RICHARDSON, Texas — The Richardson Independent School District is proposing to consolidate or re-purpose five campuses starting the next school year due to budget challenges.
The proposal is called Project Rightsize. At Thursday’s school board meeting, more details were discussed about the proposed plan for four elementary schools: Greenwood Hills Elementary School, Springridge Elementary School, Spring Valley Elementary School and Thurgood Marshall Elementary School.
Under Project Rightsize, all four schools would be consolidated with other schools in the 2024-2025 school year.
In addition, Dobie pre-K school would stop operating in the 2025-2026 school year.
"It's gut-wrenching," said Superintendent Tabitha Branum. "We believe it’s the right decision, we believe it’s the best possible decision we could make at this time."
Existing schools will be able to accommodate those students. The plan discussed Thursday night broke down in detail where students at each of the consolidated schools will go, and how attendance will change at the impacted schools.
Part of the plan also means ending non-contiguous boundaries in the district. This is the practice of transporting students away from their neighborhood schools. Students are bussed across attendance zones to other schools. With Project Rightsize, that would go away. It means more elementary students could walk or bike to school.
RISD believes Project Rightsize would save $10.8 million in operating costs. It would also result in around $10 million of one-time funds.
The district currently has more than 9,000 empty seats in its elementary school model. There has been a decrease in enrollment in the state and across the country.
Richardson ISD has not received more state funding per pupil since before the pandemic despite inflation, which Branum said was the fault of the legislature and the reason for the cuts.
"We need our communities, we need our staff to use their voice to make sure Austin hears we need public education to be funded," she said. "I hope it will bring awareness that our kids deserve more."
While the budget for the next school year won’t be adopted until June, the district wants a decision to be made by the end of March for the staff to begin transitioning.
Starting Monday, the district will be holding listening tour sessions for parents and staff impacted by this proposal. Families can bring questions and feedback.
- For Greenwood Hills Elementary
Monday, February 26 from 6 – 7:30 pm
Location: Pearce High School Commons Area - For Springridge Elementary
Tuesday, February 27 from 6 – 7:30 pm
Location: Berkner High School Auditorium - For Spring Valley Elementary
Wednesday, February 28 from 6 – 7:30 pm
Location: Richardson High School Auditorium - For Thurgood Marshall Elementary
Monday, March 4 from 6 – 7:30 pm
Location: Lake Highlands High School H Building Auditorium off White Rock Trail - For Dobie PreK
Tuesday, March 5 from 6 – 7:30 pm
RISD Academy