On June 19, the Round Rock ISD board of trustees adopted the 2014–15 general operating budget of $361.1 million.

The budget includes a surplus of $203,919 and an $18 million increase for salaries for positions including teachers, librarians, staff for Success High School and special education staff, according to budget documents. Chief Financial Officer Randy Staats said the district is expecting an additional 862 students in 2014–15.

In 2013–14, the trustees adopted a budget of $339.4 million.

Staats said the property tax rate will be set in September. Because of the recent passage of the $299 million bond package by voters, residents will see the increased property tax in September 2015, he said.

The property tax increase for the average homeowner with a median-valued home of $200,264 after homestead exemption will be about $42.60 per year or $3.55 per month, according to the district. The budget report is available on the district's website in board meeting materials from the June 19 meeting.

Trustee Terri Romere, who sits on the district's Facilities Committee, said administration recommends that the first bonds be sold in January 2015.

"I believe that the consensus of the Facilities Committee was that it would be prudent for us to delay that because of the discussion of the cost of the capital of having the bond funds before we needed them," Romere she said.

The committee is discussing projects for a three-year master plan and the committee will also consult Tim Strucley—RRISD's director of Facilities and Construction—to discuss a five-year schedule for capital replacement and renewal in a future meeting, she said.

New administration

Also during the June 19 meeting, the trustees approved new principals for three schools:

  • Anthony Watson will serve as principal for Stony Point High School. Watson is currently the principal for Hopewell Middle School and began his career at Austin ISD as assistant principal at Reagan High School.
  • Travis Mutscher, principal at Hernandez Middle School, will serve as Ridgeview Middle School's principal. He started his career as assistant principal at Ridgeview, where he worked for four years.
  • Kelley Hirt will serve as Chandler Oaks Elementary School's principal. Hirt has been the principal of Brady Elementary School for the past 13 years and also has five years of teaching experience.

Construction update

Construction on Phase 3 of the Round Rock High School Master Plan is expected to be completed July 1, and Success High School is estimated to be completed July 15. For more information on these projects and other construction throughout the district, visit www.roundrockisd.org/departments/construction.