As expected, Rockdale RISD school trustees on Monday dropped the school district tax rate just over four cents.
Board members, meeting in regular session in the Central Administration Building, okayed a $1.3183 tax rate.
That’s down 4.165 cents from the current rate of $1.36.
“It’s actually even .0001 lower than the figure we published in The Reporter ad earlier in the year, due to mandated calculation changes,” Finance Director Genella Korenek said.
Tax rates are only one component of a taxpayer’s bill.
The other is the valuation placed on property by the Milam Appraisal District. There were substantial increases to many homes and businesses in the Rock-dale ISD this year.
LEGISLATION—The RISD budget provides substantial increases in teacher pay, as reported in this newspaper July 25.
The lower tax rate, and pay increases are, in large part, due to legislation passed in the most recent session of the Texas Legislature.
NO HATE—RISD counselors gave presentations about No Place For Hate, a program geared to help students combat bullying so they can be in an environment where they can thrive.
RJH counselor Angela White shared an individual account of what she perceived as a positive effect of the No Place For Hate program with board members.
“I had students of different ethnicities in a room together,” White said. “We started to talk about names that hurt us.
“One student talked about something they had been called and why it hurt them. If it wasn’t for the No Place For Hate program, that student would still be holding that inside,” she said.
TECHNOLOGY—RISD Director of Technology Ken Sweich reported on the technology replacement cycle for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. The three-year plan includes replacing outdated computers, Chromebooks, servers, smartboards and security cameras.
Board members said while this plan was ideal, it would be dependent on whether funds were available to implement the desired program.
PERSONNEL—Hired Monday were San Juana (Johnnie) Diaz, Ashley Evans, Kappel Ramey, Sherri Reed and Kacey Treichel.
The board accepted the resignations of Margie Cook, Kathy Perry and Jessica Janak.
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