BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & ISABELLA ZEFF
Richardson ISD indoor pools set for $11.15 million renovations The indoor swimming centers at Berkner High School and STEM Academy and J.J. Pearce High School are set to be renovated after Richardson ISD’s school board unani- mously approved $9.4 million for the second phase of the project Jan. 15. What’s happening The two natatoriums contain indoor pools for Richardson’s swim and dive teams. Upcoming work will include replacing pool mechanical systems, diving equipment and non-slip floors. Superintendent Tabitha Branum said the district plans to have the pools open for next school year.
RISD expects budget shortfall in fiscal year 2026-27
UTD introduces new computer, geospatial sciences degree The University of Texas at Dallas is now offering a Bachelor of Science in computa- tional and geospatial science, combining two in-demand fields, according to a news release from the university. The overview The degree program began last fall as a collaboration between the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. Students take a set of computer science courses as well as courses in geospatial science from EPPS that cover subjects like drone and remote sensing, internet mapping and spatial data science. Richardson ISD will still see a shortfall in the fiscal year 2026-27 budget, according to a presenta- tion at the Jan. 15 school board meeting. Allison Davenport, RISD’s executive director of finance, provided an update on the 2025-26 fiscal year to set a foundation for the FY 2026-27 budget process. The specifics Davenport said the district is currently expect- ing close to $8 million more in revenue than the FY 2025-26 budget planned for, due to an increase in state funding. However, she said the district is also seeing reductions in other revenue sources this year. RISD expected a $28.5 million shortfall in the FY 2025-26 adopted budget, but due to the revenue increase, Davenport said the district now expects to see a $27.5 million shortfall. Enrollment continues to decline in RISD, accord- ing to district data. Texas bases school funding on attendance, so a decrease in students could result in budget reductions. However, RISD has seen an increase this year in some student populations that generate additional funding—economically disadvantaged students,
Recent RISD budgets Revenue Expenditures
$409.3M
2025-26
$456.2M
$414.3M $430.4M $415.7M
2024-25
2023-24
$403.2M
SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
special education students and students with dyslexia. What it means Superintendent Tabitha Branum said RISD will still have a deficit budget in FY 2026-27, and any future raise or cost increases will also increase the shortfall. “We’re trying to be very aggressive and captur- ing savings whenever we can to bring down this year’s deficit,” Branum said. “We know that if we are going to increase compensation, that we’re going to have to find some additional efficiencies.”
J. J. Pearce HS
ARAPAHO RD.
W. BELT LINE RD.
75
Berkner HS
W. SPRING VALLEY RD.
N
Plano ISD enrollment PISD has seen enrollment decline every school year since 2010-11.
20K 40K 60K 0
Projected
SOURCE: PLANO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Plano ISD projects $43.75 million budget shortfall
property tax revenue due to property value increases, but the net revenue projection for FY 2026-27 is still down by $7.23 million from the year prior. That is due to projected enrollment decline, along with the sale of property from closed cam- puses that occurred in FY 2025-26, Reeves said. District enrollment has decreased every year since peaking at 55,659 in the 2011-12 school year. PISD enrollment as of October was 43,838 and is expected to drop to 41,830 next year, according to initial projections.
Plano ISD is anticipating a $43.75 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2026-27. District Chief Financial Officer Courtney Reeves presented a “first look” at the upcoming budget during a Jan. 20 board of trustees meeting. The big picture Initial projections expect PISD to have $527.3 million in revenue against $571.05 in expenditures in FY 2026-27. District staff is anticipating increased local
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RICHARDSON EDITION
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