Board Meeting Recap

The RCISD School Board held a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday March 10, 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

Each month, students from across Royse City ISD are invited to lead the school board and guests in the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas. Students know these by heart as they recite them at every school at the beginning of every school day. Paula Walker Elementary Students led the way this month. They were: 1st Grade Harper Rodriguez, 2nd Grade Eilee Browder, 4th Grade Sasha Browder, 4th Grade Ethan Huckaby & 5th Grade Max Cronkhite.

The board heard an update on the district’s construction schedule for projects in the May 2023 Bond Election. Property tax relief laws implemented after Royse City ISD’s Bond Election as well as a decrease in property tax growth in Royse City ISD have contributed to decisions to pause Magness Middle School and delay other projects until bonding capacity allows them to resume. Click here for more information.

Principal Teresa Atkins and Assistant Principal Erika Manning shared a spotlight video with the board and guests showcasing the important work happening in year one of Paula Walker Elementary School. Also in attendance was the school's namesake. Mrs. Atkins shared the many culture building activities that have occurred since opening in August of 2024. A strong community of family supporters and a supportive Waterscape development have welcomed Paula Walker Elementary with open arms. She also bragged about a talented teaching staff that embraces professional learning communities with the goal of growing every single student.

Varsity Cheer Coach Kara Williams presented the board with a variety of accolades from her squad for the 2024-2025 school year thus far. National Cheer Association performances this year landed them 2nd Place for Rally Team, 6th Place for Game Day Small Varsity, Major Mascot Award and 1st Place Champions in Game Day Rally! Additionally, the athletes and a group of volunteer parents visited New Year last fall where RCHS performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Congratulations to these hardworking and spirited student athletes.

• Kaylee Arrowood
• Easton Boysen
• Addie Coleman
• Jalyssa Gutierrez
• Larkin Hall
• Landry Howell
• Ava Jobe
• Jaycee Keeton
• Logan Lamb
• Jayden Mosley
• Bella Reed
• Laney Russell
• Riley Skinner
• Devin Theobalt
• Keylee Thorn
• Emily Vargas
• McKenzey Wagner
• Sydni Youngblood

Director of Bands Jason Webb along with RCHS Mighty Bulldog Band Drum Majors Faith Macharia, Jada Niensted, Adeline Myers and Kathryn Knickerbocker attended the meeting to share the successes of the 200+ member band program. Accolades from the year include:

• 1st Division Ratings at UIL Region 3 Marching Contest for 10th straight year
• Tied for 10th (finished 11th) out of 21 bands at the 6A Area C Marching Contest (highest finish in 6A ever)
• Most ever participants in UIL All-Region tryouts and UIL Solo & Ensemble in school history
• 17 RCHS Band students qualify for spots in the All-Region Band
• 6 RCHS Band students qualify for the 6A Area Band (most ever in 6A for RCHS)
• Concert groups are currently working towards their UIL Concert and SR evaluations in April
• The RCHS Mighty Bulldog Band is expected to grow by more than 25 students next year.

"The RCHS Band Program’s successes in competition, recruiting, community involvement, and creating young, well-rounded, talented, musicians and people is due to our student leadership. They encourage others, they create meaningful and lasting relationships, and they push one another to create high quality art while making wonderful memories through music that will last a lifetime," said Mr. Webb. "We are so proud of our student leadership and these 4 young ladies and their drive to serve others and be examples for students for years to come."

Director of Choral Activities Nathan White proudly recognized Zadyn Smith as the second student in school history to earn the all-state title. Zadyn Smith performed with the Texas All-State Tenor-Bass Choir in San Antonio on Saturday, February 15, at the Henry B. González Convention Center as part of the 2025 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention.

Mr. White remarked, "This was Zadyn’s first time performing as a member of a TMEA All-State organization and only the second time a Royse City High School Choir member has been named to an All-State ensemble. Zadyn’s parents are Whitney Calhoun and Joshua Smith. Zadyn’s successes are not only a reflection of his own work but show the power of families, a community, and a school district that share a vision of excellence."

High school students selected to perform in All-State concerts have competed in a multi-level adjudication process, beginning with about 70,000 students from around the state vying for this honor to perform in one of 18 ensembles. All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can achieve. Only the top 2.6% of musicians who initially audition become All-State musicians.

Royse City ISD Athletics was proud to recogize the below students in front of the school board and guests at the meeting. To be named to the Academic All-State team in Texas, a student must meet certain requirements, including GPA, class rank, and moral character.

• GPA
• Have a grade point average of at least 92 or above
• All GPAs must be on a 100-point scale
• Weighted GPAs are accepted
• Receive an additional 10 points for advanced placement or honors classes

Honored were:

• Katelynn Bates - Cross Country
• Nash Jones - Cross Country
• Callie Godinez - Cross Country
• Alayna Howard - Volleyball
• Kylee McCoy - Volleyball
• Luke Marking - Football
• Braylon Chapman - Football
• Ensley Joseph - Football

Earlier this month, Chief Financial Officer Byron Bryant was elected vice president of the Texas Association School Business Officials. He was first elected to TASBO's board of directors in 2022 before seeking an officer position. He will serve as vice president for one year, then president elect and ultimately president in 2027. Bryant has served in Royse City ISD since 2018. Read the full story here.

Dr. Amy Anderson recognized five outstanding staff members who serve on the district's "Road Team" in times of inclement weather. She noted that while much of the district is at home asleep, these dedicated individuals are out checking roads, bridges and walkways around the district to inform leadership of real-time conditions. Each was presented with a Royse City beanie as a show of appreciation. They are Troy Burke, Cody Cox, Jim Lawson, Dr. Juan Solis and Michael Summers.

The district looks forward to celebrating the service of Place 6 Trustee Dr. Brian Zator who elected to roll off of the board at the conclusion of his term in May. Dr. Zator served on numerous committees and fervently supports students, staff and leadership. He first joined the board in 2013.

In Place 6, one candidate filed to enter the race. Mrs. Cindi Jobe was certified as an unopposed candidate and will be sworn into office in May of 2025. She has lived in the district since 2004. She is the proud parent of a current RCHS student and longtime director of the Royse City ISD Education Foundation.

In Place 7, Trustee Jessica Ratterree filed to keep her place on the board and was unopposed. She first joined the board in 2022. She is the proud parent of two Royse City ISD students and avid supporter of public education.

District-wide enrollment stands at 10,037 students which is slightly down from February's meeting. However, overall district growth continues. The district recently received the fourth quarter of 2024 report from a 3rd party demographer showing a slowing of new home starts and closings from previous years. Interest rates and inflation changes contribute to fluctuations in housing trends.

The district now ranks 16 in DFW for annual new home closings with nearly 3,000 vacant developed lots approved for future residences. Forecasts continue to show that Royse City ISD will add 800 to 1,000 students annually.

Bond issuance is underway for many projects in Bond 2023. The district’s 8th elementary school, Sara Moss Elementary, is well-underway in the Creekside development. Moss Elementary will open in August of 2025. Visible progress can be seen along FM 552 in Fate for Worthy Fate High School.

As referenced earlier in this publication, some adjustments, pauses and delays in construction are being implemented as the district studies housing trends, property valuations from the counties and legislative measures that further impact bonding capacity. You can find month-by-month updates on Bond 2023 and recently completed Bond 2021 at https://www.rcisd.org/page/growth.

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

Communications Office

communityrelations@rcisd.org

ayudaenespanol@rcisd.org