Richardson ISD wants state lawmakers to send more money for armed school security, special education and districts whose enrollment drops unexpectedly, according to a revised draft of its priorities for the 2027 legislative session.
The draft was posted with the agenda for the school board's called meeting and work session Thursday night, Oct. 29, as an information item, so no vote was scheduled. The district's slides list a board vote to adopt the priorities on Nov. 19, followed by a legislative action plan and outreach to lawmakers, staff, parents and community partners.
A board legislative subcommittee writes the list before each session, the agenda memo from Assistant Superintendent Melissa Heller says. The district has also held two legislative roundtables this year, in April and September, with the Council of PTAs, local chambers and colleges.
Three goals
The draft groups its requests under three headings.
Funding gaps. The district asks for more state money for armed security officers, for students in special education and for the basic-costs allotment, plus a higher basic allotment and funding to cover enrollment declines a district did not anticipate.
Technology. It asks the state to set screen-time guidelines suited to students' ages that treat passive use differently from productive use, and to give schools resources, guidance and flexibility to bring artificial intelligence and other new tools into classrooms.
Regulation. It asks lawmakers to limit the pre-service affidavit rule for service providers to those who work directly with students, to let district staff take part in activities they are paid for when there is no conflict of interest, and to clarify when parental consent is needed for basic health services.