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Rockwall ISD outlines summer programs, sixth-grade move to middle school and Branching Minds rollout
Summary
District academic leaders described summer school offerings, professional learning expectations, plans to move sixth grade into middle schools for 2025–26, the opening of Rayco (Ursula Raycomb) Middle School and a proposed Branching Minds intervention platform to be presented for approval in June.
Rockwall ISD academic leaders on Tuesday provided an update on summer 2025 programs, professional learning for staff and a multi‑year plan to move sixth graders into middle schools beginning next fall.
Dr. Gist told trustees the district will offer elementary and secondary summer school programs in June and July including enrichment camps, remediation and credit‑recovery opportunities. She said Summer ROCK currently has about 150 students enrolled at Amanda Rochil Elementary School and described enrichment options such as Arts Blast, Drama Kids, Musical Minds and two robotics camps (Blackhawk and VEX IQ) held at the Dr. Jean Burton College and Career Academy.
On staffing and professional learning, Dr. Gist said 187‑day and 197‑day employees must earn 30 exchange hours over the summer in exchange for permitted leave days in October and November. Completion of annual compliance training before contract start earns nine of those hours, and staff may participate in a mix of in‑person and virtual training opportunities.
A major operational change is moving sixth grade into middle school. Dr. Gist said principals, curriculum coordinators and facilities staff have been planning bell schedules, curriculum adjustments, orientation events for families, and the physical transfer of materials. “We’ve been carefully planning with our principals to welcome our sixth graders to middle school,” she said. The district also told trustees it expects to open Ursula Raycomb (Rayco) Middle School in mid‑June after final facility walkthroughs.
On intervention systems, the administration previewed Branching Minds, an evidence‑informed program intended to streamline multi‑tiered systems of support (MTSS) and intervention planning. Dr. Gist said approximately 2,600 elementary students received tier‑3 supports in 2024–25 and that Branching Minds is used by about 28 districts in Texas. Staff plan to bring a recommendation and purchase request for Branching Minds to the board in June and provide summer training to staff if approved.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about credit recovery delivery (Dr. Gist said it will be primarily online via Edgenuity), the timeline for facility readiness at Ursula Raycomb Middle School, and how staff exchange hours are tracked. The board praised staff for the planning and for efforts to stagger grade reconfigurations over successive years rather than move multiple grades at once.
The academic update was informational; no action was taken. Staff will return with a purchase recommendation and training plan for Branching Minds at the June meeting.
