Trustees began the evening with a Public Hearing on the Proposed 2026-2027 Budget and Tax Rate, presented by CFO and COO Dennis Covington. Round Rock trustees on Tuesday night unanimously approved a balanced budget for the 2026–27 school year, including compensation increases contingent on the success of a VATRE.

Additional Highlights:
Senior Chief of Schools and Innovation, Natalie Nichols, shared data highlighting student progress in early literacy and early numeracy over the past five years. 

Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Rodrigo Portillo and Coordinator of Advanced Academics and Talented and Gifted Michelle Moak reviewed the Advanced Academic program, TAG and how the district plans to take information from a recent audit of the program to more efficiently allocate TAG staff across the district. 

Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Laura Carlin-Gonzalez provided an update on the district’s Virtual Academy, a new program for high school students across Texas. Students may choose to be fully virtual or hybrid, with hybrid students taking at least four courses online. Enrollment will be capped at 300 students for both full virtual and hybrid.

The board finalized and approved the updated Board Goal 4, Student Wellbeing, starting the 2026–27 school year: “The district will increase the percentage of students who report a positive sense of physical, social and emotional well-being based on an average of the five CASEL core competencies.”

To review all agenda items covered in the June 16 Regular Board Meeting or the Public Hearing, visit our Board Meetings webpage or rewatch the meeting here. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 20.