the additional time to continue meeting.”
People Newspapers has reached out to Highland Park ISD and Northway Christian Church and will update this article as additional information becomes available.
Author
