Royal ISD Administration

You have what it takes to help your child learn Research makes it clear: All parents, no matter their own level of education, can help their children succeed in school. To do it, set high, but realistic, goals for your child. Then stress the importance of persistence, and praise her efforts and progress. Set reasonable rules and consequences. Keep in touch with your child's teachers, and spend time with your child. Listen to her, and share your family's values. http://niswc.com/15iDC320271

Welcome back from the long weekend! Have you wondered how the bond package was deleveloped? Obtaining different perspectives from the entire community was very important to the planning of RISD's 2019 bond. Find out more at www.royalisdbond.com

Make reading time fun and frequent As Mark Twain once noted, a person who doesn't read books has no advantage over a person who can't read them. To motivate your child to read, allow him to keep the light on at bedtime as long as he is reading. On weekends, take the whole family to the library to browse, then go out for ice cream. Plan regular family reading times, too, where you turn off screen devices and read a favorite book together. http://niswc.com/15iCC320271

Set the stage for a productive study routine Just as a bedtime routine prepares kids to sleep, a homework routine can help them prepare to study. Start your child's routine with an announcement that homework time is about to begin. Offer prompts on what to do: "Put your toys away." "Clear the table." "Get your books." Ignore complaints and attempts to bargain for more time. To set the stage, bring a glass of water or school supplies to the table. http://niswc.com/15iBC320271

Three things that make mornings easier For some kids, getting out the door in the morning with everything they need is a challenge. To help your child, tackle three areas: 1. Time management. Block out regular times for study, play and getting organized. 2. School things. Put a big box where your child can't miss it. School things go in it when she gets home. So does completed homework. 3. Evenings. Together, lay out clothes, make a lunch and pack the backpack. http://niswc.com/15iAC320271

Attendance is critical for your child's success Children who don't attend school regularly fall behind and score lower on tests. They can have a hard time making and keeping friends. And frequent absences in elementary school can set a pattern that makes a child more likely to drop out of school later. Don't let your child skip school for reasons other than illness or emergency. If he regularly resists going to school, talk to the teacher. http://niswc.com/15heC320271

RISD will be closed Monday 9/2/2019 for Labor Day and Tuesday 9/3/2019 for Staff In Service. All students return on Wednesday September 4, 2019.

Try a kitchen timer to motivate your child Kids hate to be told what to do. Nagging, arguing and scolding don't usually motivate them. But a kitchen timer can. When you want your child to do something, set the timer. Then see if she can "beat the clock." Say, "Let's see if you can pick up your toys before the timer goes off." A timer also works to enforce a time limit: "When the timer rings in 15 minutes, it will be time for bed." http://niswc.com/15hdC320271

How much current debt does Royal ISD have and when will it be paid off? Royal ISD’s last bond was in 2006. It was for a total of $62,950,000 and funded the construction of the new Royal High School and Royal Early Childhood Center, along with other renovations and improvements. Prior to that the District voted $13,700,000 in May 2000. Currently, Royal ISD has $62.9 million of principal outstanding (total P&I of approximately $88 million) from those two bond elections. Current annual payments on the outstanding bond is $4.6 million per year. Based on current amortization schedule, these outstanding bonds would be paid off in 20 years - 2039. The district does, however, have the ability to pay bonds off earlier and Royal ISD has always utilized opportunities to refinance bonds when able. Since 2013, the district has saved over $14.7 million in debt service by refinancing bonds at lower interest rates. The district’s appraised taxable values have a large impact on its ability to pay back debt sooner. Royal ISD’s tax base has been on the rise in recent years with new commercial development that has come to the area. The district has averaged 8% growth per year the past 5 years and, in 2019 alone, experienced 22.6% growth in assessed taxable valuation. School districts have the ability to finance bonds up to 40 years, and the proposed 2019 bond election is built on the assumption of a 25-year payback period, which will incur much less interest for the district. What is Royal ISD’s total tax debt as a % of Taxable Assessed Valuation? Royal ISD’s ratio of total tax debt to taxable assessed valuation is currently 4.12%. This percentage compares quite favorably to many Texas districts, including Royal’s neighbor Katy ISD, which has a ratio of total tax debt to taxable assessed valuation of 4.73% It’s also important to note, that Royal ISD does not receive any funds from the state to support debt or put towards facilities. Based on its wealth per student it does not qualify for funds through the state’s Instructional Facilities Allotment (IFA) program or Existing Debt Allotment (EDA). The largest portion of the district’s current debt is from the new high school. In planning for the new high school, it was decided to build a school large enough to sustain the district for decades to come and build a school large enough for expected long-term growth. The new high school has a program capacity of 938 students (maximum capacity of 1,250). The current enrollment sits at approximately 630 students, providing capacity to continue to grow. The high school will continue to serve our community past when we are well done financing it. Most school buildings serve communities for 50 or more years. Lastly, for those of you referring to the Texas Comptroller’s website, please note that the data is from 2017 and is not a current accurate picture or comparison. For example, many of the districts Royal ISD is compared to have had bond elections in the past two years and their debt is not current, including Gilmer ISD’s $35,250,000 bond, Aubrey ISD’s $51,000,000 bond, and Monahans-Wickett-Pyote ISD’s $140,000,000 bond.

