Rockwall ISD Board Update: Highlights from Board of Trustees special session meeting on August 7, 2023

Rockwall, TX (August 8, 2023) – The following is a Rockwall ISD press release summarizing the special session meeting of Monday, August 7, 2023.

Elementary Update
District leadership provided an update about elementary summer programming, including summer school, Science Camp, Launch Camp, and Extended School Year Services. The Elementary Recess Committee reported their work. The committee reviewed the length of the Rockwall ISD elementary school day with comparable districts, instructional minutes, Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills requirements, current instructional practices, recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the impact of additional minutes to the school day on families and teachers.

Approval of Security Personnel Resolution
Texas House Bill 3 signed by the Governor June 14, 2023, requires one armed security officer to be present during regular school hours at each campus. Per HB 3, an armed security officer must be a school district peace officer, a school resource officer, or a commissioned peace officer employed as security personnel. With consideration to the availability of School Resource Officer personnel and in order to comply with HB 3 requirements, Trustees approved a resolution to provide an additional option permitting the hiring of armed security officer personnel. Requirements of HB 3 are effective September 1, 2023.

Information about the 2023-2024 Student Handbook District leadership presented information about the 2023-2024 Student Handbook. District and campus leadership have reviewed the 2023-2024 Student Handbook.

Highlighted changes include:
– The district has established procedures for recommending to a parent an intervention for a student with early warning signs of mental health concerns, substance abuse, or suicide risk. The district’s mental health liaison will notify the student’s parent within a reasonable amount of time after the liaison learns that a student has displayed early warning signs and provide information about available counseling options.
– The district has also established procedures for staff to notify the mental health liaison regarding a student who may need intervention.
– The district will allow junior and senior students to be absent for up to two days per year to visit a college or university if the following conditions are met:
(1) The board has authorized such excused absences under policy FEA (LOCAL);
(2) The principal has approved the student’s absence;
(3) The student follows campus procedures to verify the visit and makes up any work missed.
– The district will allow a student to be absent for up to two days during the student’s junior year and two days during the student’s senior year for a career investigation day to visit a professional at that individual’s workplace to determine the student’s interest in pursuing a career in the professional’s field, provided the student verifies these activities to the district.

– Each campus has a committee that addresses bullying by focusing on prevention efforts and health and wellness initiatives. The committee will include parents and secondary students.
– Under the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) program, a student may be eligible to enroll at no cost to the student in dual credit courses at a participating institution of higher education. The FAST program allows students who are or have been educationally disadvantaged at any time during the four years preceding the student’s enrollment in a dual credit course to enroll at no cost to the student.
– Unassigned Opioid Antagonists (Grades 6-12): In accordance with Chapter 38, Subchapter E of the Education Code, the board has adopted a policy to allow authorized and trained school personnel at each campus that serves students in grades 6-12 to administer an opioid antagonist, such as Narcan or Naloxone, to an individual who is reasonably believed to be experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose.

Approval of 2023-2024 Student Code of Conduct The Board approved the 2023-2024 Student Code of Conduct, which will be posted to the District website this week.
Highlighted changes include the following:
– Tobacco products, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and any component, part, or accessory for an e-cigarette device; HB 114 requires mandatory placement in a DAEP for offenses related to e-cigarettes.
– A copy of the DAEP placement order and information for the parent or person standing in parental relation to the student regarding the process for requesting a full individual and initial evaluation of the student for purposes of special education services shall be sent to the student and the student’s parent.

Approval to Purchase a School Safety Laminate Upgrade
The Board approved the purchase of a school safety laminate upgrade as required by the Texas Education Agency’s new school safety standards. Funds from the District’s Safety & Security grant will fund the laminate upgrade project at required areas on each District campus. The cost of the upgrade is $227,126.10.

Submitted press release

  Rockwall ISD, rockwall isd board of trustees