It’s back to work for teachers and administrators at Richardson ISD, but before they dust off the old computer, Superintendent Tabitha Branum had a different idea. She gathered staff early Monday morning and armed them with a list of names. The list was of families who were sending their childr en to Richardson ISD for the first time. “Outreach is part of what I think all of us are trying to do to make sure that our families know that when they choose us, that we’re going to work hard to earn their trust and to keep it,” said Branum. Becca Bass didn’t just open the door; she invited the superintendent and the reporters following her inside. The Basses transferred their daughter from another district. Richardson ISD now allows students who don’t live in the district to enroll. It’s a practice more schools are adopting since the funding schools receive from the state is tied to each student. Parents can send those dollars to other districts, charters, or private schools, so schools have to fight for the kids that are out there and keep their parents happy, too. From smiles to swag, they hoped to build community but also listen. They want to know why parents left their last schools and why they chose to enroll in Richardson. Then they want to know what parents need to keep their kids enrolled in their district. “This is about continuing to focus on our North Star goal, which is all about growth, and how do we make sure our kids leave at the end of the day better than when they came in,” said Branum. ...read more read less