On April 27, Richardson ISD will enable text/SMS messaging from their child's school to parents and guardians as another way to share information with parents. The messages will be part of the existing Blackboard Connect automated notification system that RISD uses to send telephone and email messages to parents and employees. Messages may include emergency alerts and reminders about school events.
All automated messages to parents and guardians are currently delivered via telephone, with some messages also being sent as an email. Starting April 27, schools will also have the option of sending an abbreviated version of telephone messages as a text/SMS message.
In the afternoon of April 27, all parent and guardian primary telephone contact numbers will be sent an initial confirmation text message from RISD notifying them that text service has begun and including simple reply instructions to opt out from future text messages if the parent or guardian desires.
Parents and guardians who wish to continue receiving text/SMS messages from their child's school will not need to do anything.
As with any text/SMS messages, normal message or usage rates may apply depending on the mobile service plan that a parent or guardian uses. To receive text/SMS messages, the primary phone number on file with the child's school must be enabled to receive text/SMS messages, which is typically a mobile phone or device. Parents who wish to change the primary contact number on file with their child's school should contact the student data specialist at that school.
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I want to take a moment to update you on Richardson ISD's budget situation as we prepare for our 2012-2013 fiscal year and make recommendations to our Board of Trustees. Last year, Richardson ISD addressed the reduction of state funding due to the shortfall in the Texas budget. Many of you took time to respond to RISD's survey regarding budget reduction priorities. These priorities were used to develop three scenarios based on different estimates in loss of state funding. Due to this proactive planning, the district was able to avoid teacher layoffs that many area districts underwent. One of the difficult decisions required to maintain priorities was to freeze all employee salaries at the 2010-2011 level.
