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As a reminder, RISD is proposing a $170 million bond program – which will not increase the school tax rate. Early voting continues through Tuesday, May 10, and the RISD Administration Building at 400 South Greenville in Richardson serves as an early voting site. Election Day is Saturday, May 14. For more details about the district's $170 million bond proposal, please visit www.risd.org/bond. We encourage all stakeholders to exercise their right to vote.
Now, we will share updates on legislative proposals at the state level and the status of potential budget reductions in RISD.
State shortfall figures continue to morph with the committee substitute bills in the House and Senate. Current scenarios reflect a shortfall range for RISD between $20-$27 million instead of the initial projection of $20-$54 million. As we continue to address our shortfall, we have aligned our budget planning process to reflect current scenarios. As noted in previous communications, we have moved forward with a number of recommendations and implemented several measures to address the district's shortfall. These measures are posted online and reflect reductions in departments across the district. Major recommendations to date include freezing salaries for all employees, and contingent on legislative action, reducing all employees' work days by one as well as increasing the K-4 class size ratio by one from a district-wide average of 19:1 to 20:1. RISD's average class size ratio is currently under the 22:1 state mandate.
Earlier in the budget planning process, we communicated reductions we would consider only as a last resort – reducing all employees' compensation by 5 percent, eliminating magnet school programs and consolidating schools. We haven't wavered from those priority areas and remain committed to minimizing the impact on programs and services that directly impact RISD students.
We have no intent to implement teacher layoffs at this time. RISD is in a strong fiscal position relative to many Texas districts, and while we anticipate a significant shortfall of funds from Austin, we remain very hopeful that our preparation and conservative management will allow us to absorb the reduction of any teaching positions through typical yearly turnover. Again, we will be thoughtful and deliberate as we move forward with possible reductions and revenue enhancements this year, and in future years.
Thank you for your continued support of RISD. >Top
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Audelia Creek Wins Laura Bush Library Grant |
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| RISD Supt. Dr. Kay Waggoner, ACE Librarian Taressa Anderson, Former First Lady Laura Bush and ACE Principal Michael Savage |
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Audelia Creek Elementary was recently named a winner of a Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries Grant. The grant is worth $5,000, which will be used for more periodicals, reference books and other student-specific materials for ACE's Library. For more information about the grant program, please visit laurabushfoundation.org. >Top
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RISD's 2011 Dell Scholars |
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Congratulations to Berkner H.S. AVID students Dyann Fu and Petro On, and Lake Highlands H.S. AVID student Tuan Iang for being named 2011 Dell Scholars, earning $20,000 each for college, along with a Dell computer and printer.
Pictured Top
Berkner High School
Ron Griffen, principal
Dyann Fu
Petro On
Joan Swim, AVID Coordinator
Pictured Below
Lake Highlands High School
Michelle King, senior principal
Tuan Iang
Peggy Dillion, principal
For more information please visit dellscholars.org. >Top
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2011 National Merit Program Finalists
Congratulations to RISD's top academic achievers for being named National Merit finalists for 2011. Their stellar academic performance has placed them at the top, nationally, among high school seniors, and they're now eligible to receive National Merit Scholarships.
Rachel Bressler, Pearce High School
Emily Dawson, Lake Highlands High School
Molly Francis, Pearce High School
Tatum Frank, Pearce High School
Mark Fulbright, Richardson High School
Morgan Funderburk, Richardson High School
Bradley Harmon, Pearce High School
Rachel MacFarlane, Richardson High School
Roman Milan, Lake Highlands High School
Bailey Myers-Morgan, Richardson High School
Zachary Tobin, Pearce High School
Harrison Wallace, Pearce High School
2011 National Achievement Scholarship Program Finalists
Congratulations to Berkner High School seniors Kalindra Green-Ellison and Micah Mosely for being named National Achievement Scholarship Program finalists. The National Achievement® Scholarship Program is an academic competition that provides recognition to outstanding Black American high school students.
2011 National Hispanic Recognition Program Outstanding Students
Congratulations to the following students for being recognized as part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program. This program identifies nearly 5,000 outstanding Hispanic/Latino students each year, based on PSAT scores and GPA.
Sara Aguilar, Pearce High School
Blanca Barja, Pearce High School
Alexander Flores, Berkner High School
Said Navarro, Lake Highlands High School
Caitlin Walton, Pearce High School >Top |
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RISD Named A "Best Community for Music Education" |
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 The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) has named RISD "a Best Community for Music Education," one of just 12 in Texas. The recognition acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education in schools.
"Recognition like this is always gratifying," said RISD Director of Fine Arts Dr. Brad Kent. "Success like this begins with our elementary music programs, and is a testament to the support our community continues to provide our bands, choirs and orchestras."
For more information, please visit the NAMM website at namm.org. >Top |
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Liberty Welcomes the Chief |
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KFLY – All the News Fit to Transmit |
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KFLY, a televised version of the Northwood Hills Elementary School announcements, is back in business and more popular than ever with students and staff. Fourth and sixth grade students write, film, edit and produce the school announcements shown in all classrooms once a week. The KFLY crew meets to discuss the week's filming and script ideas, delegates work and leaves no classroom uninvestigated in pursuit of school news and information. The entire process is student driven and overseen by Ms. Barbara Nolan, NHE's librarian.
