RISD- largest school enrollment yet
Richards Varsity volleyball started their season off with a bang playing seven games so far. They boast a team of 11. The volleyball coaching staff this year consists of Bobby Conner, Amy Thomas, and Will Autery - all returning staff members of RISD.
Coming off a historic bond election win in May 2021, RISD has worked hard this year to prove that big changes are coming to the benefit of the Panther family. The school district has a full staff of 32 new and returning members and boasts its largest enrollment numbers yet, with 207 enrollments. Major changes to the ranking system and weighted classes were made during summer school board sessions, and the administration for RISD seeks to ensure this year will be one of their most productive years academically.
Richards Civic Club met Aug. 10 for their monthly meeting. The meeting focused on the need for insurance for the community center and civic club activities, as well as final considerations for playground equipment from the former Richards Park area to be moved and set up at the community center. Insurance for the group costs upwards of $1,300 per year, which was a concern for the group since that would take away a large amount of any profit the center sees yearly. Several members in attendance expressed concerns for the younger generations of Richards, not having anywhere to play or gather for safe, free time playing. The civic club members voted to form a Town Park Committee to help with planning, insurance search, and park funding.
The Civic Club board has also partnered closely with Richards VFD researching the benefits of an Emergency Services District or E.S.D. - much like the ESDs in Iola and Montgomery. Once an E.S.D. is formed the group becomes an entity or minor district of the State of Texas, and although the group functions within a county, several factors come into play with the State as well. At this point RVFD needs to purchase a new tanker, to maintain their Insurance Services Office rating or I.S.O. of 8B, the groups goal is to eventually earn a lower I.S.O. rating which in turn, helps local homeowners’ lower costs of their insurance.
Forming an E.S.D. is no easy task, as the Civic Club and RVFD discovery group is finding that initial plans for E.S.D. boundaries need to be finalized, as well as petitions circulated within the community to determine public opinion on the matter and to prompt a discussion and eventual vote within the Grimes County Commissioner’s Court for an election to develop the E.S.D. The group discussed a potential timeline for E.S.D. actions starting in August 2021, with the eventual goal to have an option on the November 2022 ballot: For or Against. The election will set the approval of an emergency services division, as well as a potential tax rate based on the home values in the area. “Ask yourself what can burn, whatever you insure that has a structure. We have to look at what the value is, what taxes could be. It’s our turn as a community to decide so someone else doesn’t make those decisions for us,” explained
RVFD Chief Cort Norwood.
The Civic club adjourned with plans to allow the Town Park and ESD committees to continue their research and discuss both matters at the next meeting on Sept. 14.
Upcoming events:
Aug. 26 & Aug. 28: Volleyball tournament at Navasota High School -time TBA.
Aug. 27: RISD vs Kennard Jr. High and varsity volleyball at 5 and 6 p.m.
Aug. 30: RISD vs BVCHEV Jr. High and varsity 5 and 6 p.m.
Sept. 2: Food pantry at Richards Civic Club, 6 p.m.
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