Richardson ISD met Sept. 17 for its September regular board meeting, where trustees reviewed several information items and took action on other district matters.
Here is a rundown of what was discussed.
2027 Legislative Priorities
The board reviewed a draft of RISD’s 2027 Legislative Priorities, which focuses on three key areas: promoting the responsible use of technology and artificial intelligence, closing critical funding gaps and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens.
For the 2026-27 school year, RISD is providing approximately $39.8 million from its general fund to meet state-mandated needs. Those mandates include special education, safety and security, transportation, pre-K, gifted and talented services and dyslexia support.
The board is expected to vote on the final legislative priorities Oct. 15.
Tax rate adoption
The board voted to approve the 2026-27 property tax rate of $1.1319 per $100 of valuation.
RISD’s certified taxable property value totals $35.56 billion across 65,526 parcels. Residential properties represent 50.6% of the total value, while commercial properties account for the remaining 49.4%.
District Improvement Plan
During the meeting, the board received a presentation on the 2026-27 District Improvement Plan.
Developed with input from the District Planning Committee, the plan outlines five priorities for the school year:
- Supporting student and staff growth
- Recruiting and retaining a high-quality, diverse workforce
- Providing high-quality classroom instruction
- Strengthening family and community engagement
- Ensuring responsible stewardship of district resources
Progress on the plan will be monitored using student performance data, surveys, focus groups and other measures, including House Bill 3 early childhood and college-readiness goals.
Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee
The board also approved the inaugural Richardson ISD Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, an advisory group that will provide transparency and accountability throughout the implementation of Bond 2025 projects.
