There are several important dates, policies, transportation routes and key information for Denton ISD parents and students to know as the 2026-27 school year begins. Here are some essentials to know for this school year.

Important dates:

• Sept. 7: Labor Day holiday

• Sept. 21: student holiday

• Oct. 12: district holiday

• Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving break

• Dec. 21-Jan. 1: winter break

Lunch information: Daily menus for meals offered at each DISD campus are available at www.dentonisd.org/our-district/departments-services/child-nutrition.

Safety and security: All staff, as well as middle and high school students, are required to wear identification badges while on district property.

All visitors must sign in with a school’s front office and present identification before entering the building. Each school features a secured entrance vestibule for screening visitors.

Student dress code: The districtwide dress code is outlined in the student handbook and offers guidance on standards required by DISD.

Cell phone policy reminders: The district prohibits the use of cell phones, tablets and smartwatches while on campus property during school hours.

Red: Italian is now open below Ruby Rodeo off the square in downtown Denton.

The details: The Italian comfort restaurant opened its doors toward the end of August, according to the restaurant’s Facebook page. Reservations at the restaurant, which offers a speakeasy vibe and seats just 50 people, were sold out for its opening weekend.

Red: Italian offers classic dishes such as appetizers like grilled artichokes and bruschetta. Entrees include pasta dishes such as lasagna and gnocchi along with steak, sea bass and chicken plates, like chicken piccata. The menu also has desserts like cheesecake and panna cotta. 

What else? Both Red: Italian and Ruby Rodeo are co-owned by Mike Church and Victor Garcia, per previous reporting.

• 122 N. Locust St., Ste. 100, Denton

Check out five upcoming and ongoing transportation projects around Dallas-Fort Worth.

1. SH 170 spur
Project: The project, which was first presented in 2024, would connect Intermodal Parkway to Old Denton Road. A new elevated bridge, 1.4 miles in length, would be constructed from the main lanes east of I-35W to Intermodal Parkway, with associated roadway on either side, for a total project of 2.4 miles.
Update: Public hearings for the project were held in person and virtually July 28 to gather public input. Schematic design and environmental work would start in the spring of 2027, according to a news release. ​​​​​​

• Timeline: spring 2027-spring 2029
• Cost: $115 million
• Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation

Texas’ audit of hundreds of proposed data centers will likely wrap up by the end of the year, grid officials said Aug. 20.

The overview: Up to 300 proposals will be audited to ensure they meet certain criteria before the data centers can begin connecting to the state electric grid. If all the plans are approved, these facilities alone could use about 200 gigawatts of electricity—more than twice Texas’ 91-gigawatt peak demand record, which was set on July 22.

How we got here: On Aug. 3, Gov. Greg Abbott directed ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to audit proposed data centers regarding their water and electricity use; tax exemptions; impacts on residents; and facility ownership.

More details: Only large loads, or facilities that are expected to use at least 75 megawatts of electricity, will be fully audited. However, ERCOT will also survey proposed data centers that would use 25 megawatts of electricity or more.

ERCOT plans to release reports detailing the results of the audit and surveys on Dec. 10, officials said.