Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members,
Spring is a very busy time for Rockwall ISD. It seems that there are so many things to complete as we approach the last months of school. In April, our students will tackle the bulk of their mandated state testing. Our seniors will be gearing up for graduation and we will host kindergarten round-up for those just starting their educational journey. Both our students and staff have recently brought recognition to Rockwall ISD through some outstanding accomplishments. I encourage you to take the time to read in this e-newsletter about our RHS and RHHS Academic Decathlon teams that both did outstanding at the state meet; our Culinary Arts team that placed third at their state meet and our Restaurant Management Team that won state and will represent Texas at the national competition; and staff member Carri Eddy who is a state finalist for secondary principals in the H-E-B Awards of Excellence in Education program.
While great things are happening locally, we are closely watching our State Legislature as they debate several issues that directly impact Texas public schools. We continue to monitor legislation regarding school funding, voucher programs, and private school participation in UIL events. I encourage you to look at the “Legislative Update” section of the Rockwall ISD website to get more information regarding the legislative issues that will impact our schools. In addition, districts across the state recently received an affirmative ruling in the school finance lawsuit that is making its way through the Texas court system. The presiding judge ruled that the current funding system is unconstitutional. The district will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Utley Cafeteria where lawyers representing approximately 90 districts statewide (including Rockwall ISD) will update parents, staff and community members on the progress of the case and what that means on a local level. I encourage each of you to join us for this meeting.
Thank you for being so supportive of our teachers, our students, and our district as a whole. It is a privilege to be superintendent of schools in a community that values public education.
Sincerely,
Jeff Bailey
Superintendent of Schools