[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6455475,"mediaKeyId","5811825-08530285962051a3b2e2a99016be9b63","parentId",5811825,"title","Rockwall ISD trustees approve contracts, waivers and security resolution; nomination to appraisal district board confirmed","audioSeconds",688,"startMs",2650000,"endMs",3338000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811825-08530285962051a3b2e2a99016be9b63&start=2650&end=3338","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811825-08530285962051a3b2e2a99016be9b63/thumbnail_2650000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6455475/Texas/Rockwall-ISD-trustees-approve-contracts-waivers-and-security-resolution-nomination-to-appraisal-district-board-confirmed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455475-e6b1d32e3ab5bc11b21507aaf1d86314/orig.mp4?Expires=1770718915&Signature=P~62YJBYCS-esZYNu0WgnOTuRuZjKecC1VOtHs64mJEub5ziJ9oxLRY1Y0alMICxBRGYlD5CwstTQIbBEHnFTdsCA~kjr3FTkB8nEDeB~T3LaK-R6t0ExmlbvlSwrKAAxPrIynPOSlcCvS4Clpv3RBykDm5ryApP7JKADTyo6rLIwt43ejCmMImPKc2RQaNvFMo01VCVuesUobNc0Smdo8wmCgnXQlPgLNNyP2y2MiUm9ZIASnMSHy9lpnTT-vawcY6kjbuj1FwY5gkPTkiTob8psjOTyYb54UubgTS8y9pLUK9n98ktgLMna-KNXRzxch6D9BA~zBCZKN7ps8Lv5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rockwall ISD","date","2025-09-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Rockwall Independent School District Board of Trustees approved multiple administrative and financial items at its Sept. 22 meeting. Most items were approved by unanimous voice vote with little discussion. Key actions taken by the board included:

Chromebook and desktop contract (CSP2425.06-002): Administration recommended awarding a contract to Riverside (Riverside Technologies) for Chromebooks and desktops for Garcia, Hamm, Hayes, Reinhardt and Shannon elementaries. The presentation stated the lowest responsive proposal was $1,454,518.75 and that funding will come from the 2021 bond program. The board approved the contract; a motion to accept as presented was made and seconded and the vote was recorded in favor (6-0-0).

Audio-visual upgrades (CSP2425.06-01): The district solicited proposals for audiovisual upgrades for Garcia, Hamm and Reinhardt elementaries. One vendor, Lockstep Technology, submitted a proposal in the amount of $420,564.23. Administration compared unit pricing to prior similar procurements and recommended award. The board approved the recommendation (voice vote recorded 6-0-0).

Project completion — Herman E. Utley Middle School: The board accepted final project completion for the Utley Middle School renovation. The presenters said the original contract award to Northstar Builders Group totaled $15,896,883; a deduct change order of $541,928 was applied, yielding a final contract amount of $15,354,955. The board approved project closeout and authorization for the senior chief finance officer to execute final payment (approved 6-0-0).

Nomination to Rockwall Central Appraisal District (RCAD) board: The board approved a resolution nominating Cedric Thomas to serve on the Rockwall County Central Appraisal District board of directors. The administration said there is no budgetary impact and the district must submit nominees by Oct. 15 per Texas Property Tax Code Section 6.03. Trustees adopted the resolution by voice vote (6-0-0).

Join 1GPA purchasing cooperative: The board approved joining the 1GPA purchasing cooperative for the 2025–26 school year. Administration said there is no charge to participate and any purchases would use existing contracts; approval recorded 6-0-0.

Texas Education Agency class-size waivers: Administration presented teacher-to-student maximum class-size waivers for pre-K through 4th grade based on enrollment as of Sept. 5; the district presented 28 waivers on Sept. 5 (the presenter said this count is lower than last year’s 39 at the same point). The board approved submitting the waivers to the Texas Education Agency as presented (6-0-0).

Renewal of good-cause exception for armed security (HB 121 compliance): The board reviewed and renewed an alternative standard (a \"good cause exception\") allowing Rockwall ISD to use retired law enforcement officers and other contracted armed security personnel at campuses where commissioned peace officers or SROs are not available. Administration referenced Texas Education Code Section 37.0814 and recent changes introduced by House Bill 121 that require an annual renewal. Trustees approved the renewal and adopted an accompanying resolution (6-0-0).

Contracts for election services: The board authorized contracts for election services with Rockwall County, Kaufman County and Collin County for the Nov. 4, 2025 election (the presentation noted early voting Oct. 20–30). Trustees approved the contracts (6-0-0).

Consent agenda: Minutes, financial information, personnel actions, off-campus physical activity programs and district educational improvement committee approvals were included on the consent agenda and approved by the board (6-0-0).

