Candlelight vigil to mark two months since woman went missing in Plano

Christina Morris

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. today to mark two months since a Fort Worth woman went missing from The Shops at Legacy in Plano.

Christina Marie Morris, 23, was last seen with a friend walking into a parking garage just before 4 a.m. Aug. 30 at 5717 Legacy Drive. A surveillance camera captured the two of them together. Morris was reported missing four days later after not showing up for work. Her car was still parked in the garage.

Plano Police say there is no evidence that a crime has been committed. Morris has essentially vanished without a trace. Friends and family say Morris would never go this long without contacting them and that something must have happened. A Facebook page has been created to spread the word to help find her.

A reward is being offered of $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of a person,  if it is determined a crime has been committed.

Tonight’s vigil will be held near the fountain in Bishop Park, which is located at the intersection of Libby Road and Henry Cook Boulevard in The Shops at Legacy. Sales of T-shirts for $15 and wristbands for $5 will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. to help raise money for the search.

 

 

Plano to interview three firms for superintendent search

This week the Plano school board narrowed down the firms its considering for help with the superintendent search.

The board plans to interview and select a firm at its Nov. 4 meeting. Plano is looking for a new schools leader as Superintendent Richard Matkin is set to retire effective Jan. 31.

The three firms in consideration are:

  • PROACT Search. New to the Illinois firm as a senior vice president is Michael Hinojosa, who was previously Dallas’ superintendent. He joined PROACT in May. The firm also helped find his replacement in Dallas, Mike Miles. But in 2013, both San Antonio and Atlanta fired PROACT during their searches. San Antonio did so after its lone finalist withdrew. Atlanta officials were concerned the firm wouldn’t be able to focus on that trouble district enough to find a top tier candidate. Atlanta ended up hiring two firms to do the work.
  • Ray and Associates. The Iowa-based firm is one of the largest in the nation and is currently working with the Fort Worth and Austin school districts in their search for new superintendents.
  • Thompson & Horton. The Houston-based school law firm helped Plano conduct its superintendent search in 2011. The firm – which includes consultant Mike Moses, another former Dallas superintendent as well as former Texas education commissioner – recently helped McKinney and Allen with searches under the name School Executives Consulting Inc.

Other firms that submitted information to the board but were not selected for an interview were:

  • -Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd & Joplin, P.C. The McKinney-based firm works with various local school districts and municipalities on routine business.
  • McPherson & Jacobson. The firm based in Omaha, Nebraska, noted it has conducted more than 540 superintendent searches in 36 states and Washington, D.C. However, the references sent to trustees did not note any Texas experience.
  • -Executive Search Services. This is part of the Texas Association of School Boards. Consultants include former Texas education commissioner Jim Nelson. The service has typically aided districts with much smaller enrollments.

Toyota gives Plano’s Academy High School a $1 million gift


During today’s “Hello Texas!” Toyota festivities, the car company announced it was giving the Plano school district $1 million for to the Academy High School.

The specialty campus opened in 2013 with a focus on “STEAM” through “project-based learning.” STEAM means the school focuses on science, technology, engineering, ARTS and math. (Emphasis on the arts as most schools tend to promote a STEM education approach.) Project-based learning means the academy emphasizes, well, projects rather than traditional class assignments.

Plano ISD spokeswoman Lesley Range-Stanton said details of how the donation will be used have not been decided.

Superintendent Richard Matkin issued this statement about the donation, “We are very grateful for the generous gift of $1 million, which provides opportunities in the budget. As with our other corporate partners, our relationship with Toyota is about more than money. It is about connecting our business partners directly to education and our schools.”

This is not the first big grant for the academy. Seed money for the school included a $5 million commitment from Texas Instruments. Then this spring, Southwest Airlines donated $500,000 for naming rights to the school’s fabrication lab. That deal also included paid internships for students from the district as well as airline tickets to help PISD officials offset travel expenses and for fund-raising efforts by the education foundation.

The car company recently announced it was moving its North American headquarters from California to Plano. The headquarters is expected to be completed in late 2016 or early 2017.

 

Plano council to consider urban mixed-use development

The Plano City Council will meet Monday to consider urban mixed-use zoning for 156 acres on the southwest corner of Plano Parkway and Alma Drive.
The applicant wants to build offices, patio homes, a hotel and retail on the site that extends to Custer Road on the west and the Bush Turnpike on the south.
During the preliminary open meeting, the council will hear a report on seasonal water restrictions from the North Texas Municipal Water District.
The executive session and preliminary open meeting begin at 5 p.m. followed by the 7 p.m. council meeting at the Plano Municipal Building, 1520 K Avenue.
Wendy Hundley 

Hendrick scholarship supports students beyond financial help


Collin College freshman Ryan Phillips wants to be a mechanical engineer but his struggles with dyslexia often means he needs extra help to get through classes.

And then there is Kyle Edwards, who had to spend the second half of his second year studying from home because of medical complications from a broken tailbone.

