Round Rock ISD community members Kris Parker and David Hansen will serve as chair and co-chair of the 2018-2019 Citizens Bond Committee, the District announced today.
Over the past month, Round Rock ISD community members have had the opportunity to volunteer for the committee in order to assist in evaluating and prioritizing projects for a potential Bond Election in November 2018 or May 2019. Round Rock ISD’s Board of Trustees approved an initial Citizens Bond Committee (CBC) Charter during its January 18, 2018, regular meeting and updated the Charter at a February 15, 2018 meeting.
Forming a committee is the next critical step in determining which capital needs should be addressed by the Board and potentially creating a Bond proposal to fund new facilities, safety and security, technology, infrastructure, and capital renewal and replacement.
The CBC will be comprised of three subcommittees:
- The Districtwide Subcommittee will focus on safety, technology, and instructional programs that impact the entire district.
- The Growth Subcommittee will focus on facility needs to address growth and overcrowding, including new schools, land, additions, renovations.
- The Capital Renewal and Replacement Subcommittee will focus on critical components of existing facility infrastructure.
More than 250 people volunteered to serve on the CBC and each member of the Board of Trustees recommended candidates to serve in leadership positions. In addition to Parker and Hansen, the Board appointees are:
- Amber Feller, District-wide Subcommittee Chair
- Pauline Law, District-wide Subcommittee Vice Chair
- Fabian Cuero, Growth Subcommittee Chair
- Melissa Vandermeer, Growth Subcommittee Vice Chair
- Mary Marsden, Capital Renewal and Replacement Subcommittee Chair
- Trip Seibold, Capital Renewal and Replacement Subcommittee Vice Chair
The following six appointees will work with the three subcommittees to lead the work of the more than 250 volunteers through the CBC process:
- Claudio Cruz
- David G. Schmidt
- Jarrad Breneck
- Katrena Plummer
- Yi Dai
- Kristin Stevens
CBC subcommittees will meet to review presentations and information and create a report of their findings and recommendations for the Board of Trustees. The CBC is expected to update the Board in April and provide a recommendation at that time on whether the Board should consider an election in November 2018 or May 2019.
The CBC will propose and prioritize projects based on the following criteria:
- Safety and security
- Demographics and growth
- Financial efficiency
- District vision, strategic plan, and learning framework
“We are not only seeking community input, we are pursuing a community-driven process to identify our District’s needs and ensure we are creating and sustaining an environment where students become lifelong learners and creative thinkers,” Board President Diane Cox said. “We know our community takes pride in an exceptional, student-focused public education system and, as Trustees, we look forward to partnering with our community members to chart a course for the future.”
A separate committee of volunteers recently convened over the course of three meetings to refresh the District’s Strategic Plan, Learning Framework and Vision Statement. The results of that work will be made public for community input in the near future and several members of the Strategic Refresh Committee will also serve on the CBC, bridging the important work of both.
“We are thrilled that parents, staff, citizens and even students of Round Rock ISD are enthusiastically participating in this process,” Superintendent of Schools Steve Flores, Ph.D., said. “Round Rock ISD is a special place with extraordinary students and, as superintendent, it is my primary goal to foster a system of public education that continues to evolve, improve and push boundaries. Our community demands no less and we are determined to deliver.”
