Rockwall, TX (April 16, 2024) – NOTE: Board meeting summaries highlight different agenda items. For more information on every agenda item presented, click the following link www.rockwallisd.com.
Board of Trustees Recognitions
The Board of Trustees recognized and congratulated these outstanding individuals and groups for the following accomplishments:
Elementary UIL Winners for 2023-2024 – In the spring of 2024, students at each of our sixteen elementary campuses participated in the following University Interscholastic League A+ Academic events: Chess, Ready Writing, Music Memory and Number Sense. Ribbons were awarded to campus winners and the top scores were sent to the District-level competition. In each category, District winners were named in the top six places.
Congratulations to the following first through sixth place winners from across the District in our Rockwall ISD UIL competition:
A+ Ready Writing:
- Third and Fourth Grade – Stella R (1st), Caroline L (2nd), Madeline S (3rd), Nolan M (4th), Elle N (4th), Harper P (5th), Mason P (6th)
- Fifth and Sixth Grade – Fiona B (1st), Katrin R (1st), Kellan C (2nd), Annalei H (3rd), Joud T (4th), Leah C (5th), Madison K (6th)
A+ Music Memory:
- Third and Fourth Grade – Lexi A (1st), Vivienne L (2nd), Daniel N (3rd), Tristyn G (3rd), Gia P (3rd), Audrey G (4th), Jace W (5th), Seth O (5th), Alessia G (6th)
- Fifth and Sixth Grade – Bryce T (1st), Charlotte O (1st), Lillian J (2nd), Eliana W (3rd), Nora L (4th), Jenna C (5th), Brooklyn B (6th), Cecilia S (6th)
A+ Number Sense:
- Fourth Grade – Luke A (1st), Victor S (2nd), Michael L (3rd), Luke A (3rd), Robert S (4th), Tu N (4th), Phoebie H (5th), Connor M (6th)
- Fifth Grade – David A (1st), Embry H (2nd), Gibson N (2nd), Avery L (3rd), Eshaan G (4th), Aryane V (5th), Haven R (6th), Abraham D (6th)
- Sixth Grade – Jake G (1st), Maggie P (2nd), Collin H (3rd), Emma D (4th), Abigail T (5th), Luke M (6th)
A+ Chess Puzzle:
- Third Grade – Zeke D (1st), Ethan C (2nd), Carter K (3rd), Jude A (4th), Mark B (5th), Brody H (6th)
- Fourth Grade – Krish D (1st), Max L (2nd), Xavier Q (3rd), Weston V (4th), Hudson H (5th), Jace S (6th)
- Fifth Grade – Matthew D (1st), Jameson L (2nd), Jackson L (3rd), Elliot W (4th), Misael G (5th), Harry M (5th), Lincoln T (6th)
- Sixth Grade – Aiden K (1st), Joshua B (2nd), Henry H (3rd), Harrison W (4th), Oliver G (5th), Jayden T (6th), LouisPius R (6th)
State Wrestling Champion – Rockwall High School wrestler Jake M. is the UIL State Champion for the Boys’ 6A 150 lb. division. Jake is Rockwall High School’s 7th State Champion in program history. Congratulations to Jake and RHS Wrestling Head Coach Cody Johnston and Assistant Coach Chase Brennan.
State Law Competition Winners – Twenty-seven Dr. Gene Burton College and Career Academy students competed against over 400 other students in a variety of law related events at the Texas Public Service Teachers’ Association (TXPSTA) State competition. The following students earned awards at state:
- Opening Statements: 2nd Place Presley D. (RHS) and 3rd Place Keaton S. (RHHS)
- Closing Statements: 1st Place Christa K. (RHS) and 2nd Place Keaton S. (RHS)
- Building Search Team: 3rd Place Sofia E. (RHS), Amiee O. (RHS), Makayla S. (RHHS) and Megan P. (RHHS)
- Police Agility-Female: 1st Place Makayla S. (RHHS) and 2nd Place Emerson W. (RHS)
- Felony Traffic Stop (4 Man Team): 3rd place Faith L. (RHHS), Richard S. (RHHS), and Josh D. (RHHS)
Congratulations to the Team Sponsors: Don Williams, Dan Nelson, James Dupuch, Laine Wich, and Karyn Nyholm – GBCCA, Marcia Hasenyager – RHHS, and Keith Allen – RHS
Culinary ProStart Team – Since 2013, our culinary program has participated in the Texas ProStart Invitational State Competition. In March, the Culinary Arts Team competed against 40 other schools. The team placed 2nd and each student received a total of $12,500 in scholarships. The following students competed at state:
- Amelia I. – RHS
- Jaylin A. – RHS
- Ian G. – RHS
- Lily L. – RHHS
- Aaron R. – RHHS
Congratulations to Team Sponsors: Mason Estrada, Rachel Bristow, and Cody Hayes
Board of Trustees Report Continuing Education Hours
Continuing education is a basic obligation and expectation for Board members. Board members have completed the continuing education requirements.