The two Plano East Senior High School graduates both found not only financial aid but tutoring and mentoring support through the Hendrick Scholarship Foundation. The local group, named after the former schools superintendent H. Wyane Hendrick, provides financial scholarships to disadvantaged as well as workshops aimed at helping the students be successful in college.

“I was working two jobs to save money for college, but I knew I couldn’t work two jobs and go to school full time,” Edwards said. “This scholarship has meant only need to work one job and can maintain my studies.”

Phillips said it can be difficult and expensive to find a tutor in college. But the foundation’s support helps him get the support he needs for classes.

The two spoke at the Rotary Club of Plano’s lunch on today, thanking the group for its support of the foundation. The Rotary will hold its annual golf tournament in support of the foundation on Oct. 30.

Plano Fire-Rescue appoints two assistant chiefs

Eric Wahlberg

Danny Burks

Plano Fire Chief Brian Crawford has announced the appointment of two new, second-in-command assistant chiefs.

Danny S. Burks Jr., who most recently served as a Battalion Chief at Plano’s Fire Station 12 on A shift, is now an Assistant Chief of Emergency Services. Chief Burks will oversee the Emergency Operations, Training, and EMS Sections for Plano Fire-Rescue under the Emergency Services Division.

Eric Wahlberg, who had been a Captain at Plano’s Fire Station 12 on B shift, was promoted to Assistant Chief of Support Services . He will oversee the department’s Support Service Division consisting of the Fire Prevention, Administrative Services, and Logistics Sections.

They started their new jobs with the department on Monday.

Plano school board prepares for superintendent search

The Plano school board is preparing to find a new superintendent as Richard Matkin is retiring, effective Jan. 31. (The Dallas Morning News archives)

Tuesday night trustees began talking about how they will find a replacement for retiring Superintendent Richard Matkin.

Board President Nancy Humphrey said the general timeline will be for the board to hire a firm by November; interview possible candidates in December to possibly January; and a replacement named by Jan. 31, when Matkin’s retirement takes effect.

Matkin has been at the helm less than three years, hired in 2012 though he did not apply for the job.

However, trustees indicated that the timeline would be fluid and more time would be added if needed.

Trustee Michael Friedman said Plano better positioned than last time and should take the time needed to select the plum candidate.

“I want a head-turner,” Friedman said. “I want somebody — just like Richard was — that when we announce it, the community and D/FW will say, ‘Wow.’ PISD did it.’”

Because his tenure was so short, trustees said last night that they hoped to save time in the process reusing what was learned during their last search, notes from community input  meetings and board discussions last time on what folks wanted for the future of the district.

The board plans to narrow down the possible search firms it will hire at a specially called board meeting on Tuesday. Two or three will be invited to present to the board for final selection.

During the last search, Plano used the firm N2 Learning, a locally based firm with a partner who had previously been an administrator in PISD, Danny Modisette. Modisette’s wife now serves on PISD’s executive cabinet as assistant superintendent for campus services. In 2012, N2 Learning performed the superintendent search for Frisco ISD.

(Correction: N2 Learning was not the official firm for the superintendent search for Plano in 2011. That was Houston-based Thompson & Horton, L.L.P. N2 Learning did work with trustees in developing a candidate profile for a superintendent as part of work in helping them develop a strategic plan for PISD.)

Trustees met in closed session last night to discuss “personnel matters” related to the superintendent’s retirement. Humphrey would not elaborate on what that meant.

During the last search process, trustees named Matkin as interim in November 2011, which was before outgoing leader Doug Otto’s last day on Jan. 31, 2012.

Toyota throwing party to say thanks for Texas-sized welcome

Toyota wants to say “Howdy” to its new neighbors in Plano.

The automaker is throwing a party to say thanks for the warm welcome company officials have received since announcing earlier this year that they’re moving the North American headquarters from California to Plano.

The HelloTexas Block Party will be from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at Bishop Park at Legacy Town Center. There will be live music, food, activities for children and celebrity guests.

 

 

Plano’s Planning Department receives awards

The Plano Planning Department has received Community of the Year and Long Range Planning awards from the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association.

The Community of the Year Award documented Plano’s efforts to enhance economic growth, heritage preservation, environmental planning, bicycle and trail improvements, community services and other initiatives. .

The Long Range Planning Award was presented for the Downtown Plano Vision & Strategy Update. The city created this 10-year plan in February 2013 as a guiding document for those considering developing property or opening a business in Historic Downtown Plano.

Senior Planner Doug McDonald was honored with the Chapter President’s Award.

Plano police investigating string of bank robberies

The Plano Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in a string of bank robberies this month.

The robberies occurred at banks in the 200 block of Coit Road, 3300 block of Preston Road, and the 1900 block of Dallas Parkway.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 35-50 years of age, 5’9”-6’0” tall, 160-180 pounds with a thin build.

In one of the incidents, the suspect was seen leaving in a dark blue or black Ford Ranger pickup truck.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Plano Police Department Tip Line at 972-941-2148 or the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 877-373-8477.