Highlights from Rockwall ISD Board Aug 15 meeting

ROCKWALL, TX (Aug. 16, 2022) The following is a Rockwall ISD press release summarizing Monday night’s (8/15/2022) RISD Board of Trustees Meeting.

Recognition

The Board of Trustees recognized the Extended School Year 2022 Mentors. The ESY Mentor Program started in 2018. This summer, 17 middle and high school students volunteered to support and work with their peers with disabilities. These mentors volunteered a total of 517 hours.

Region 10 Representative

The Board of Trustees approved support for a Region 10 representative for the Texas Association of School Boards Board of Directors position.

Board of Trustee Representative on Rockwall ISD Finance & Budget Committee

Rockwall ISD has and continues to emphasize financial transparency and a commitment to sound fiscal stewardship. To help provide advisory direction and transparency, the Board created the District Finance & Budget Committee as a board sub-committee. The Board of Trustees appointed trustee Amy Hilton to serve on the committee. Generally, the committee will meet regularly with members of the Administrative team to review and hear information regarding the District’s finances, budget information, legislative updates, etc.

Summer School Update

During June, July and August, Rockwall ISD staff served 1399 students: 695 elementary and 704 secondary students. These student groups include bilingual students, ESL students, special education students, and general education students. Summer school aims to identify and address specific learning gaps of students and prepare them for the 2022-2023 school year.

STAAR 2022 Update and ‘A’ District Accountability Rating

District leadership provided a summary of the Spring 2022 STAAR Assessment performance for Rockwall ISD grades 3-11. Today the District announced an ‘A’ Accountability Rating by the Texas Education Agency, the third year for the top rating. Superintendent Dr. John Villarreal thanked the teachers, staff, students and families for their hard work to earn the state’s top rating.

Construction Projects Update

As a fast-growth school district, Rockwall ISD is constantly changing as the District continues to grow and add more students and staff. The Operations Department supports the District by providing assessment, evaluation, and improvement to District facilities to create the best learning environment possible for our students and staff.

The Operations Department has been and is currently managing many construction projects to help facilitate the District’s goal of providing authentic and innovative learning environments. These many projects include, but are not limited to:

9^thGrade Center(s) – North and South
RHHS Multi-Purpose Tennis Facility
Wilkerson-Sanders Turf Replacement
Aquatics Center Interior Renovations
Ag Facility Fire Alarm Replacement
Cullins-Lake Pointe Furnishing Replacement
Interior Painting – Amy Parks-Heath, Cullins-Lake Pointe, Aquatics
Site Paving Projects – Amy Parks-Heath, Cullins-Lake Pointe
Fine Arts Projects – Stage curtains for RHS & RHHS Performing Arts Centers and Middle Schools
Fine Arts Projects – RHS & RHHS piano lab equipment replacements
Middle School #4
Amanda Rochell Elementary School replacement school
Cain & Williams MS additions and renovations

Favorable Bond Sale Results in Less Interest Cost Summary

The Administration priced the Rockwall ISD Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2022a transaction on June 23, 2022. The following is a summary of the results of this transaction:

*Series 2022a bonds priced with a net premium that will result in a $115,000,000 deposit into RISD Project fund on July 20, 2022.

Rockwall ISD maintained its excellent Aa2 (Moody’s) and AA (S&P) underlying ratings in addition to the Aaa/AAA Permanent School Fund (PSF) Guarantee Ratings.
Projections used for the December board meeting presentation were based upon a 4.68% TIC. Final TIC for Series 2022a was 4.3521%, which resulted in $10,091,118 less interest cost versus original projections.

Board Approves Consultant Services Project Completions

The Board of Trustees approved the project completion of the following 2021 bond projects:

Middle School stage curtains,
Ag facility fire alarm replacement, and
Billie Stevenson Elementary public address system replacement.

Board Approves Services for Outdoor Learning Center

The Board of Trustees approved the Consultant Services and Project Delivery/Contract Award Method for the Rockwall ISD Outdoor Learning Center project.

Board Approves Competitive Sealed Proposal for RHHS Multi-Purpose Tennis Building

The Board of Trustees approved a contract award of $1,391,026.09 to R. A. Ramos for the Rockwall-Heath High School Multi-Purpose Tennis building.

Board Approves 2022 Tax Rate for the 2022-2023 Fiscal year

The Board of Trustees approved the 2022 tax rate for the 2022-2023 fiscal year as follows:

Board Approves District’s Wealth Equalization Plan for 2022-2023

The Board of Trustees approved the Option 3 Wealth Equalization Plan for the Purchase of Attendance Credits (Netting Chapter 48 Funding) with the Texas Education Agency.

Board Approves Delegating Contractual Authority to Superintendent for Chapter 49 Status

The Board of Trustees approved delegating contractual authority to obligate the school district under Texas Education Code (TEC) §11.511(c)(4) to the Superintendent to Purchase Attendance Credits to Net Against Chapter 48 Funding.

Board Approves the Intermediate Guaranteed Maximum Price #2 (Steel Package) for the Rockwall High School and Rockwall-Heath High School Ninth Grade Centers

The Board of Trustees approved the Intermediate Guaranteed Maximum Price (IGMP) #2 (Steel Package) for the Rockwall High School and Rockwall-Heath High School Ninth Grade Center Projects in the amount of $15,031,994.00.

Board Approves Policy EIC (LOCAL)

The Board of Trustees approved removing language to Policy EIC (LOCAL) that applied to the Class of 2022 and prior.

Board Approves Policy DEC (LOCAL)

The Board of Trustees approved bereavement leave policy for employees in Policy DEC (LOCAL).

House Bill 3 Teacher Incentive Allotment Update

District leadership provided the Board of Trustees with an update regarding the Local Designation System for the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) approved in the 86th Legislative Session in House Bill 3.

The TIA was established to recognize effective teachers on three different levels: Recognized, Exemplary, and Master. These teacher designations generate additional teacher-focused allotment funding for districts in order for them to reward top-performing teachers.

Submitted press release by Rockwall ISD, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News.