The Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees discussed the middle school attendance zone proposal, approved the Round Rock ISD District of Innovation (DOI) plan, reviewed the annual School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) and recognized the success of 35 outstanding campuses for earning TEA distinctions at its Oct. 20 regular meeting.

Board discusses middle school attendance zone proposal, prepares for Nov. approval
The District presented its updated middle school attendance zone proposal, including amendments to the initial proposal following the public comment period. The amended proposal would relieve Cedar Valley, Chisholm Trail and Walsh middle schools. It realigns all of Fern Bluff Elementary School with Chisholm Trail Middle School and all of Old Town Elementary School with Walsh Middle School. There are no changes to current elementary or high school changes as part of this proposal. The updated proposal aligns the Northwoods at Avery Ranch subdivision and apartment complexes around Parmer Lane East of US 183 to Pearson Ranch Middle School. Forest North Elementary School will also feed into Pearson Ranch. Joe Lee Johnson Elementary STEAM Academy and Wells Branch Arts Integration Academy will feed into Deerpark. Board discussion included possible adjustments to continue sending students North of Grand Avenue Parkway to Chisholm Trail and students in the Highland Horizons subdivision to Cedar Valley Middle School. The Board of Trustees is scheduled to take action regarding the proposal at its November 17 regular meeting. [ATTENDANCE ZONE PRESENTATION]

Final accountability results presented, campus distinctions recognized
The Board recognized 35 Round Rock ISD schools for earning distinctions aligned with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Accountability Ratings. Dr. Cathy Malerba, Round Rock ISD executive director of assessment and evaluation presented the final accountability results for the District. Round Rock ISD earned a total of 113 distinctions and all campuses received a rating of “met standard” overall. The District also received a majority of “exemplary” ratings in the Community and Student Engagement self-rating system. A 100 percent dropout prevention rate, a 98 percent rating in fine arts and a 90 percent rating in digital learning were among the top successes in the District’s Community and Student Engagement ratings. [ACCOUNTABILITY PRESENTATION]

Board reviews administration response to SHAC annual report
Round Rock ISD presented its administration response to the annual SHAC report, which consists of recommendations to improve health processes at District campuses. The recommendations included:

  • add a full-time counselor for drug and alcohol prevention and intervention services;
  • keep seventh and eighth grade students together during health class;
  • keep health as an elective course for high school, not a graduation requirement; and
  • hire a social/emotional learning coordinator to implement programs.

[SHAC ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE]

Board approves District of Innovation plan
Flexibility and opportunities for more enrichment and courses are expected to come to Round Rock ISD students after the Board of Trustees approved its District of Innovation (DOI) plan at its Oct. 20, 2016, regular meeting. The Board approved a plan to exempt RRISD from seven laws under the Texas Education Code: Teacher Certification for Hard-to-Fill Areas, First & Last Day of Instruction, Minimum Minutes of Instruction, Minimum Attendance for Credit, Teacher Mentors, Class size limits for Kindergarten through Fourth Grade and Kindergarten Start Age. Now the District will work to draft local policies for each of its exempted areas to enact changes for the upcoming school year. With the approval, RRISD will need to notify the Texas Education Agency (TEA) of its plan and conduct annual reviews. [DOI PRESENTATION]