Round Rock ISD's board of trustees adopted a $1.3375 per $100 of valuation property tax rate Sept. 18, a 2.2 percent decrease from last year's tax rate of $1.3684.
Because of an increase in property values, residents who have a home valued at $222,614 after homestead exemption may see a rise of $239 in their taxes.
In June the board approved the $361.1 million fiscal year 2014–15 budget, which includes a surplus of $203,919 and an $18 million increase for salaries for teachers, librarians, staff for Success High School and special education staff. The district is expecting an additional 862 students in 2014–15, Chief Financial Officer Randy Staats said at the June meeting.
Health and sex education
The School Health Advisory Council highlighted changes to the district's nutrition and human sexuality education for 2014–15. RRISD's administration received the council's recommendations for curriculum in the spring and implemented changes for the 2014–15 school year.
Per the council's recommendation, the district complied with all new U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements and garnered the bronze HealthierUS School Challenge certification for 32 elementary campuses. The district is also seeking middle and high school certification.
Several changes to the human sexuality education have been made for 2014–15, including requiring permission slips to be signed by parents in order for their children to participate in the class. Permission slips will be sent home with report cards and will be made available on the district's website two weeks prior to instruction. If a child does not have a permission slip, he or she will not participate in sex education, according to SHAC.
Sex education instructors will attend regular training beginning in February 2015. If teachers are unable to attend, alternate training opportunities will be provided.
