Rockwall, TX (September 19, 2023) – NOTE: Board meeting summaries highlight different agenda items. Board meeting videos are available for viewing within 24-hours of the meeting at www.rockwallisd.com.
Recognitions
Congratulations to outstanding students and student groups recognized by the Board of Trustees for the following accomplishments:
• National Merit Semifinalists – Congratulations to the four outstanding students representing Rockwall ISD as National Merit Semifinalists! More than 1.5 million high school juniors nationwide entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in October of 2022. Of these students, 16,000, or less than one percent, qualified as semifinalists by being among the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. These high-scoring high school seniors will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $40 million next spring. Semifinalists are:
o Kaley C. (RHS, J.W. Williams MS, and Nebbie Williams ES);
o James K. (RHS);
o Johnpaul R. (RHHS, Maurine Cain MS, and Ouida Springer ES); and
o Trevor S. (RHHS).
• State FFA Lone Star Degree Recipients from the Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy – The Lone Star Degree is the highest degree of membership the State Future Farmers Association (FFA) Association can award. Students must demonstrate leadership ability by performing ten hours of parliamentary procedure, giving a six-minute speech on a topic relating to agriculture or the FFA, and serving as a FFA officer, committee chairperson or committee member. Students must have participated in planning and implementing the chapter’s Program of Activities, completed at least ten activities above the chapter level in at least three of six different categories, and completed at least 25 hours of community service in a minimum of two other activities. The following students earned the 2023 Lone Star Degree Award:
o Katie B.- RHS Senior
o Hailey C. – RHHS 2023 Graduate
o Autumn G. – RHS 2023 Graduate
o Brooklyn G. – RHS 2023 Graduate
o Peyton S. – RHHS 2023 Graduate
Board of Trustee Representatives as Conference Delegates
Trustees Frank Conselman and Stan Britton were appointed as a delegate and alternate delegate to represent Rockwall ISD in the Delegate Assembly at the Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Board Convention.
Board Approves the Formation of a 2024 Facilities Bond Committee Comprised of Parents, Staff, Local Governments and Community Members for the Collaborative Development of Recommendations to Meet the Demands of Continued Student Enrollment Growth and Capital Improvement Needs of the District
The Board approved the formation of a facilities bond committee to review and analyze the student growth and facility capacity challenges facing the District. The ultimate goal is to develop solutions to be presented to the Board of Trustees at a later date for possible consideration. Rockwall ISD is projected to grow by approximately 2,859 students over the next five years and 5,552 students over the next ten years. In 2023, the District engaged the community in a Strategic Planning process that included community members, local government representatives, parents, students and staff input. One of the outcomes of this strategic planning update included the following goal: “We will ensure continued fiscal efficiency and partner with the community and stakeholders to address accelerating growth.” Based upon student growth projections, potentially, five elementary campuses will still exceed their building’s optimal capacity within the next five years. At the middle school level, it is projected that three of the four middle schools will be at or near capacity within the next five years.
Board Approves Project Completion for the Rockwall High School Fire Alarm Replacement Project
The Board of Trustees approved the project completion for the Rockwall High School Fire Alarm Replacement, funded by the 2021 bond program.
Board Approves Project Completion for the Dorris Jones Elementary School / Quest Academy Cafeteria Serving Line Replacement Projects
The Board of Trustees approved the project completion for the Dorris Jones Elementary School / Quest Academy Cafeteria Serving Line Replacement Projects, funded by the 2021 bond program.
Board Approves Project Completion for the Rockwall High School Intercom Replacement Project
The Board of Trustees approved the project completion for the Rockwall High School Intercom Replacement Project, funded by the 2021 bond program.
Board Approves Project Completion for the Rockwall-Heath High School Multi-Purpose Tennis Facility Construction Project
The Board of Trustees approved the project completion for the Rockwall-Heath High School Multi-Purpose Tennis Facility Construction Project, funded by the 2021 bond program.
Approval of Budget Amendment Amending the District’s Annual Operating Budget Allocating Additional Resources for Strategic One-Time Capital Outlay Expenditures
The Board of Trustees approved a budget amendment amending the District’s annual operating budget allocating $2,636,000 in additional resources for strategic one-time capital outlay expenditures utilizing unassigned fund balance reserves above the optimal fund balance. Expenditures include the following:
• Student Growth $625,000: Portable classrooms to address student growth for the 2024-2025 school year at Linda Lyon, Stevenson and Garcia Elementary Schools;
• Operations & Transportation $702,000: District SUV’s vehicles, wireless irrigation controllers, service truck and grounds equipment;
• Fine Arts $665,000: elementary music equipment, dance equipment, theatre equipment, PAC improvements, cheer equipment, band instruments, and concert uniforms;
• Career & Technology: $121,000: Ag Science & FFA, Health Science Aerospace, Law, Manufacturing, Vet Science, Robotics;
• Athletics $295,000: Aquatics Center equipment and videoboards, high school athletic trainer ice machines, wrestling mats, pole vault mats and standards, soccer goals; and
• Safety & Security $228,000: security cameras and servers, card reader and entry equipment, reunification trailer.
Board Approves Texas Education Agency Waiver
The Board of Trustees approved a class size waiver to the Texas Education Agency for elementary classrooms across the District.
Submitted press release
Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees Meeting from August 18, 2023 added by Melanie M on
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