Project RightSize
Overview:
Project RightSize is a proposal to the RISD Board of Trustees, prepared by RISD Administration, based on recommendations of the RISD Community Budget Steering Committee. Attendance boundary changes required a vote of RISD Trustees to implement, as will the eventual 2024-25 operating budget.
Message From the Superintendent:
RISD Community,
Project RightSize represents a major element of our school district plan to reduce the 2024-25 projected operating budget deficit and simultaneously address longtime inefficiencies in how RISD elementary schools are zoned and operated.
Community Budget Steering Committee
The recommendation to consider consolidation of elementary schools was one of several recommendations from the RISD Community Budget Steering Committee (CBSC) to help RISD and our elected trustees prioritize budget resources during a time of lower K-12 enrollment across Texas and the U.S., historic inflation, and no additional per-pupil funding increases from the Texas legislature since before the pandemic.
The CBSC, which included more than 60 parents, community members, business partners, and campus employees, met for six months to study RISD’s financial data and situation to arrive at recommendations that were provided to RISD Trustees in December, 2023. The recommendations, of which elementary school consolidation is one, are being considered by RISD trustees who are tasked with “rightsizing” RISD’s operating budget to ensure the district has allocated its limited resources to be able to continue successful student outcomes based on academic growth.
The goal with Project RightSize is to ensure that we are able to focus our finite budget dollars on student programs, activities, and continued academic growth, as well as prioritize compensation so the district can continue to recruit and retain the best educators and staff in N. Texas.
Inefficient Utilization of Elementary Schools
Factors Considered
- Excess classroom capacity
- Enrollment trends and projected enrollment decline
- Enrollment among residents within existing neighborhood attendance boundaries
- Building ages and conditions
- Academic opportunities
- Natural combinations of attendance zones
- Students being able to walk/bike to school
- Maintaining feeder patterns
- Bus routes and transportation costs
- Central programs like special education and bilingual classes
People-First Focus
Staying Informed
As we move through the second semester, I invite all RISD stakeholders to engage in our budget discussions and proposals. All are welcome at RISD Board meetings and comprehensive information is available online. As we are progressing through this process, our administration and Board continues to welcome parent, staff, student, taxpayer and community questions and feedback. Connect and engage with us online.
I have every certainty that RISD will emerge from these budget challenges as strong as ever, more efficient, able to continue to attract and retain the very best educators, while also ensuring the high quality of education that the children of our community deserve. Every Child. Every Day.
Respectfully,
Tabitha Branum, Superintendent
New Boundaries:
Resources:
Listening Tours:
Greenwood Hills Elementary
- Date: Monday, February 26
- Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
- Location:
Pearce High School
Commons Area
1600 N. Coit Rd.
Richardson, TX 75080
Springridge Elementary
- Date: Tuesday, February 27
- Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
- Location:
Berkner High School
Auditorium
1600 E. Spring Valley Rd.
Richardson, TX 75081
Spring Valley Elementary
- Date: Wednesday, February 28
- Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
- Location:
Richardson High School
Auditorium
1250 W. Belt Line Rd.
Richardson, TX 75080
Thurgood Marshall Elementary
- Date: Monday, March 4
- Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
- Location:
Lake Highlands High School
H Building Auditorium off of White Rock Trail
9449 Church Rd.
Dallas, TX 75238
Dobie PreK
- Date: Tuesday, March 5
- Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
- Location: RISD Academy
13630 Coit Rd.
Dallas, 75240