“Richardson Independent School District maintains the highest quality financial operations and has sound fiscal policies, procedures and leadership in place to assure continued financial security.”

Hankins, Eastup, Dean & Seay, Independent Auditors

Did You Know?
The Texas Education Code (paragraph 44.008(a)) requires each Texas school district to have its school district fiscal accounts audited annually. The audit must be performed by a Texas certified or public accountant holding a permit from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy and must be completed following the close of the fiscal year. The firm of Hankins, Eastup, Deaton, Tonn & Seay has completed the audit of RISD's fiscal accounts for the 2007-2008 school year and found that the District demonstrates fiscal responsibility, efficiency, and effectiveness in all operations. At the regular Board of Trustees meeting on November 3, the Board approved the audit and will file the report with the Texas Education Agency.

What does this mean?
This means that RISD is on very stable financial ground, and that taxpayers have a lower debt service tax rate because of RISD’s superior bond ratings of AA+ and Aa1 from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s respectively, both leading providers of independent credit ratings.

Looking ahead
The 81st legislative session begins in January 2009, and RISD, along with most districts in Texas, is looking to the legislature to provide additional funding to help offset increases in expenses like salaries, utilities and transportation. The financial strain comes from the current school finance system which holds schools districts to 2005-06 funding levels with no allowances for inflation or increases in costs. While cities and counties benefit from property value increases, school districts in Texas receive no increase in revenue for operations under the current school finance system. >Top

		What began as a student science competition at Liberty Junior High concluded last week with the help of Dallas Fire/Rescue. With the cooperation and encouragement of the Berkner HS Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Academy, Liberty students were asked to design a container, using common materials and weighing no more than 40 grams, that would keep an egg unbroken after being dropped from increasing heights onto concrete. Students responded with all manner of designs, with varying levels of effectiveness. Liberty Principal Stephen Quisenberry began by dropping eggs from a ladder, with students measuring the distance from the ground. As more contenders were eliminated, higher heights were needed to determine which design worked best, so Mr. Quisenberry went to the school’s roof to test the top designs on a more than 35 foot drop.
It wasn’t high enough, as several students had created superior designs that kept the egg safe from that distance. At that point, there was just one thing to do: call in the fire department. The following week, Dallas Fire/rescue kindly agreed to help, and brought a large ladder truck to the campus, ultimately extending the ladder to 100 feet! From that height, all but two student designs resulted in egg yolks on concrete, and the competition was declared a draw between Sally Tong and Rachel Green. This activity is the first of several Liberty will coordinate this year, working with students from the Berkner STEM Academy, to spark interest in the different facets of science. The activities will culminate in a STEM Science Camp at the beginning of the summer for incoming 6th graders. >Top

BHS Orchestra
The Berkner High School String Orchestra, under the direction of Craig Needham, just placed 10th in the State in the Texas Music Educators Association Honor Orchestra Competition this past weekend. 32 recordings from throughout the state were evaluated by a panel of judges to earn this recognition. This is an outstanding honor to again be recognized as one of the very best!

BHS Band
Last weekend, the Berkner Band was one of three bands from UIL Area C to qualify for the UIL State Marching Contest in San Antonio.

From Band Director Frank Troyka: “It was quite a thrill as we all listened to the announcement on Saturday night telling us who would advance to State--only three bands of the seventeen at the contest were eligible to advance. After Duncanville and Coppell were both named to State, you could hear a feather drop as the crowd of thousands listened for the first utterance of a syllable of the name of the third and final band to advance. Of course, the kids erupted when they heard ‘BERK---!’” Thank you for supporting them and their participation in events such as this one.

Thanks to all who support the Mighty Ram Band! >Top

On Saturday, November 15 Lake Highlands will celebrate Texas Recycles Day with a Recycling Round-up. Click here for more information. >Top