Board Meeting Recap

The RCISD School Board held a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday July 14, 2025. We aim to keep you informed and up-to-date on board activities with these brief recaps. 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. You may find agendas, complete meeting minutes and school board information at: https://www.rcisd.org/page/board-of-trustees

The Board of Trustees unanimously approved Regina Jackson as the new Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction! With 28 years in education, including 7 years as a principal, Ms. Jackson brings a wealth of experience in instructional leadership and strategic planning. Her focus on developing people and creating supportive systems for teachers will be invaluable as we continue to foster student achievement.

To learn more about Ms. Jackson, visit: https://www.rcisd.org/article/2302597

The Board of Trustees and Cabinet honored the life and legacy of Jim Lawson, a dedicated and respected member of the Royse City ISD family. Mr. Lawson served as the Executive Director of Operations and was instrumental in numerous projects that shaped the district's growth and success. His commitment to the community and his work will be deeply missed. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 8, 2025, at Reflections Chapel at Rest Haven Funeral Home in Rockwall. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions to the Jim Lawson Memorial Scholarship, which will benefit a Royse City ISD student pursuing a degree in Construction Science.

The RCISD Board of Trustees has approved the compensation plan for the 2025-2026 school year.

Highlights of the new plan include starting teacher pay of $60,000, with raises for current teachers ranging from 5-14%. Newly hired teachers with 23 or more years of experience will begin at a salary of $70,000, while returning teachers with the same experience level will exceed that amount. The district also approved a one-time loyalty payment of $1,000 for all annualized staff. For non-teaching staff, the plan includes a 4% increase from the midpoint of their pay scale. Read more about the details here.

The School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) gave a presentation led by RCHS student and SHAC secretary Lily Medlin and chairperson Jeanie Dunlap. They provided an overview of the council's mission to ensure the district's health education program reflects community values. The presentation highlighted SHAC's work in promoting a Whole School, Whole Community, and Whole Child approach to health and learning, as well as its focus on coordinated health programs that include health education, physical activity, mental health, and nutrition. The presentation also touched on the council's priorities for the new school year, including new leadership, a community health festival, and recruitment of new members. SHAC's new leadership team includes Jeanie Dunlap (Chairperson), Dana Benton (Co-Chairperson), and Lily Medlin (Secretary). The council is primarily made up of parents with students currently enrolled in the district who are not employees of RCISD.

Chief Communications Officer April Soderquist presented Strategic Plan 3.0 for board approval.

The Royse City ISD Strategic Plan 3.0 is built on four core priorities:

• Students: With a focus on individual student growth and academic achievement, including College Career and Military Readiness, safety and well-being, and the impact of extracurricular involvement.
• Staff: With a focus on recruitment, retention, and a commitment to provide ongoing training, engagement, and support.
• Community: With a focus on promoting a culture of listening and engagement with families, communities, and civic partners that is meaningful.
• Stewardship: With a focus on financial integrity, transparency, long range facility planning, and facility maintenance and improvement.

The next steps for the plan involve district and campus leaders working together to develop specific objectives, strategies, and results to guide the plan's implementation at the 2025 District Leadership Retreat later this week.

In a joint effort, Royse City ISD and the City of Royse City are showing their support for Kerrville ISD and Superintendent Dr. Brent Ringo, a former RCHS Principal, by lighting the stadium lights and water tower in blue. As floodwaters impacted the area, Kerrville ISD served as a beacon of hope for its community, moving students to safety and supporting families. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kerrville community during this difficult time, as we stand with them from Royse City. Read more here.

As of July 2025, our enrollment is 9,646 students and we have 340 students currently in the queue for the summer enrollment process.

Bond projects are progressing across the district, with several key updates to share. The interior of the new elementary school at Moss is nearing completion, with furniture now being moved in. Construction on Three Rivers Road is complete, while 678 Road remains closed for repairs and is expected to reopen before school starts in August.

At Worthy Fate High School off FM 552, the classroom wing has been fully roofed, and the Ag facility is also well underway. Construction on Magness Middle School was placed on pause earlier this spring and continues to remain on hold for the foreseeable future.

Stay up-to-date with all the details, including month-by-month progress on both Bond 2023 and completed Bond 2021 projects, by visiting our dedicated Growth page: https://www.rcisd.org/page/growth

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 August, 11 2025.

Communications Office

communityrelations@rcisd.org

ayudaenespanol@rcisd.org