Plano Senior High School’s $197.2 million renovations are moving forward.

Plano ISD staff are preparing the former Haggard Middle School building to hold classes for the next two years as work starts on the main campus, Chief of Business Operations Steven Ewing said.

What you need to know: Haggard Middle School, now called Building H, will house classrooms, administrative offices, the nurse’s clinic and the meal program during construction at Plano Senior High, which is expected to finish in 2029.

Moving of furniture, equipment and materials from Building B to H is currently underway and expected to finish in July, Ewing said.

See five new places to eat in Richardson that are recently opened or coming soon.

Now open
Hui Lau Shan
The Hong Kong dessert shop offers handmade mango desserts, prepared fresh every day, as well as fruit-based drinks and other sweets like mochi and coconut jelly.

• Opened June 5

• 1601 E Belt Line Road, Ste. 100, Richardson

La Picosa
The restaurant services a variety of Mexican food, and Palma said menu highlights include enchiladas, handmade tortillas, mole rojo and mole verde.

• Opened April 1

• 310 E. Main Street, Richardson

McKinney-based development company Craig International announced a $200 million mixed-use development in the city, while Celina officials approved a 25-acre Chevrolet dealership.

Check out six trending stories from Community Impact’s Dallas-Fort Worth coverage areas.

1. AC Hotel McKinney set to debut 137-room hotel, 5th-floor upscale eatery

2. Craig International announces $200M mixed-use project for former Globe Life HQ

3. 16 business updates in Prosper, Celina

4. Hugs Cafe closes downtown McKinney cafe ahead of Hugs HQ debut in July

5. Celina council approves 25-acre Chevrolet dealership near DNT

6. Aw Shucks brings fresh seafood, welcoming atmosphere to Frisco

Nearly $8.4 billion in new state funding was not enough to save Texas public school districts from budget shortfalls and campus closures, school administrators said June 1.

What happened: During a 10-hour public hearing at the state Capitol, school district leaders spoke of efforts to stretch their budgets amid high inflationary costs as teachers explained their decisions to leave the classroom due to pay cuts and large class sizes.

The big picture: Last year, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 2, a $8.4 billion school finance bill designed to increase educator salaries, create a new pot of money for fixed costs, provide more training for teachers and boost special education resources.

Roughly one year later, districts across Community Impact’s coverage areas are cutting staff and closing campuses, citing enrollment declines and budget shortfalls. 

Quote of note: "This funding deficit is the final straw for me, and it will be for countless other educators across the state who must leave or who lose their jobs," Austin ISD French teacher Rachel Preston told lawmakers June 1.