CALL TO ACTION!!

Email Coppell City Council stating your opposition to (SUP-S-1033R2-SF-12) Manara Academy - - Form letter and instructions below.

Dear Coppell Residents,

The Coppell City Council meets on June 16, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the Town Center Building on 255 Parkway Blvd regarding the proposed charter school, Manara Academy. Please make it a priority to attend this meeting to show your opposition to this matter. Today we ask that you send an e-mail to our City Council voicing your opposition. Let your voice be heard!!!

FAQs regarding SUP-S-1033R2-SF-12

Why is there an issue if the previous SUP was for 400 students?
• The original SUP for the Lutheran school was approved in 1988. Our city infrastructure was much different 20 years ago. At that time, the church school was located on the outskirts of town. Town Center Building, Fire House #3, Police Headquarters, Coppell Justice Center, and the Cozby Library, did not exist in 1988. These facilities serve as our city’s main infrastructure as we know it today. Town Center Elementary, our current CHS campus, the YMCA, retail establishments and residential neighborhoods are also now adjacent to this area. Indeed the past 20 years has been a time of growth and improvement for our city. What was appropriate and reasonable in 1988 has absolutely no relevance to what is best for our Coppell today.
• The actual enrollment numbers at the Lutheran school never came close to the allowed 400 students. More than two-thirds of the students who attended were preschool age children who attend once or twice a week. The school’s drop off and pick up times were later in the morning and earlier in the afternoon than CISD schools and thus did not add to peak traffic times.
• Through the years, the city leaders zoned the lots surrounding the campus as single residence on the basis of the level of impact the school would have on the surrounding residents. The school’s enrollment numbers declined for many years before closing their doors. It is incumbent upon the city leaders to protect the integrity of our neighborhoods.
Any person that cites the precedent of the 1988 Lutheran Church’s SUP as a position of support for this 2009 SUP is uneducated on how our city and its needs have changed dramatically in the past 20 years.

How does this concern those of us who do not live in the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed school?

• Heartz Road is a main route for our emergency responders.
• Any large volume use of this land will inject undue stress to our infrastructure and city services- with no benefit to our city.
• The increase in traffic decreases our safety in the already congested heart of our city.
• The issue is not what the location is used for (commercial, governmental or educational), but to the concern of additional traffic activity in this location.
The letter that follows is meant to make your part easy! You may personalize it by filling in the red spaces, or simply cut and paste from the sample letter. It only needs to contain your name, address and that you are in opposition to the SUP. Your one email will be sent to all councilpersons. It is that easy!

This will take 1 or 2 minutes to complete and send. Please, DO IT NOW!

**FORM LETTER**

e-mail to: citycouncil@ci.coppell.tx.us
Subject Line: Vote No to SUP – S – 1033R2-SF-12
June ___, 2009

Dear Coppell City Council Members,
I am writing to you to share my strong opposition for the proposed SUP – S – 1033R2-SF-12 regarding the use of Christ our Savior Lutheran Church property for the Manara Academy. I am a homeowner in Coppell residing at ____________________.
I oppose to the campus location for several reasons.
1) Traffic & safety problems inherent with the academy’s proposed traffic plan
2) The potential of future school expansion due to the acreage of undeveloped land next to it, and
3) The financial strain on all of our city services with little or no benefit to our citizens.
Our family moved to Coppell for (fill in your reasons in your own words: some most common reasons: outstanding schools, quality of life, proximity to the metroplex at large, small town community feel). Additional cars and busses of this volume will have an adverse impact on Coppell!
I urge you to carefully review this SUP and vote NO at your June 16th council meeting. As our elected public officials it is your responsibility to act in the best interest of our City and the Coppell taxpayer who voted you into public office.

Thank you,
Your signature