Rockwall, TX (August 20, 2024) – 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.
Safety and Security Update
The Student Services Department provided an update on safety and security in response to public comments made during the Board of Trustees Special Session on August 14 regarding the expansion of security camera video storage.
Rockwall ISD has over 1,800 cameras covering 3.5 million square feet of property, with footage stored for 30 to 40 days, depending on camera quality and server capacity.
Public trust is a priority for Rockwall ISD. After discussions between the Operations and Student Services departments, Senior Chief Finance Officer David Carter shared details and cost estimates for expanded storage later in the meeting.
The Board stated that District administration is working with counsel to understand current state legislation related to cameras in early childhood, general education classrooms. Administration is aware of Special Education state law and requirements regarding cameras in the classroom. The Board of Trustees is also reviewing legal options related to providing information to parents regarding student privacy and employees’ entitled to confidentiality under Chapter 21 of the Texas Education Code.
Public Hearing for 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) and Board policy CE (Legal), the District complied with the requirements of the Open Meetings Act, specifically; 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.
Schematic Design Review and Presentation for the New Rockwall ISD Elementary Prototype
District leadership presented the schematic design review for the new elementary prototype. The schematic design is the first phase of basic services for project design. At this stage in a project, the design professional typically describes the project three-dimensionally.
Board Approves Public Utility Easement to the City of Rockwall from the Ouida Springer Elementary School Site
The Board of Trustees approved the terms of a Public Utility Easement Request to the City of Rockwall from the Ouida Springer Elementary School site.
Board Approves Tax Rate for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Requiring Election
The Board of Trustees adopted a tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate, requiring a Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE). The calculation of the total tax rate of $1.1469 is as follows:
0.7869 = Maintenance & Operations Tax Rate
0.3600 = Interest & Sinking Rate
$1.1469 = Total Tax Rate
State law requires the Board to adopt a resolution or ordinance that is specific in language. The Maintenance & Operations (M&O) tax rate is increasing, the 2024 tax rate will effectively be raised by 17.7% percent and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home by approximately $193.43 before taking into account the mandatory homestead exemption of $100,000. The proposed Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate is proposed to increase by $0.0100 to a total of $0.3600 per $100 of valuation. See agenda item Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election and Priorities below for more details about the proposed use of the additional funding provided by the VATRE tax rate.
As school districts adopt tax rates for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the chart below compares tax rates from 2023-2024, showing that Rockwall ISD had the lowest rate. It also includes a comparison of the additional tax cost in dollars for each district based on their tax rates.
Board Approves Order Calling a Special Election to be Held by the Rockwall independent School District Regarding Ratifying a Voter-Approval Tax Rate to be Held by the Rockwall Independent School District, Making Provision for the Conduct of a Joint Election, and Resolving Other Matters Incident and Related to Such Election
Based upon the significant financial challenges facing the District, including but not limited to: teacher and staff compensation, teacher and staff recruitment and retention, staffing for student enrollment growth, unfunded state mandates, and drastic cost increases caused by historic inflation, the Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees approved a recommendation by District leadership to order to call a voter-approval tax ratification election (VATRE) on November 5, 2024, for the following proposition:
PROPOSITION A: “…the Rockwall Independent School District be authorized to levy, pursuant to an order of such board adopted on August 19, 2024, an ad valorem tax rate of $1.1469 per $100 of the taxable assessed valuation of property within the Rockwall Independent School District for the current tax year, being a rate that is comprised of maintenance and operations tax rate of $0.7869 per $100 of such taxable assess valuation…”
Board Approves Order Calling a Bond Election to be Held by the Rockwall Independent School District, Making Provision for the Conduct of a Joint Election, and Resolving Other Matters Incident and Related to Such Election
The Board of Trustees approved an Order calling a Rockwall ISD bond election. Based upon the projects recommended by Facilities Bond Committee, a review of such projects by the District’s bond counsel and financial advisor, required propositions under the Texas Election Code, and discussions with the Board of Trustees at the June 17, 2024, July 15, 2024 and July 29, 2024 school board meeting(s) related to the development of a potential bond order. The Board approved an order to call a bond election to be held on November 5, 2024, for the following propositions:
PROPOSITION B: $787,062,000
For the purposes of designing, constructing, renovating, improving, upgrading, updating, acquiring, and equipping school facilities (and any necessary or related removal of existing facilities), the purchase of the necessary sites for school facilities, and the purchase of new school buses, the retrofitting of school buses with emergency, safety or security equipment, and the purchase or retrofitting of vehicles to be used for emergency, safety, or security purposes. This includes additional funds to expand the storage capacity of the District’s digital video recorder (DVR) systems from 120 to 187 days (see NOTE below for more details regarding the expansion from 30-40 days to 120 days using the District’s fund balance).
PROPOSITION C: $18,656,000
For the purposes of acquiring, improving, and updating instructional technology equipment and technology infrastructure, such bonds to mature serially or otherwise (not more than 5 years from their date) in accordance with law.
PROPOSITION D: $42,960,000
For the purposes of renovating, improving upgrading, updating, and equipping existing District and campus stadium facilities.
TOTAL BOND PROPOSITION: $848,678,000
NOTE: Senior Chief Finance Officer David Carter informed the Board of Trustees that expanding the storage capacity of the District’s digital video recorder (DVR) systems from 30-40 days to 120 days would cost approximately $750,000. The Board expressed a preference to expedite the purchase expanding to 120 days using the District’s fund balance. Carter will present the final cost for approval at the September board meeting. The Board included funds to further extend the capacity to a full school year, or 187 days, in the proposed facilities bond Proposition B.
Board Approves Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election Priorities Including Providing Competitive Compensation for Teachers and Staff, Staffing for Student Growth, and Funding State Requirements
The Board of Trustees approved specific priorities for the VATRE funding if it is approved by the voters. Adopted priorities as follows:
- COMPETITIVE PAY: RETAINING and RECRUITING QUALITY TEACHERS & STAFF
If voters approve the VATRE, Rockwall ISD will increase teacher and staff salaries with competitive compensation, a crucial focus for retaining and recruiting quality educators and support staff who play a vital role in student education. Additionally, Rockwall ISD is experiencing rapid growth, with more families and students moving to Rockwall County. The additional funds from the VATRE will allow the District to hire the necessary staff to meet the increased classroom demand, providing adequate teachers and staff for new schools while maintaining high educational standards. - UNFUNDED MANDATES: FUNDING FOR STATE REQUIREMENTS
If voters approve the VATRE, Rockwall ISD will fund unfunded state requirements. This commitment supports a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff.
While state student allocation funding has been frozen since 2019, Rockwall ISD remains one of the most financially efficient and academically highest performing school districts in the state. However, due to the lack of funding, inflationary pressures, growing student population, state mandated expenditures the district will struggle to maintain this high degree of excellence for the community. A Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election (VATRE), if approved by Rockwall ISD voters, would allow the district to increase its tax rate – which is already the lowest tax rate of any surrounding or peer district – to access additional local tax dollars as well as increased state funding. With this additional funding the district would be able to address the needs of the growing district to maintain the high level of academic and programmatic excellence the community expects.
Board Approves District’s Wealth Equalization Plan for 2024-2025
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.
Press release submitted by Luci Mouton, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News.
Update from Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees meeting of Monday, August 19, 2024 added by Melanie M on
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