Richardson voters in Texas approved a school bond package on Nov. 4, supporting the Richardson Independent School District’s (RISD) $1.4 billion improvement plan.
The bond package is made up of three measures: Proposition A, Proposition B and Proposition C, each with its own scope of projects. Proposition A covers school funding initiatives and new construction projects, while Proposition B involves the purchasing of tech devices for students and staff. Proposition C deals with the renovation of sports stadiums throughout the district.
Proposition A is the largest of the three, coming in at $1.338 billion. It centers around the district’s Middle School Transformation Initiative, converting junior high schools into middle schools in order to serve grades six through eight. This effectively moves sixth grade from elementary schools to middle schools, aligning with more than 95% of Texas school districts.
Six junior high schools were chosen for this round of funding, which builds on a 2021 bond package under the same initiative. The schools are Liberty Junior High, Parkhill Junior High, Richardson West Junior High, Westwood Junior High, Apollo Junior High and Richardson North Junior High. Four schools will receive brand new buildings, while two will undergo renovations as part of the Middle School Initiative.
Liberty Junior High, Parkhill Junior High, Richardson West Junior High and Westwood Junior High will receive new buildings along with upgrades to HVAC systems and security features across campus. Apollo Junior High and Richardson North Junior High will undergo renovations rather than receiving new buildings. These schools will also upgrade existing campus features and equipment such as restrooms, classrooms, cafeteria and office space.
Beyond the middle school transformation, Proposition A includes improvements across the district’s four high schools, 36 elementary schools and two athletic stadiums. The scope of work at each campus varies based on facility needs, ranging from single-category upgrades to comprehensive renovations spanning multiple systems.
Berkner High School, Lake Highlands High School and Richardson High School are each slated for work in seven different categories, including air conditioning and heating systems, building renovations, furniture, interior improvements, roofing, security systems and technology devices. Pearce High School will receive air conditioning and heating upgrades along with security system installations.
The district’s 36 elementary schools will see varying levels of improvements depending on individual campus needs. Lake Highlands Elementary and Richardson Heights Elementary are scheduled for the most comprehensive work, with improvements planned across 10 project categories outlined in the bond. Five additional elementary schools will receive extensive upgrades in nine categories: Forest Lane Academy, Forestridge Elementary, Jess Harben Elementary, O. Henry Elementary and Richland Elementary. The remaining elementary campuses will receive more targeted improvements.
The bond also funds a new Career and Technical Education Center on district land next to the Richardson ISD Operations Center. The facility will serve 1,600 to 2,000 students from all four high schools, housing specialized programs like automotive training that would be too expensive to offer at each campus.
Additional athletics improvements under Proposition A include LED lighting for tennis courts, uniforms for high school and junior high sports, audio equipment for venues, turf replacement, locker room updates and training equipment. The bond also covers renovations to the district’s Environmental Studies Center.
RISD officials have not released specific timelines for individual projects under the $1.4 billion improvement plan. However, capital projects from the district’s 2021 bond were completed this past summer and the district has traditionally operated on a five-year bond cycle since 1996.
The bond approval will result in a four-cent tax rate increase. Several neighboring districts also saw tax measures pass during the Nov. 4 election, including Garland ISD’s measure to raise teacher salaries and Rockwall ISD’s increase for safety measures and teacher compensation.
Garland ISD’s tax rate increase from $1.05 to $1.17 per $100 valuation passed with about 61% support and is expected to generate $56 million in additional operational revenue. Rockwall ISD’s $16.5 million measure passed with 54% support.
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