Richardson ISD approved new math and language arts instructional materials at the March 12 school board meeting. District committees recommended expansion of the state-developed Bluebonnet Learning curriculum for elementary math, while recommending alternative materials for elementary language arts and middle school math.

Some context: The Bluebonnet Learning materials are the first state-developed instructional materials in Texas. The Bluebonnet reading and language arts materials have been criticized for frequent biblical references that some argue could isolate students with different religious beliefs. Proponents say it will help close student achievement gaps and reduce teacher workloads.

The details: Fourteen RISD schools are already using the Bluebonnet math curriculum, and the district committee recommended expanding the materials to all elementary schools. The committee unanimously recommended HMH into Reading, along with its bilingual Spanish curriculum Arriba la Lectura, for RISD’s elementary reading and language arts curriculum over the state-developed Bluebonnet Learning, as well as Savvas Learning Center curriculum for middle school math.

Yemeni restaurant Mutabak Karak is now open in Richardson.

The details: The Canadian-based restaurant serves dishes inspired by Middle Eastern street food culture, specializing in mutabak, a crispy fried bread with sweet or savory fillings. Other menu items include karak chai, loaded fries and sweet Yemeni puffs. This will be Mutabak Karak’s third location, and its first location in the United States. The restaurant is currently in a soft opening, with a grand opening planned for a later date.

• 1057 S. Sherman Street, Ste. 110, Richardson

TOCA Social, a European interactive soccer-themed entertainment destination, recently opened its first American location at Grandscape in The Colony.

The gist: The venue has 20 playing boxes, which are semi-private spaces where guests can play games, eat and drink. Each space has an interactive digital screen with five soccer ball-oriented game options.

Quote of note: “You take turns [going] on to the playing area. It’s kind of like bowling, you're competing against each other in a fun and lighthearted way,” TOCA Social President Alex Harman, said. “If you can propel a ball forward, you can play."  

• 5652 Grandscape Blvd., The Colony

A food production facility and Plano ISD renovations are two of many new projects filed recently with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Here are five of the most expensive permits filed with TDLR in the past week.

1. Tetra Pak Product Development Center

2. Shepard Elementary School renovation

3. Murphy USA in Frisco

4. Aven Hospitality at Granite Park 6

5. FCS Construction expansion