Richardson ISD is asking voters to approve a $1.4 billion bond package to pay for construction, instructional materials, technology devices and stadium upgrades.

If the proposal passes, the school district's tax rate to service debt would rise by 4 cents. The district estimates that would come out to an additional $124 per year on the tax bill of a $500,000 home.

A tax increase at a time when residents face pressure from growing tax bills is no small ask. However, we believe these investments are necessary to keep Richardson ISD on a path to improvement. The C-rated district is inching back toward a B, growing its number of A-rated schools in 2025.

Superintendent Tabitha Branum said enrollment has plateaued after some time in decline.

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"If we're going to attract, retain and recover students that we may have lost, our facilities matter," she told us.

On average, Richardson ISD facilities are more than 58 years old, Branum said. In that time, most elementary campus restrooms haven't been touched. Richardson ISD is an aging district facing major maintenance needs that it must address if it wants to be competitive.

Proposition A

At $1.34 billion, this proposition is by far the largest, and it covers a broad range of projects.

About $750 million would go toward the middle school transition, Branum said. The district would transform six junior high campuses into middle schools, with the idea of mitigating space concerns at elementary schools and giving sixth graders more advanced academic offerings. Branum said these junior high campuses need upgrades even without the middle school transition.

Roughly $86 million would be used to build a new career and technical education center. Branum said the idea is "to have one central location where all of our kids from across the district can go, have these industry experiences, so that they can be life-ready."

Other items include restroom renovations, roofing, HVAC safety and security upgrades, school buses, maintenance vehicles and instructional materials.

Voters should approve this bond proposal.

Proposition B

Voters should also approve $54 million to buy devices for students and teachers. It would also pay for library devices, computer lab devices and student WiFi hotspots.

We've long advocated for Texas educators to reconsider the role technology plays in the classroom. But in the digital era, there's no getting around the need for digital devices.

Proposition C

Lastly, Richardson ISD is asking voters to dedicate $7.4 million to the district's two largest stadiums. That would include added Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant seating, upgraded lighting and new turf, this newspaper reported.

Stadiums can easily turn into vanity projects for school districts, but this bond proposal isn't. It's a relatively small sum of money for reasonable upgrades to sports facilities.

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Richardson ISD bond proposal: Our recommendation