At the May 7, 2026 Board meeting, RISD leadership shared an overview of the district’s financial outlook and proposed compensation plans for the 2026–2027 school year. The goal remains aligned with the district’s “North Star Goal” of ensuring academic growth for all students and leaders.
RISD’s multi-year general fund forecast shows a gradual decline in revenue, projected to decrease from approximately $420.3 million in 2025–2026 to $381.9 million by 2029–2030. To address this, the district has planned annual budget reductions of $25.7 million beginning in 2026–2027.
As a result, the fund balance is expected to steadily decrease and could reach a projected deficit of $4.59 million by 2029–2030 if district expenses are not reduced and enrollment trends continue to decline locally, statewide, and nationally.
To remain competitive in attracting and retaining talent, RISD reviewed compensation data from neighboring districts, including Northwest ISD and McKinney ISD. RISD continues to pay the highest level of compensation in DFW for experienced teachers.
Two compensation options were presented to the board for 2026–2027. Both include salary increases for teachers and staff.
With the goal of supporting and retaining high-quality staff for student success, the board is moving forward with adopting compensation option A, which will be officially approved during the June board meeting as part of the 2026-2027 Budget adoption.
Option A:
- Teachers and T-Types: LITES, Counselors & Nurses (1–3 years): $1,000 raise
- Teachers and T-Types: LITES, Counselors & Nurses (4+ years): $2,000 raise
- New Teacher Starting salary: $63,500
- Admin/Central Professional staff: 2% increase
- Paraprofessional/Auxiliary staff: 3% increase
Middle School Construction
The board heard a report on the district’s Middle School Transformation initiative, which aims to prepare facilities for the arrival of 6th-grade students by August 2028. The construction plan encompasses the six current junior high campuses and follows a phased approach to ensure all schools remain fully operational throughout the process. Forest Meadow Middle School and Lake Highlands Middle School were completed as part of Bond 2021.
The project includes comprehensive additions, renovations, and replacements for: Apollo Junior High, Liberty Junior High, Richardson North Junior High, Park Hill Junior High, Richardson West Junior High, and Westwood Junior High. Information and updates on these projects can be found under the Feature Projects section of the Bond 2025 Project webpage.
All projects align with the district’s North Star Goal to ensure every student, teacher, and leader meets or exceeds academic growth goals.
Maintaining student and staff safety is the top priority. All campuses will remain operational during construction. Additional project milestones include:
- Recommendations for Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) were presented and approved by the Board of Trustees
- Site mobilization and the installation of construction fencing has started across various sites.
- Phase-specific activities include selective abatement, the construction of new academic wings, and the installation of temporary portables and walkways.
Construction is scheduled in phases from Summer 2026 through Summer 2028, with a final completion date for all six campuses of August 2028. Additional project updates are available on the Bond 2025 Project website.
SHAC Update
RISD’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) continues to play a key role in supporting the whole child by promoting student health, safety, and wellness across the district. RISD is grateful to the members of the SHAC committee for their time, leadership, and commitment to advancing the well-being of students and staff.
This year’s update highlights efforts in health and physical education, mental health awareness, drug and violence prevention, nutrition, and health services. Key accomplishments include launching a Principal End-of-Year Wellness Survey and recognition program, increasing student movement during the school day, expanding SHAC membership to include student voices, and celebrating successful initiatives like the 21 Day Challenge. The council also used data to study student wellness trends, including drug use and school safety, to guide future decisions.
Looking ahead, SHAC is focused on expanding mental health programming, piloting and growing the CATCH health curriculum, improving data collection, and increasing equitable access to wellness programs across all campuses. The district also celebrated campuses recognized with the Whole Child Award for their commitment to supporting students academically, physically, socially, and emotionally. Overall, the work reflects a strong commitment to creating healthy, supportive environments where every student can thrive.
Learn more about these important board items and district recognitions in our May Board video recap presented by Board Trustee Debbie Rentería.
