Rockwall, TX (June 19, 2024) – 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 the following groups and students who recognized by the Board of Trustees:
Student Leadership Awards recognizes student leadership teams who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, dedication to their school, and a commitment to making a positive difference in their communities. These elementary students serve as role models, inspiring their peers and contribute to the improvement of their schools and beyond.
- The following TEPSA student leadership teams and their schools received recognition:
Billie Stevenson Elementary School,
Doris Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary School,
Nebbie Williams Elementary School,
Amy Parks-Heath Elementary School,
Sherry and Paul Hamm Elementary School, and
Virginia Reinhardt Elementary School.
Business Professionals of America (BPA) Students from the Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy – At the Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference, students from the Dr. Gene Burton College and Career Academy competed in multiple events. Twenty-one students placed at the state competition and advanced to compete at the 2024 National Leadership Conference. These 21 Rockwall ISD students competed among 6,400 students from 26 states and three countries.
Congratulations to the following students and their advisors Mrs. Misty Rayson, Mrs. Naposhi Amos, Mrs. Marcia Eddy, and Mr. Jeff Burkham for placing at state and advancing to compete at the national level.
- Individual Event Results
Casey Ong, 3rd Place: Advanced Desktop Publishing
Maureen Fay, 14th Place: Fundamentals of Desktop Publishing - Team Event Results
Network Design Team, 4th Place: Micah Sadler and Roman Patrick
Visual Design Team, 4th Place: Arissa Hampton, Holly Niemeyer, Casey Ong, and Riley Rabe
Computer Animation Team, 5th Place: Aidan Castillo & Isaac Fortner
Broadcast News Production Team, 5th Place: Jake Gist, Jacob Kocurek, & Camdyn Livers
Podcast Production Team, state winner: Sebastian Borges, Jacob Gumm, Harrison McDonald, & Jayson Welch - Virtual Events Results
Multimedia and Promotion, 1st Place: Camdyn Livers
Software Engineering Team, 6th Place: Andrew Hesser, Birt Finney, Sergio Perales, & Richard Dinh
Multimedia and Promotion Team, 7th Place: Sebastian Borges, Jacob Gumm, Harrison McDonald, & Jayson Welch
2D Animation Team, 8th Place: Alexa Lee & Roman Patrick
Branding Team, state winner: Veronica Eade, Valeria Garate, & Alexandria Young
Rockwall High School and Rockwall-Heath High School UIL Texas State Solo and Ensemble Band, Orchestra, Choir, and Piano Students – Students from around the state recently competed at the UIL Texas State Solo and Ensemble Band, Orchestra, Choir and Piano contests in Austin. To qualify for the state contest, students must perform a class one solo or ensemble from memory and earn a superior rating at the region level, which qualifies them to advance to state level competition.
The following students and their directors from Rockwall High School and Rockwall-Heath High School band, orchestra, choir and piano programs earned a superior rating on their solo or ensemble at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest.
- Rockwall-Heath High School –
5 RHHS orchestra students earned a superior rating.
One student, Marco Longoria, earned an outstanding performer award.
28 RHHS Mighty Hawk Band students earned a superior rating. - Rockwall High School –
4 RHS orchestra students earned a superior rating.
10 RHS Orange Wave Band students earned a superior rating.
Two students, Alejandro Martinez and Cody Conn, earned outstanding performer awards.
1 RHS choir student earned a superior rating.
1 RHS Piano student earned a superior rating.
Nebbie Williams Elementary School Principal Named
Adrienne Hergert has served students and staff in public education for sixteen years. Most recently, Mrs. Hergert has provided leadership at Nebbie Williams Elementary as the Assistant Principal. She also served as the Assistant Principal at Billie Stevenson Elementary and as the District Physical Education and Health Lead. In addition to her campus leadership experience, Mrs. Hergert has been a team leader and teacher at Billie Stevenson Elementary. Mrs. Hergert earned a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University and a Master of Educational Administration from Texas A&M Commerce.