Each televised announcement opens with the American flag waving as the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Pledge are recited, followed by a moment of silence and a peaceful scene. As students have become more adept and confident in writing, editing and acting in the segments, they have become more creative. KFLY places its weekly bloopers at the end of the broadcast, leaving everyone with a smile. The equipment used to film KFLY was the gift from the NHE sixth grade class of 2010. >Top
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After receiving a record number of entries, the Dallas Center for Architecture is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s “The Art of Architecture” juried art contest.
Dylan Winkler, Westwood Junior High
Honor Award and Best of Show & Citation Award
Mia Moore Campos, Westwood Junior High
Citation Award
Winners’ works will be on display at the Center until May 13. They were honored at a reception in April along with their teachers. >Top
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Cottonwood Art Festival congratulates the following RISD students selected as emerging artists for Spring 2011.
JJ Pearce High School: Olivia Freasier – Best Of Show
Dima Leinweber, Hasmik Martirosyan, Katie Matson, Chloe Bato
Richardson High School: Nicholas Anderson, Max Anderson – 2nd, Agustin Contreras, Hunter Blanks, Jesus Apolonio, John Vo, Phares Moran
Lake Highlands High School: Danyelle Williams
Berkner High School: Eduardo Jimenez – Honorable Mention, Adolfo Hernandez – 3rd
As a result, these art students were also selected to be a part of the international award-winning Cottonwood Art Festival on May 7 & 8, 2011. This prestigious opportunity will allow the students to hang and sell their artwork to the public. >Top
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| Back row left to right: Jerry Allen, Alex Temple, Madison Chapman, Wilson Gillespie, Jeff Claybrook and Mark Kinney. Front row: New Bell Boys: Hayden Bower, Ryan Mellinger, Mitch Winkler and Chase Faris. |
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The 2011-12 Bell Boys have been chosen. This spirit group has been an LHHS tradition for decades. Past Bell Boys, City Councilman Jerry Allen and Mark Kinney met with former and current Bell Boys this week after the announcement. >Top
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Pearce High School
Pearce boys soccer team finished the year with an overall record of 12-5-6. They repeated their last year's unbeaten record in district and finished 6-0-4. This year's team will graduate 11 seniors, three of whom have already received athletic scholarships from Orel Roberts and Fort Hayes Universities. A number of players earned district 20-4A recognition, including:
Outstanding Midfielder: Kevin Machado
Co-Outstanding Defender: Nick Ucherek
Outstanding Goalkeeper: Evan Harmon
Outstanding Utility Player: Omar Aguilar
First Team All District 20-4A
Luis Barajas, Midfield
Mathew Macesich, Defender
Landon Mignardi, Defender
Roman Rodriguez, Forward
Conner Webb, Midfield
Second Team All District 20-4A
Ricky Davies, Forward
Diego Galvan, Midfield
Sid Harris, Forward
Taylor Piske, Midfield
Conner Vokey, Defender
They are coached by Sean Dowlatshahi. >Top
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Richardson High School
Congratulations to the following Richardson High School students who participated in U.S. Congressman Pete Session, 32nd District of Texas: Congressional High School Art Competition:
Jenna Caire's piece "Blush" won the people's choice award and will be displayed in the reception area in the 32nd District Congressional office until April, 2012.
Diana Gluck's piece "Modern Ground" won an award from the Art Institute of Dallas, which sponsored the contest this year. She received the President's award, including a $1,000 scholarship to the Art Institute.
Their art teacher is Sonia Krusleski. >Top
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Richardson ISD Scholarship Program |
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The Richardson ISD Scholarship application is now online! $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to low-income students graduating from an RISD high school next month & attending any fully accredited 4 year college or university. The deadline to apply is May 20. More details & application are on UNCF's website.
You or your company can help us maximize the number of scholarships by making a donation of any amount! Click here for a direct link to a secure donation page tied to this program. >Top |
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Berkner High School Boys Track TEAM |
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District 9-5A All District Golf Team Named |
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Congratulations to the following RISD students for being named to the District 9-5A All District Golf Team:
District Most Valuable Player: Jessica Ritter, Lake Highlands H.S.
Mikalyn Allen, Berkner H.S.
Erin Nicholas, Richardson H.S.
Madison Reagan, Lake Highlands H.S.
Annie Ritter, Lake Highlands H.S.
Shonee Schattle, Richardson H.S.
Laura Vardell, Richardson H.S.
Kendall Washington, Richardson H.S.
Sarah Weinberger, Lake Highlands H.S.
In addition, Lake Highlands H.S. coach Jim Kratz has been named District 9-5A Coach of the Year. >Top |
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Arapaho Classical Magnet spring fling carnival |
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calling all greenwood hills elementary alumni |
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Stults Road Elementary is Celebrating, and You are Invited! |
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SCHOOL TIMES NOW! ARCHIVE |
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Did you miss an issue of School Times Now!? Click here to view the archives. >Top |
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