Rockdale Independent School District trustees voted to accept a tax rate of 1.3363 per $100 evaluation Monday night at a meeting on the high school campus.
While the rate for this school year is higher than last year’s $1.3183, it falls under the voter approved tax rate which was mandated last year by HB 3 in the Texas Legislature.
Finance Director Genella Korenek said the rate was required to raise about the same amount of money as last year’s to cover expenses of the coming year.
“This amount will be sufficient. It will meet our needs,” she said.
At the new rate, the taxes on a $100,000 home will go up $18 per year, she said.
The board also voted to fund equipment to transform a large room on the high school campus into a conference-center style meeting room.
“It is going to be a nice system,” Superintendent Denise Monzingo told the board, “We are putting in a system we can grow into. It is exciting and something we need. It will be set up as a conference center.
Before the vote, Korenek told members that the current budget would have to be amended to allow her to move funds to pay for the equipment.
She told members she found some wiggle room in the current budget so the amendment would be budget neutral.
The new equipment will include two large display monitors that members in the audience will be able to view and each council member will have a 12-inch monitor in front of them once the equipment is in place,
Pam Kaufmann, assistant superintendent, apprised the board of a number of changes that needed to be made to the district’s local policies that required board approval.
“Every few years we get requests to review board policies. This makes sure what is in the policy is in line with the practice,” she said. “It’s cleaning up our board policy so it reflects what we are doing.”
Principals of the district’s four campuses spoke of how the first six weeks went
Intermediate School Principal Kathy Pelzel said her students are adjusting to life back on campus.
“They acted like they never left,” she said, noting that there are still some students who are studying remotely.
Those that have returned are being really good about wearing their masks, she said.
“Honestly, I don’t think it has been stressful on the kids,” she said.
“This is one year I feel I really have the teachers that want to be here,” Kelly Blair, the junior high principal said. “The teachers are hungry for feedback.”
Elementary School Principal Alesha Eoff said one of the focuses for teachers at her level is reminding the youngsters how to be students.
“We are working on social and emotional learning, teaching them how to be in school again,” she said.
Teachers at the elementary level are also working on reading skills.
Retaining personnel is a focus for Brent Hasselbach, the high school principal.
“We are focusing on a positive culture that makes people want to stay; giving support and training,” he said.
He is also trying to instill in students the importance of making the most of their high school experience.
“The real world is out there and it’s approaching fast,” he said.
Hasselbach told the board that he and several others are cleaning the lunch areas after each of the three lunch periods.
“Our principals have done an amazing job,” Monzingo said.
The board also accepted a 2012 Ford passenger bus from Perry and Perry Builders.
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