Board Meeting Recap

The RCISD School Board held a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, December 8, 2025.

Royse City ISD Board Meetings are held in the Event Center located in the south end of Royse City ISD Stadium at 670 South FM 2642. Board meetings begin at 5:45 and dismiss to closed session after a quorum is established. The regular portion of the meeting begins at approximately 7:00 pm. You may find agendas, complete meeting minutes, and school board information at: https://www.rcisd.org/page/board-of-trustees.

Each month, students from across Royse City ISD are invited to lead the School Board and guests in the pledges to the United States and Texas. This month’s students were fourth graders Brooklyn Murphy and London Murphy, and fifth grader Emilia Cates from Anita Scott Elementary.

Cody Holt, Executive Director of Learning Technologies and C4L, recognized four Royse City High School student interns who were hired in the summer of 2024 to support the opening of the RCISD Event Center and meet the rising demands of after-hour events. This initiative was modeled on the successful Connected for Learning and Chrome Squad programs, viewing the interns as a highly qualified training ground for future technical support. The four interns (CJ Teal, Gbemi Bolarinwa, Christiana Smith, and Walker Abney) worked all summer, learned from the Technology Department, and now provide invaluable support for all RCISD Event Center activities, including board meetings and community events. They also rotate to assist every elementary campus with Chromebox carts and classroom technology, demonstrating the district's commitment to developing student talent and ensuring efficient tech operations.

RCHS Ag teacher Kaelan Drennan recognized the Royse City High School FFA Chapter for their achievements and successes in both Leadership Development Events (LDE) and State Fair Exhibition Categories, highlighting the students' exceptional skills in agricultural science and leadership.

Teams placed highly in LDEs, including Ag Advocacy, AG Issues, and Greenhand Quiz, while several members secured top placements and sales at the State Fair. Noteworthy achievements at the State Fair included a RESERVE Pan American Spot Gilt and a 1st place Blue Ribbon in Ag Mechanics. These results reflect the dedication of the students, their teachers, and the strength of the Royse City FFA program. You can read the full press releases detailing all student recognition and placements here: State Fair News and Leadership Development Events News.

Principal Keith Merritt and his leadership team shared an update with the board spotlighting Anita Scott Elementary's focus on building relationships with families and fostering strong community involvement. The school prioritizes a welcoming environment, creating opportunities for students to connect. The staff reinforces this culture through team building activities like "Sole Mates" and by integrating Capturing Kids’ Hearts, which includes high-fiving students during drop-off to start the day positively.

Principal Tammy Oliver presented Glenda Arnold Early Childhood Learning Center as the dedicated hub for foundational learning in Royse City ISD, serving all Head Start and PreK students in a completely transformed, bright, and fun environment. The ultimate measure of the ECLC's mission is seeing its students leave prepared for success in Kindergarten and beyond.

Chief Financial Officer Byron Byrant announced that RCISD has achieved the highest possible financial accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on its 2025 Schools FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) Report. The district received an "A - Superior Achievement" rating, the highest honor for financial management, with a score of 90 out of 100. This rating, based on an analysis of the district's financial data for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, highlights RCISD's strong commitment to financial stewardship, responsible resource management, and transparency in the use of taxpayer funds.

Chief Communications Officer, April Soderquist, shared the timeline for providing the Board of Trustees ongoing updates to the progress of Strategic Plan 3.0, before highlighting Priority Three and the excitement of Family and Community Engagement (both happening and planned) for RCISD. Stay up-to-date on this important process at: https://www.rcisd.org/page/strategic-planning.

Executive Director of Counseling and Cultural Development, Melanie Acker, presented the remarkable success of Royse City High School's partnership with VU Scholarships, a platform that matches students with early scholarship offers based on academic merit. The senior class has collectively secured over $926 million in potential scholarship opportunities, translating to 18,988 total potential scholarship offers. Royse City High School is the second high school in Texas to utilize this innovative platform, which helps remove financial barriers in the college exploration process and reinforces RCISD's commitment to post-secondary success for all students. Read the full press release for the details on this landmark achievement: https://www.rcisd.org/article/2576872

Kim Crumrine, Executive Director of the Education Foundation presented the most recent success of the 2025 Grant Patrol campaign. A total of 58 grants were awarded, distributing $129,360.88 directly into classrooms across the district. This initiative demonstrated significant reach and impact, benefiting 24,304 students across all grade levels (PreK–12th) and supporting 97 teachers on 12 different campuses. The grants were allocated to individuals, teams, grade levels, campuses, and departments, ensuring cross-grade level and cross-curricular impact. Read the full story here.

District-wide enrollment stands at 10,211 as of the beginning of this week.

Visit our website for more information regarding enrollment, including how to enroll, transfer information, transportation services, and much more!

Stay up-to-date with progress details, including month-by-month reporting on both Bond 2023 and completed Bond 2021 projects, by visiting our dedicated webpage at: https://www.rcisd.org/page/growth, or by listening to the recorded Board Meeting presentations at https://rcisdtx.new.swagit.com/views/761/.

Utilize our new Current Bond Status webpage for the latest detailed information, including this month's Board Work Session video, slideshow, and letter to parents and staff, regarding the three possible scenarios presented at the Board Work Session on December 8th, for potential 2023 Bond Program timeline adjustments.

Stakeholders are encouraged to email bondupdates@rcisd.org with any questions, concerns or ideas related to the presented materials and future construction timeline.

December 19: Early Release

December 22-January 2: Winter Break

January 2026: School Board Recognition Month

January 5-7: Student Holiday/ Teacher Workday

January 12: Regular Board Meeting

January 19: MLK Jr. Day | No School

Thank you for your interest in our school board activities and business of Royse City ISD.

Join us for our next Regular Board Meeting on January 12, 2025.

Communications Office

communityrelations@rcisd.org

ayudaenespanol@rcisd.org