Mrs. Hergert’s professional experiences include:
• Elementary Assistant Principal experience at high-performing campuses;
• Extensive experience leading the PLC process and building strong teams;
• Experience leading campuses with a variety of special programs;
• Campus Teacher of the Year;
• Elementary Assistant Principal Mentor; and
• Rockwall ISD Aspiring Principal Academy Participant.
Public Hearing to Discuss the District’s Annual Budget and Proposed Tax Rate for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year
In accordance with the Texas Education Code Section 44.004(c), Board policy CE (Legal), and the Open Meetings Act, the District published the required notices of the date, time, and location of the public hearing to allow for public input on the proposed budget and tax rate for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
Review of Bond Projects Proposed by 2024 Facilities Bond Committee
The 2024 Facilities Bond Committee, comprised of community members, local government representatives, parents, teachers and staff, reviewed needs, long-range facility planning, projected growth and learn about potential funding opportunities in the form of a voter approved tax ratification election. After devoting more than 16 hours of work through seven meetings, the committee presented their recommendation of $1,065,047,000 in proposed bond projects to the Board of Trustees. NOTE: 95% of all recommended bond projects from the Rockwall ISD 2024 Facilities Bond Committee are a direct result of student growth.
Growth: New Construction Projects
Middle School (New)
Cullins Lake-Pointe ES (Replacement)
Three New Elementary Schools (New)
Utley MS Phase 2 Addition
Rockwall High School Renovations
Rockwall-Heath High School Renovations
Growth District-Wide Improvement Projects
Safety & Security Upgrades
Transportation Buses
Technology Updates, Upgrades & Refresh Operations Center
Professional Development & Administration Facility
Growth: Athletics, Fine Arts, CTE Projects
Ag Science Center (New)
Culinary Arts Addition
Cosmetology Addition
JROTC Addition
Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium Renovations & Additions
Fine Arts Upgrades, Replacements & Expansion
Capital Projects
Classroom Furniture
HVAC Replacements
Roof Replacements
Playground Upgrades
Electrical Upgrades
Plumbing Upgrades
Efficiency Audit
Texas Education Code, Section 11.184, 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.
In accordance with those requirements, the District has successfully complied with the following:
o The school district must pay for the costs associated with the efficiency audit;
o The board of trustees must select an auditor to conduct an efficiency audit no later than four months before the date on which the district proposed to hold the election;
o The district auditor must maintain independence from the district;
o The efficiency audit must be completed no later than three months after the date the auditor was selected; and,
o The efficiency audit presented by Weaver complies with all of the formatting and disclosure requirements set forth by TEC Section 11.184.
Next steps include the District holding a public hearing in July to discuss the results of the efficiency audit.
Approval of the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Annual Operating Budget for the General Fund, Child Nutrition Fund and the Debt Service Fund
The Board of Trustees adopted the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Annual Operating Budget for the General Fund, Child Nutrition Fund and Debt Service Fund. The adopted budget will be posted on the Rockwall ISD website.
Approval of Employee Pay During Emergency Closure Due to Electrical Outage and Storm Weather
Rockwall ISD, acting in the best interest of the health and safety of students and staff, ordered the emergency closures of all district facilities on May 28-29, 2024. Per Board policy DEA (LOCAL), the Board of Trustees approved a resolution continuing wage payments to all regular employees for those workdays affected by the closure.
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Annual Update
The Board received the annual SHAC update that included meeting dates and accomplishments. The SHAC committee is comprised of parents, community members, teachers, administrators and district staff members in compliance with policy EHAA (LEGAL).
Approval of Delegating Contractual Authority from June 18, 2024, to August 30, 2024, to Make Bona Fide Offers of Employment and to Extend Contracts
Per Rockwall ISD Board Policies BAA (LEGAL) and DC (LEGAL), the Board of Trustees delegated contractual authority to the Superintendent or his designee during the peak employee-hiring season in order to expedite the hiring process. This recommendation is in alignment with Rockwall ISD’s staffing goal to attract, recruit, develop and retain high-quality professional staff. The Board retains final authority for employment of contractual personnel.
Press release submitted by Luci Mouton, Rockwall ISD, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News. Courtesy photos.
Update from Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees meeting of June 17, 2024 added by Melanie M on
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