Approval of the Board of Trustee Monthly Meetings and Special/Work Session Dates for 2024-2025
The Board approved the Monthly Meetings and Special/Work Session dates for the 2024-2025 school year.
Vaughan named Executive Director of Finance
Mr. Bobby Vaughan has been an integral part of the Rockwall ISD Finance Department team for 8 years serving in a variety of difference capacities including Senior Accountant, Chief Financial Officer and most recently as Director of Accounting for Rockwall ISD. Mr. Vaughan’s public education career spans 15 total years. Prior to beginning his career in public education, he served as an internal auditor for Texas Tech University as well as an external auditor for a local auditing firm. Mr. Vaughan completed his Bachelors in Business Administration degree with a Major in Accounting from San Angelo State University. Bobby replaces the vacancy left by Ms. Jamie Tomalin who retired after 20 years of service to Rockwall ISD.
Mr. Vaughan’s professional experiences and accomplishments include the following:
- Worked closely with the District’s external audit firm to ensure compliance and accuracy regarding the District’s annual financial statements.
- Integral part of a team that has been recognized for financial and budgeting excellence by state and national organizations.
- Designated as a Registered Texas School Business Administrator (RTSBA) by the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) – the highest designation available.
- Worked closely with Department and Campus Leaders on budget development and day-to-day management of their budgets.
- Provides leadership in managing Rockwall ISD’s annual general operating budget of $170 million.
- Tenure has overlapped a time period when the District has added over $34 million to its fund reserves since 2016.
2024 Facilities Bond Committee Update
Facilitators provided an update on the committee’s work and progress thus far. The committee has met five times. District administrators presented information about the budgetary challenges facing the District including: inflation, recruitment and retention of teachers, underfunded state mandates and operational cost increases due to student enrollment growth. The committee heard about the possible financial impact a Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election could have to address these challenges. Committee members continue to work in small groups focusing on projects like new construction, capital needs, safety/transportation/technology and Fine Arts/athletics/CTE.
Winter Projects Update
District leadership provided information to the Board of Trustees regarding the winter projects completed by the Maintenance & Operations Department this past fall.
Electricity Contract Renewal Update
The Board of Trustees previously approved the district’s recommendation to hire Energy Edge as the District’s Energy Procurement consultant. As a result, the final pricing update received on April 3, 2024, Gexa Energy has proposed the lowest overall price at $0.06664 per kilowatt-hour. Additionally, the proposed price per kilowatt hour is within the established parameter for maximum kWh unit price approved by the Board of Trustees on March 18, 2024. The district’s current energy price through provider TXU is $0.04139 and the current energy contract is set to expire on May 31, 2024.
2024-2025 Budget Update
District administrators presented a budget update. Highlights include:
- Added positions to accommodate student enrollment growth and additional support to campuses and teachers at a cost of $445,200;
- Added positions to implement identified safety and security at a cost of $162,600;
- Added positions to accommodate the growing identified student populations with individualized needs at a cost of $1,067,200;
- Added positions accommodate student enrollment growth across the District at a cost of $2,548,000; and a
- Compensation Plan of 2% across the board for all teachers and staff and a beginning teacher pay of $59,000 at a total cost of $2,563,099
As a result, the 2024-2025 budget deficit is $7,500,000.
Budget 2024-2025 Projected Deficit Factors
1. Fact: The 88th Legislative Session began with a historical record surplus of $32.69 billion in surplus revenue. In addition, “After accounting for interest and investment earnings by the Economic Stabilization Fund, (ESF), along with expenditures authorized by appropriations made in recent legislative sessions, the CRE projects a fiscal 2025 ending Rainy Day Fund balance of $23.77 billion.”
Fact and/or Results for Rockwall ISD: To date, after five total legislative sessions, there has been no increase to the basic student allotment funding – even to, at minimum address the 17% inflationary increase realized since 2019.
2. In an effort to retain and recruit teachers and staff during the on-going teacher shortage occurring across the State of Texas, the District approved the largest compensation package in Rockwall ISD history (totaling approximately $8.85 million) for the 2023-2024 school year. With no additional funding from the state and without access to additional funding through a voter approved tax ratification election (VATRE), as a majority of surrounding districts have, Rockwall ISD adopted a deficit budget strategically utilizing fund reserves.
3. Unfunded mandates from the state this year included HB 3 requiring armed security guards at every campus (SROs, ASOs) without any meaningful increase in funding to offset the added cost. Rockwall ISD receives approximately $500k a year for safety and security costs, however, the District annually spends over $3 million per year in this area.
4. Inflation – 17% increase in costs since 2019. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Increases to custodial services;
- Increases to electrical services contract;
- Increases in construction costs;
- Increases to property & casualty insurance premiums; and, increases to food service costs.
5. New Facilities – Opening the new Rockwall HS and Rockwall-Heath HS Ninth Grade Campuses will add approximately $4 million in additional staffing and operational costs. These new campuses will relieve both Rockwall HS and Rockwall-Heath HS who have almost 3,000 students at each campus
6. Staffing additions have been included in the 2024-2025 budget projections to address the rapid increase in student enrollment growth in Rockwall ISD. As a note, we anticipate 2,500 projected new students in the next 5 years and 6,500 projected new students in the next 10 years. Staffing additions include, but are not limited, teachers, security, bus drivers, special education support staff, etc.
