The Round Rock ISD board of trustees approved an additional $160,000 on Feb. 21 for the design of new safety-related front entry modifications for 13 campuses in the district. On Jan. 17, the board had approved $910,000 to make the same modifications at 23 schools in the district.
Alan Albers, executive director of operations and facilities, said more funds will be requested for the construction, and work on the entryways will take place this summer.
The modifications will require those visiting campuses after the first class period begins to enter through the front office vestibule before proceeding into the main hallways. Visitors will be processed through an identification system that conducts a background check through the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Round Rock Master Plan Phase III update
The board approved Barlett Cocke L.P. as general contractor for the Round Rock High School Master Plan Phase III that will include two academic wings and a new front entrance on Deepwood Drive.
On May 17, the board approved $46.4 million in funding for the project, which comes from the 2006 and 2008 bond elections and general fund balance, according to the district.
The search for a new superintendent
Round Rock ISD Superintendent Jess Chvez announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31, on Jan. 30. During a Feb. 6 specially called meeting, the board decided to use a recruiter to help with the search to find a new superintendent.
District staff will choose a recruiter from a pool of firms to present to the trustees, said Randy Staats, executive director of budget and business services. The board discussed viewing the presentations during a March or April board meeting.
In other news
The board passed a motion that rejects vouchers, taxpayer savings grants, tax credits and other mechanisms that would reduce funding to public education, a topic also taken up by the 83rd Texas Legislature.
Trustee Glen Colby said vouchers would allow parents to use money that would regularly go to a public school district for tuition at a private education institution.
The board received presentations at previous meetings in November and December from organizations both in support of and opposed to vouchers.
Board President Catherine Hanna said one of the reasons she approved the motion is because she does not feel that public tax dollars should go to private education. Colby agreed.
"Vouchers are wrong. Vouchers take money from the public school system," he said. "Vouchers are a subtle form of discrimination, and we need to open our eyes to that."
