Richardson ISD trustees are scheduled to vote Thursday, Oct. 15 on a $4,433,480 contract with VLK Architects for design services on a career and technical education center, the largest item in the batch of bids and contracts on the board's agenda.
District staff say the contracts on that list were reviewed and negotiated where appropriate and fall within budgeted amounts. The posted materials do not describe the center's location, size or schedule.
Also up for approval
- Buses: $476,409 for three special education school buses from Longhorn Bus Sales.
- Locker rooms: $248,825 for the Ram-Wildcat locker room and $114,084 for the Eagle-Mustang locker room, both with Landmark Interior Builders.
- Timekeeping: $250,000 for annual UKG (Kronos) licenses and $125,000 with Plante Moran for implementation work toward replacing that system.
- Graduation: an $80,000 agreement with the City of Allen to hold 2027 graduations at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center.
- Cell tower: a renewed lease with Crown Castle at the Apollo Junior High site, which the district estimates will bring in $600,000 over a 25-year term.
Hearing, legislative wish list and a safety audit
The meeting opens with a public hearing on RISD's Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating. The hearing notice posted with the agenda does not list the rating.
Trustees will vote on 2027 legislative priorities drafted by a board subcommittee. The list asks the state for an age-appropriate screen time framework that separates passive from productive use of technology, and for resources and flexibility to bring artificial intelligence into schools. It seeks more money for armed security officers, special education and the Allotment for Basic Costs, plus funding to cover unanticipated enrollment declines.
It also asks lawmakers to limit the pre-service affidavit requirement to providers with direct student contact, let staff take part in paid activities when there is no conflict of interest, and clarify parental consent rules for basic health services.
An operations report says every campus has had an unannounced intruder detection audit since the 2024-25 school year began and that Jess Harbin Elementary had a finding in September. The district says it will correct the problem, with its safety staff working alongside the campus on required training and on reporting to the state. The report does not say what the finding was.