At the regular May 27 meeting, trustees unanimously approved a compensation plan that sets the starting salary for teachers at $56,750. The plan includes no salary increases for any staff or teachers beyond what is included in the HB2 Teacher Retention Allotment. The state's TRA funding provides salary increases for teachers moving from their second or fourth years of teaching to their third or fifth years.
Trustees also discussed the possibility of calling for a VATRE, or tax rate election, that would increase the tax rate by 4.5 cents. Trustees are the only ones who can call for the VATRE, the funds from which would provide for a 2% raise for staff and would address salary compression issues.
2026-27 Budget Update
CFO and COO Dennis Covington presented the 2026–27 proposed budget, comprising the M&O, I&S and Food Services budgets.
Budgetary goals have remained the same since the beginning of the process, including:
- protect the classroom
- maintain competitive compensation
- maximize the use of grant funding
- reduce overall expenditures
- balance the budget
Trustees will approve the final proposed budget at the regular meeting on June 16.
F4. 2024 Bond Quarterly Update
Mike Brooks, executive director of bond projects, and Will Pinkerton, Bond Project Manager, provided an update on bond projects, including work beginning this summer. Construction is slated to begin this summer on 12 comprehensive projects throughout the district.
I1. Round Rock High School Concept Plan
Trustees approved the Round Rock High School Concept Plan Development and Phase 1 Construction by a vote of 4-3. The plan builds on the work of the Citizens Bond Committee and includes survey input from nearly 2,000 students, staff, families and community members, as well as feedback from a campus-based stakeholder group of educators, administrators, alumni and parents.
The stakeholder group identified top priorities for the 3,800-student campus, including parking, safety and academic programming. The committee also looked ahead to work that would need to be done in future bonds to fully right-size the school’s academic, athletic and fine arts spaces.
Additional highlights:
Trustees began the evening with the Round Rock ISD Council of PTAs' State of the Council Report and Goal Progress Measure Update: Student Outcomes 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 (Student Wellbeing), presented by Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services Dr. Byron Gerard and Director of Counseling Services Steve Clark.