The 2008-2009 school year at Richland Springs began August 25th. Thanks to the teachers and staff and students, we had a great first week of school, registering 141 students in grades kindergarten -12.

The Coyote Booster Club is hosting the Coyote Classic again this year. The Coyotes opening football game is at home on Friday, August 29th at 7:00 p.m. against Walnut Springs. Four more games are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 30th. The junior varsity football team will play Thursday at Rising Star at 6:00 p.m.

The Texas Education Agency has just released the accountability ratings and Richland Springs ISD is Academically Acceptable. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) (Public Law 107-110), which was signed by the President on January 8, 2002, reauthorizes and amends federal programs established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).

Under NCLB, accountability provisions that formerly applied only to districts and campuses receiving Title I, Part A funds now apply to all districts and campuses.

All public school districts, campuses, and the state are evaluated annually for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Richland Springs ISD has also met the Annual Yearly Progress goals (AYP).

According to the Texas Education Agency’s Academic Excellence Indicator System, Richland Springs 1993-2006 district profile shows the following fund balances for the past 14 years:

Fund Balance (End of Year 1992-93 audited) $372,212

Fund Balance (End of Year 1993-94 audited) $573,100

Fund Balance (End of Year 1994-95 audited) $445,720

Fund Balance (End of Year 1995-96 audited) $381,587

Fund Balance (End of Year 1996-97 audited) $219,938

Fund Balance (End of Year 1997-1998 audited) $317,733

Fund Balance (End of Year 1998-1999 audited) $122,305

Fund Balance (End-of-Year 1999-2000 audited) $133,269

Fund Balance (End-of-Year 2000-2001 audited) $109,330

Fund Balance (End-of-Year 2001-02 audited) $134,219

Fund Balance (End-of-Year 2002-03 audited) $138,342

Fund Balance (End of Year 2003-04 audited) $351,764

Fund Balance (End of Year 2004-05 audited) $482,981

Fund Balance (End of Year 2005-06 audited) $441,231

Fund Balance (End of Year 2006-07 estimated) $558,388

This communication is to transmit the school district’s School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) rating. Senate Bill (SB) 218 of the 77th Legislature (2001) authorized the implementation of a financial accountability rating system, which is officially referred to as School FIRST. The primary goal of School FIRST is to improve the management of school districts’ financial resources. As reported at the August 18, 2008 board meeting, Richland Springs ISD received a rating of Superior.

Qualified students in grades 11-12 can take dual credit courses which count for both high school and college credits. We have students that have graduated with 20-30 hours of college credits. We will have students that will graduate with 30+ college hours at the end of this school year. 16 of 20 2008 graduating seniors will attend 4-year colleges this fall.

Our athletic program is second to none. Our football team has lost one game in the past four years, winning the state six-man championship three of the past four years. Basketball and tennis have made great strides in the past two years.

Student success and safety are first and foremost at Richland Springs.

Community involvement is the key to our success