Your child needs your time more than screen time Too much screen time isn't good for kids. And when parents focus on screens too much themselves, their children miss out on important time with them. So turn off your devices and play board games with your child. Plant an herb garden. Take a walk and look for unusual things. Try foods from a different country (and find the country on a map). Create a secret code. You'll be helping your child think and learn. http://niswc.com/15hcC320271

Promote safety on the way to school Whether your child walks or bikes to school or just to the bus stop, you want him to be safe on the way. Choose a route with the fewest street crossings. Then walk the route with your child. As you go, role-play situations he might face. What will he do if a large dog is in his path? If possible, arrange for him to walk with a friend or family member each day. And be sure your child knows never to talk to or ride with strangers. http://niswc.com/15hbC320271

Celebrate your child's big accomplishments Setting goals is an effective way to motivate your child, in school and at home. Sometimes reaching a goal feels so good, it's all the reward your child will need to keep going. But when she reaches a tough goal, it's time to celebrate! One way is to take (or have your child draw) a picture of her reaching her goal. Frame it and put it by her bed. Whenever she looks at it, she'll see herself as an achiever. http://niswc.com/15haC320271

A short note can ease first-day jitters Even children who are excited about the first day of school can be worried about it, too. One common worry is, "Will my teacher like me?" Ease your child's fears by writing a note introducing him to the teacher. You can include all the things he wants the teacher to know, like "Billy can count to 100." Read the note aloud to your child. Then send it to open the door to productive teamwork with the teacher. http://niswc.com/15hZC320271

Please join us at at the School Bond Informational Community Meeting Thursday August 22, 2019 5:00 - 6:00 pm Royal Junior High School Auditorium Other meetings scheduled: Saturday September 7, 2019 at 10:00 am Monday September 23, 2019 at 6:00 pm Sunday October 6, 2019 at 3:00 pm Saturday November 2, 2019 at 10:00 am all meetings will be at the RJH Auditorium

After a citizens’ committee process, the Royal ISD Board of Trustees has called a bond election for $34,824,000 to be held on November 5, 2019. Visit www.royalisdbond.com for details about the proposed projects, tax information, voting information and more.

Please visit our website for more information. www.royal-isd.net

Sneak some writing into your child's daily life - http://niswc.com/15hSC320271

The TEA 2019 Accountability Ratings are official. RISD is a B rated district! Thank you RISD students, staff and administrators for your hard work and dedication! https://txschools.gov/districts/237905

Dear RISD Families, Our transportation department is reviewing bus routes to ensure that all of our students get to and from school in a safe and timely manner. Delays in pick up and drop off times occur most in the first few weeks of school. We ask for your patience as we work to resolve any issues. Go Falcons!

Parents please check out the "Title 1 Parent & Family Engagement Newsletter" for this quarter. This is a great resource for everyone that can help build strong connections between our schools and our families. This newsletter is available in both English & Spanish at the links below. English: https://www.esc16.net/…/2019-20%201st%20Quarter%20English.p… Spanish https://www.esc16.net/…/2019-20%201st%20Quarter%20-%20Spani…