$256,820,000 Bond Package Developed By 60-Member Citizens Committee After Five Months Of Extensive Study & Analysis
(ROCKWALL, TX – August 18, 2015) By a tally of 7-0, the Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees voted to place a $256,820,000 bond referendum on the upcoming November ballot. The election will be held November 3rd with early voting running from October 19th through October 30th.
The bond package was developed by a facilities committee comprised of parents, grandparents, teachers and business leaders from across the Rockwall ISD community. Directed by a professional facilitator, the 60-member committee reviewed financial data, current academic needs, projected student growth, modern technology and security upgrades, and toured existing campuses. After a little more than five months of extensive study, which started in January of this year, the facilities committee came to a consensus on the proposed bond package.
Broken down by facility, a detailed listing of the projects to be funded by the bond referendum is provided below.
“The Rockwall ISD bond package is designed to impact every student with new and renovated schools, basic maintenance and capital upgrades, technology and security updates, new buses and sports fields, and a College and Career Academy,” said Jeff Bailey, Rockwall ISD Superintendent.
The College & Career Academy will be a part of the STEM program for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The College & Career Academy will maintain between 800 to 1,000 students throughout the day providing both high schools with space for additional enrollment capacity on their existing campuses. The Academy will also be used by Texas A&M Commerce and Collin College for college course work for students and adults.
The Academy will offer pathways designed to provide students with an opportunity to explorer career options and professional certifications. A partial listing of the available career pathways at the Academy includes medical and nursing, culinary arts and restaurant management, computer maintenance and repair, video game design, engineering, audio and video production, graphic design, our legal system, architecture and marketing.
“Rockwall ISD strives to provide our students with a diverse array of educational and career opportunities,” added Linda Duran, RISD School Board President. “The College & Career Academy is designed to give a head start to our next generation of scientists, teachers, engineers, medical professionals and entrepreneurs.”
To minimize the tax impact, the Board of Trustees will use existing district funds to pay for technology initiatives. When combined with the likely passage of the constitutional amendment providing for a larger homestead exemption, the tax impact will be less than $10 per month on a $250,000 home, an increase that will be phased in over a 4 year period. Citizens 65 years of age and over will see no increase above their capped level.
Rockwall ISD has grown by 2,500 students since 2007, with future growth projected to remain just as robust. For each of the past 8 years, the RISD property tax rate has either stayed the same or been reduced, earning Rockwall ISD numerous awards for transparency and financial management. Rockwall ISD’s current tax rate is the lowest it’s been in the past 20 years.
The mission of Rockwall ISD, a diverse and unified community embracing endless learning possibilities, is to inspire and develop the unique abilities of our children to become passionate learners, extraordinary citizens and authentic leaders of the 21st century by cultivating an engaging learning environment based on high standards and expectations in a culture of kindness and compassion.
The Rockwall ISD administration is available to answer any questions about the bond referendum. To schedule an informative presentation for local clubs or organizations, contact Renae Murphy at 972-771-0605.
2015 Rockwall ISD Bond Referendum Projects By Facility
Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Upgrade kitchen equipment
Electrical system upgrades
Teacher & student computer replacements
Carpet replacement
New buses
Dobbs Elementary School
Construction of new school
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Teacher & student computer replacements
New buses
Hartman Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Electrical system upgrades
Teacher & student computer replacements
Replace gym floor
Carpet replacement
New buses
Hays Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Teacher & student computer replacements
New buses
Jones Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Electrical system upgrades
Teacher & student computer replacements
Carpet replacement
Gym floor replacement
New buses
Shannon Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Electrical system upgrades
Teacher & student computer replacements
New buses
Springer Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Electrical system upgrades
Teacher & student computer replacements
Carpet replacement
Replace gym floor
New buses
Stevenson Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Teacher & student computer replacements
New buses
Williams Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
HVAC improvements
Electrical system upgrades
Teacher & student computer replacements
Roof replacement
Upgrade kitchen equipment
Carpet replacement
Replace gym floor
New buses
Cain Middle School
Safety & security upgrades
Electrical system upgrades
Technology improvements
Roof replacement
On-campus roadway improvements
Teacher & student computer replacements
Carpet replacement
New field turf & track replacement
New buses
Parks-Heath Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
HVAC improvements
Roof replacement
Cafeteria addition & renovation
Library renovation
Carpet replacement
Gym floor replacement
New buses
Pullen Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Electrical system upgrades
Roof replacement
Teacher & student computer replacements
Carpet replacement
Replace gym floor
New buses
Reinhardt Elementary School
Major addition and renovation to school
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Teacher & student computer replacements
New buses
Rochell Elementary School
Safety & security upgrades
Technology improvements
Electrical system upgrades
Roof replacement
Teacher & student computer replacements
Upgrade kitchen equipment
Carpet replacement
Replace gym floor
New buses
Utley Middle School
Safety & security upgrades
Electrical system upgrades
Technology improvements
Roof replacement
Teacher & student computer replacements
New buses
Williams Middle School
Safety & security upgrades
Electrical system upgrades
Technology improvements
Teacher & student computer replacements
Carpet replacement
New field turf & track replacement
New buses
Rockwall High School
Safety & security upgrades
Energy management improvements
Electrical system upgrades
Kitchen equipment upgrades
Technology improvements
Teacher & student computer replacements
Carpet replacement
Restrooms improvements
Marching band practice lot construction
Field turf & track replacement
Sports facilities upgrades
New buses
Rockwall-Heath High School
Safety & security upgrades
Electrical system upgrades
Technology improvements
Teacher & student computer replacements
Field turf & track replacement
Sports facilities upgrades
New buses
College & Career Academy
Complete new construction
Rockwall ISD Board unanimously approves bond referendum for Nov ballot added by Editor on
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