CITY & SCHOOLS
News from Richardson, Richardson ISD & Plano ISD
Richardson City Council meets Oct. 24, and Nov. 7, 14 and 21 at 6 p.m. Due to a fire at city hall, council meetings have been temporarily relocated to various city facilities. Updated details on meeting locations can be found on the city’s website at www.cor.net. Richardson ISD board of trustees meets Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. at the RISD Administration Building, 400 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson. The meetings are streamed live online at www.web.risd.org. MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS RICHARDSON The city police department is looking to pass a new ordinance that would make it illegal to possess a used, cut or unbolted catalytic converter that has been removed from a motor vehicle, unless the person in possession provides proof of ownership. PLANO ISD New employees hired during the first half of the school year will get a one-time stipend as part of recruitment and retention efforts. New teachers, nurses and librarians will receive $1,000, and all other eligible employees will receive $500, per the district.
District turns to voters to set property tax rate and approve nearly $1.5B worth of new capital projects
Short-term rental rules set by City Council
District to tackle learning gap, more with improvement plan
BY JACKSON KING
as well as college, career and military readiness. RISD staff provided the board with data regarding the learning gap caused by the pandemic and recommended updates based on this trend to inform board goals. One of the major goals of the district improvement plan is to ensure diversity. Superintendent Tabitha Branum said RISD is hoping to use programs and learning opportunities so the district meets the unique needs of all students.
RICHARDSON ISD The board of trustees approved the district improvement plan, campus improvement plans and updated board goals for the 2022-23 school year during its Oct. 13 meeting. According to district officials, Texas House Bill 3 requires school boards to adopt detailed plans for student perfor- mance goals in third grade reading and third grade math
BY VALERIE WIGGLESWORTH
measures will have no effect on the district’s tax rate, but the language that voters see on the ballot describes each of these measures as a property tax increase under state law. The tax increase comes from the debt the district will incur. “People read that, and if they haven’t spent 15 minutes of educat- ing themselves, it’s hard for a lot of people to get over that hurdle,” said Johnny Hill, PISD’s deputy superin- tendent for business and employee services. A website taking a deep dive into each ballot measure with additional information is available at www.pisd.edu/election2022. “Our goal is to share information about our elections with as many people as possible so they can make an informed decision when they go to the polls,” Superintendent Theresa Williams said in an email.
BALLOT PROPOSITIONS
PLANO ISD District officials said they want voters to know the why and the how behind the five propo- sitions on the Nov. 8 ballot. If voters say yes, the measures would not only generate about $9 million more for the district’s day-to-day operations but also fund nearly $1.5 billion worth of critical infrastructure upgrades needed at its 73 campuses and other facilities. The first proposition on the ballot would set the district’s property tax rate. PISD is proposing a decrease of $0.061 per $100 valuation compared with its current tax rate. The remaining four measures would allow the district to issue bonds and take on debt to pay for a host of capital projects, including campus renovations, and security and technology upgrades. PISD officials said passage of the four bond
BY JACKSON KING
RICHARDSON City Council approved an ordinance setting regulations for the operation of short-term rentals in the city during its Sept. 26 meeting. Council discussed the issue of setting standards for short- term rentals throughout several meetings, including a Sept. 19 presentation that detailed sev- eral elements of the ordinance. “As most of the council has stated, ... I think this is an excellent first step,” Mayor Paul Voelker said during the Sept. 19 City Council meeting. City Manager Don Magner said the ordinance was the best manner of regulating these short-term rentals, as it is not legally possible to ban them.
Voters in Plano ISD will consider five propositions as part of the Nov. 8 election.
Approve property tax rate of $1.25975 per $100 valuation. Issue $1.17B in bonds for school renovations and safety valuation.
A B D C E
Rise in costs could affect work on 2021 district bond projects
to drive cost increases on all major construction projects,” said James Watson, RISD chief executive director of operations. One option suggested by Super- intendent Tabitha Branum was to reduce the scope of projects from the 2021 bond or to defer funding to a future bond. Another possibility presented during the meeting is placing a supplemental bond package before voters to address the shortfall. However, no further details on that were discussed by the board, and no action was taken.
PROJECTED SHORTFALL Richardson ISD could see a funding shortfall for its bond package. bond package approved in 2021 projected shortfall on $750M $77M
Issue $173.45M in bonds for instructional technology.
BY JACKSON KING
RICHARDSON ISD The board of trustees discussed a potential shortfall in funding for the 2021 bond package because of increases in construction costs. “The skyrocketing price of steel and building materials coupled with shortages of skilled labor continue
Issue $130M in bonds for an event center.
work at Pearce High, and Forest Meadow and Lake Highlands junior highs is when the next bond package is planned.
Issue $19.21M in bonds for safety and maintenance at stadiums.
2026
SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: PLANO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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