7. The discussed 2024-2025 projected budget proposal includes a 2% compensation plan for teachers and staff.
8. Rockwall ISD adopted the largest compensation plan in district history last year in an effort to be competitive compared to surrounding districts who have already adopted a VATRE and have access to additional revenue from the state. The District was anticipating, given the $33 billion state budget surplus, the state would provide an increase to the basic student allotment, which has not been increased since 2019.
Approval of 2024-2025 Compensation Plan
The District evaluated the proposed salary increases for other area peer school districts and also considered long term budget constraints in recommending the general pay increase. The Board approved a 2% across the board for all teachers and staff and a beginning teacher pay of $59,000 at a total cost of $2,563,099.
Approval of 2021 Bond Project Completions
The Board of Trustees approved project completions from the 2021 bond for the following:
• Rockwall High School and Rockwall-Heath High School Performing Arts Centers Lighting & Sound Renovation Project, and
• Dr. Gene Burton College and Career Academy Culinary Arts Renovation.
Approval of Consultant Design Services and Project Delivery Method for District Construction Projects – New Elementary School Prototype
The Board of Trustees approved the Consultant Design Services to Corgan Architects and Project Delivery Method Construction Manager at Risk for the new elementary school prototype project. Services will be paid out of the 2021 bond authorization.
Approval of Auditor to Perform an Efficiency Audit in Accordance with Texas Education Code, Section 11.184
House Bill 3, Eighty-sixth Legislature, 2019, requires the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to establish guidelines for a school district’s efficiency audit. The legislation added Texas Education Code, Section 11.184, which requires the board of trustees of a school district to conduct an efficiency audit before seeking voter approval to adopt a tax rate for the maintenance and operations (M&O) of the district. Statute defines an efficiency audit as an investigation of the operations of a school district to examine fiscal management, efficiency, and utilization of resources. The Administration has contacted the external audit firm that performs the District’s annual financial audit to solicit a proposal to provide the necessary services to perform an efficiency audit in accordance with the metrics developed by the Legislative Budget Board. Cost of the efficiency audit is $15,000.00 The Board of Trustees approved the proposal from Weaver to perform an efficiency audit in
accordance with the guidelines established by the Legislative Budget Board.
Approval of Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) Contract Award for Serving Line Replacement Project at Hartman and Springer Elementary Schools
The Board of Trustees approved a contract award to Supreme Fixture Company for $334,594.00 for the Serving Line Replacement Project at Hartman and Springer Elementary Schools.
Approval of Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) Contract Award for Replacement of Double Stack Ovens at Hartman, Jones, and Pullen Elementary Schools
The Board of Trustees approved a contract award to Associated Food Equipment for $149,499.99 for the Replacement of Double Stack Ovens at Hartman, Jones, and Pullen Elementary Schools.
Approval of Necessary Authorized Replacements of Check Signers/Access Regarding the Rockwall Independent School District’s Financial Accounts
The Board of Trustees approved the necessary authorized replacements of check signers/access regarding the Rockwall Independent School District’s Bank Accounts and Safety Deposit Boxes at the American National Bank.
Byrum named Chief Human Resources Officer
Ms. Joey Byrum has served Rockwall Independent School District for 18 years supporting over 2,100 employees. Ms. Byrum’s administrative experiences includes Executive Director of Human Resources, Director of Human Resources, Human Resources Coordinator, and Human Resources Specialist. Ms. Byrum completed a Bachelors in Public Administration from St. Cloud State University. She replaces the vacancy left by Mr. Mark Speck who retired after 12 years of service to Rockwall ISD and 41 years in public education.
Ms. Byrum’s professional experiences and accomplishments include the following:
- Facilitated human resource programs to ensure high quality staffing and retention of district personnel;
- Established local designation system resulting in the approval of the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) to retain and recruit teachers at designated schools;
- Facilitated an employee management system, fast-track application, position control, and online forms in electronic management systems;
- Experienced leadership providing legally sound and effective human resource management programs, policies, and practices; and
- Experienced leadership in related human resource programs that include professional and auxiliary staffing, wage and salary administration, leave administration, performance appraisal, employee relations, and benefits.
Approval of Renewal of Employment Contracts for Non-Chapter 21 Personnel
The Board of Trustees approved renewing Non-Certified Employment Contracts for those individuals recommended by the Human Resources Department for the 2024-2025 school year.
Approval of Renewal and Extension of Employment Contracts under Chapter 21 of the Texas Education Code for Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, Library Media Specialists and Nurses
The Board of Trustees approved renewing and extending contracts under Chapter 21 of the Texas Education Code for Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, Library Media Specialists and Nurses for the 2024-2025 school year as recommended by the Human Resources Department.
Submitted by Renae Murphy, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News. Courtesy photos.
Update from Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees monthly meeting from April 15, 2024 added by Melanie M on
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