The RCISD School Board held a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 17 with a packed agenda of recognitions and action items. We aim to keep you informed and up-to-date on board activities with these brief recaps. As always, complete minutes from each meeting are publicly posted upon their approval each month for your reference.
CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER NAMED
The Royse City ISD School Board unanimously approved Lorie Squalls for the position of chief academic officer. The position attracted close to 50 applicants from experienced candidates in public education and higher education institutions. Mrs. Squalls brings 24 years of experience beginning as a teacher and advancing to district level leadership. She joins the Royse City ISD Family from Richardson ISD where she served as an area superintendent overseeing 14 campuses within a high school feeder pattern. The chief academic officer position was previously held by current superintendent Dr. Amy Anderson.
On the approval, Superintendent Dr. Anderson stated, “We are thrilled for Mrs. Squalls to join our district family and leadership team. Through an extensive interview process, it was easy to see her love for students, teachers and principals. She demonstrates a passion for curriculum development and professional learning. I’m confident that she will positively impact learning experiences for students through her work in supporting schools, principals and departments.”
FFA PROGRAM STUDENT RECOGNITION
Royse City FFA is the largest Student Led Organization within RCISD, home to more than 560 FFA members ranging from 3rd to 12th grade. Students compete in all facets of FFA which includes the following highest placing students we are recognizing today that met the following criteria of advancing to state, receiving their Lone Star Degree, earning a blue ribbon with Ag mech project, making sale at the county level as well as placing top ten at a State Livestock show. A large number of these students were honored at the board meeting. Click here to read the full story!
SCHOOL BOARD OFFICER ELECTION
Annually, the Royse City ISD School Board convenes to reorganize the board and approve the officer positions. Unanimously, Scott Muckensturm was elected as board president, Dr. Brian Zator was elected as board vice president and Mike Anderson was elected as board secretary. Congratulations to these community volunteers on their positions on the board and continued service to the Royse City ISD community. Click here to read the full story!
RCISD MENTOR PROGRAM
The RCISD Counseling Department established a new student mentor program in 2023-24. In its first year of operation, district employees were partnered with students across the district. A few of those mentors were able to attend the June School Board Meeting in celebration of the new program. According to Director of Counseling Melanie Acker, “The mentor program was created to help students feel they have someone cheering for them…in their corner. We were inspired by this Rita Pierson quote. “ Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be."
ADOPTED 2024-2025 BUDGET
The Royse City ISD School Board unanimously adopted the 2024-2025 budget as presented by Chief Financial Officer Byron Bryant. Total revenue is outlined as approximately $112.5 million with expected expenditures of just over $115 million. The deficit budget of $2.1 million also includes an increase by the district for employee healthcare premiums. The board was in favor of the increase to the district’s contribution to combat inflation rates and protect the previous approved raises for teachers and staff. Mr. Bryant noted that revenues were conservatively budgeted and anticipated increases in enrollment will boost revenue figures as occurred in the previous budget year.
ENROLLMENT UPDATE
Total district enrollment reached 9,533 at the end of the 2023-24 school year which is a growth of 755 students from May 2023 to May 2024.
BOND 2023 UPDATE
Bond issuance is underway for many large projects in Bond 2023. Plans are in the works for Worthy Fate High School off of FM 552 which is expected to open in August of 2027. Groundwork has begun in the Creekside neighborhood off of Highway 66 and east of Ouida Baley Middle School. The school naming process will take place this summer and the campus will open in August of 2025. Plans are also underway for David & Shirley Magness Middle School on FM 35 just south of Royse City High School. That campus will open in August of 2026.
BOND 2021 UPDATE
Paula Walker Elementary School in Waterscape is nearing completion. Furniture delivery is ongoing. The school will open for students in the 2024-2025 school year. The construction of Royse City ISD Event Center (adjacent to RCISD Stadium) is also underway and will eventually be home to community events, school board meetings and district-wide professional development training. The Event Center is slated for completion in September of 2024. A school expansion project at Ouida Baley Middle School is nearing completion to accommodate a growing community. Land purchases continue for future school sites and district facilities.
Thank you for your interest in our school board activities and business of Royse City ISD.