Richardson Independent School District trustees spent an extended portion of their meeting discussing a staff proposal to expand options for students who live outside district boundaries to enroll in Richardson ISD schools.

Staff described the idea as a policy‑level option the budget subcommittee had recommended among several strategies to address declining enrollment and fiscal pressure. Under the proposal discussed, the district would consider a conservative pilot program with limits by campus and grade, an annual application process, and criteria to review applicants’ academic, conduct and attendance records. Families accepted under the pilot would be expected to provide their own transportation unless a separate arrangement were specified.

Board members repeatedly emphasized a cautious, incremental approach. Several trustees said they support experimenting on a small scale—limited numbers per elementary, middle or high school—to learn cost and operational implications before any wide‑scale rollout. Trustees also raised concerns that an open, unrestricted program could erode neighborhood school identity and create operational burdens for campuses that serve as community anchors.

Parameters discussed

- Pilot scale and safeguards: staff urged a limited pilot (for example, single‑digit numbers of transfers at some campuses in year one), campus capacity checks and an annual reapplication process.

- Eligibility and revocation: trustees discussed screening applicants for prior disciplinary or chronic attendance problems and reserving the right to revoke transfer status for students who do not meet district standards.

- Transportation and athletics: staff emphasized that families would generally provide transportation for transfers. The district also noted it would follow existing athletic eligibility rules for transfer students.

- Timeline: staff discussed a projected application timeline that would allow the district to notify applicants by mid‑July (a date referenced in the presentation materials as July 11 for applicant notifications), enabling registration before the school year start; staff said details would be refined if the Board directed a pilot.

Board direction

No formal vote was taken to adopt a new transfer program. Trustees asked staff to return with more detailed parameters, including capacity limits, financial modeling, operational costs (transportation, potential need for additional staff), and equity considerations. Several trustees said they favored a phased, measurable pilot that honors existing neighborhood schools while testing whether modest increases in enrollment could help district finances.