Several items presented were funded from the district’s 2021 bond authorization; administration noted funding sources on the relevant slides. The board took votes by voice or raised-hand roll call and recorded each item as approved with a 6-0-0 tally unless otherwise noted.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rockwall ISD - Board of Trustees","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees approved multiple contracts, project closeouts, class-size waivers, a security resolution and a nomination to the county appraisal district board at the Sept. 22 Rockwall ISD meeting.","taxTitle","ROCKWALL ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14327,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6455480,"Rockwall ISD board approves District of Innovation amendments affecting grievances, parent conferences and instructional plans",166,1460000,1626000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811825-08530285962051a3b2e2a99016be9b63&start=1460&end=1626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811825-08530285962051a3b2e2a99016be9b63/thumbnail_1460000.jpg","/articles/6455480/Texas/Rockwall-ISD-board-approves-District-of-Innovation-amendments-affecting-grievances-parent-conferences-and-instructional-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455480-bb0e963312150ee43a3bcc5536c4abe4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770718915&Signature=Au6pTxI32OO0L3kMkA5JKHENlohBaqoD8gmDqlW18YHnPpcrnWKey1CY04ZIe62GhzJBkcN8TsrSvYptj5vkhY3o7x-2f120~22jL65ARbRi9ThednpjxjXo-KfLNAtqjF3BZWSaOGM-CuAd6A-8sxU2coWyLadC2CDISm17nr00ReQdA9C1tvyPspZyQUt~8KMdN9RiYTxVw-9otmiRmVZcG~Fx8G6aQTt~5iMV7OYy2cfRtvw7TqkK8rSIxj4VaO0P-UMzsssWd5iAvyl5955WrHJa-EixJyz82g5m09An8~aDVGgIQ-3Az0BmOBs1tFItnLZGwd9bWk3YLkt6rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rockwall Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Sept. 22 to adopt proposed amendments to the district's District of Innovation (DOI) plan that formally document the district's existing practices for grievance timelines and procedures, parent conferences and instructional plans.

Dr. Gist, presenting the item, said the DOI resolution originally passed in 2017 and was renewed in 2022; the proposed amendments were approved by the district-level committee on Aug. 26 and are intended to allow the district to continue current practices following recent state legislation.

Specifically, the amendments would:

- Allow the district to continue adhering to established grievance procedures and timelines as outlined in local board policies DGBA, FNG and GF.
- Require teachers to offer at least one parent conference per year on the campus calendar and permit additional conferences at the request of parent or teacher.
- Maintain that Rockwall ISD will provide instructional plans (referred to as parent content guides) for core courses on the district website and produce instructional plans or syllabi for noncore courses upon parent request.

An administrative recommendation that the board approve the amendments was accepted. A motion to approve was made by Board Secretary Stan Bridal and seconded by Dr. Sherry Packer. The board vote recorded a unanimous approval (6-0-0).

The presenters said the amendments are intended to preserve practices already in use at the district and ensure compliance with recent legislation affecting district reporting and parental access to instructional materials.","Trustees voted unanimously Sept. 22 to add three amendments to the district's District of Innovation plan to codify existing practices on grievance timelines, parent conferences and instructional plans.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6455484,"Rockwall ISD public commenter urges board to fight federal suit over Ten Commandments posters",121,230000,351000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811825-08530285962051a3b2e2a99016be9b63&start=230&end=351","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811825-08530285962051a3b2e2a99016be9b63/thumbnail_230000.jpg","/articles/6455484/Texas/Rockwall-ISD-public-commenter-urges-board-to-fight-federal-suit-over-Ten-Commandments-posters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455484-6a20d1a31bb8566ddbb2b7b632d85e86/orig.mp4?Expires=1770718915&Signature=LUqrl3Bz7px4ftR-YE0mM0l2-8dIBhFUpRKgMEBQG0h2o0F0trewFrlnvm2o1-1aY5PXySxdXfGumYlYnLFFotv3d3TiGjrWx18~PmH-VOjLFTsWLtRkmx2DkivNjrehY9Hr9INR9eFvc7gdFQYPECENLLwOnXpEf35q-beS-LKt7KPwU9w9mvjeA~Bxs8~DnXdwHSmcF227PwTvFpwi4BUrRqKDxiCtfwSzw7XFadnr3OZKXRnvKWr1P9lRYP9d-Aj26tV9rTwHnFJMNRqFajM7s6-WKbq70DNBx645bBnexAo9z1aSu0CAA9bQpVALHRIzOGnToNZLXBMrp2ctiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lauren Lichty, a Heath resident and Rockwall ISD parent and district resident since 1986, told the Board of Trustees on Sept. 22 that she and family members purchased 1,500 posters of the Ten Commandments that have been placed in district classrooms and are now the subject of a federal lawsuit naming Rockwall ISD as a defendant.

\"I am here today to ask you to take all actions necessary to fight the lawsuit and to defend our freedom of speech and our national heritage,\" Lichty said during public comment, and read the text of the Ten Commandments aloud to the board.

The speaker said she was informed that a new lawsuit had been filed in federal court and that the suit seeks removal of the posters. She described seeing displays of the Ten Commandments in public schools during her childhood and said she wants the board to resist what she characterized as efforts to \"frustrate the will of the people of the state of Texas and our duly elected representatives.\"

Cindy Brown introduced Lichty to the board; both indicated they are residents of the district. The board did not take any formal action during the public comment period and board policy BED(local) limits board deliberation on items not on the agenda, though administrators may review and respond to factual information or existing policy references later, the board said at the meeting.

The district did not provide immediate comment at the meeting about the lawsuit or about whether any administrative steps would be taken. The transcript indicates Lighty said she understood a lawsuit had been filed in federal court and asked the board to \"take all actions necessary\" to defend the displays.","At the Sept. 22 Rockwall ISD board meeting, a longtime district resident told trustees that a newly filed federal lawsuit seeks removal of Ten Commandments posters from classrooms and urged the board to defend the displays.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rockwall ISD trustees approve contracts, waivers and security resolution; nomination to appraisal district board confirmed

Rockwall ISD board approves District of Innovation amendments affecting grievances, parent conferences and instructional plans

Rockwall ISD public commenter urges board to fight federal suit over Ten Commandments posters