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The sole purpose of the newly formed Education Foundation is to benefit the district by providing funds for educational programs and activities which are not funded by the normal operating budget. These funds will be used to facilitate student achievement and skill development, to recognize and encourage staff excellence, and to expand community involvement from individuals, businesses, and civic organizations. Funding priorities will also include support for innovative teaching grants that will provide resources directly to the classroom for teachers to implement exciting new educational programs. The grand process is being established and teachers and staff will be eligible to participate in requesting funds this spring.

The Rockdale ISD Education Foundation is a charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Service section 501 (c)(3) and contributions to the organization are tax deductible.  According to Rebecca King, district liaison, the idea for the foundation grew from a need for supplemental funds and awareness of a growing number of education foundations serving Central Texas school districts. “We brought in Foundation Innovation LLC, a firm which specializes in developing foundations to ensure that we meet our first-year goals and objectives,” she added. Foundation Innovation has worked with many communities and school districts in Texas and other states to establish foundations to benefit public school systems. According to Suzi Pagel of Foundation Innovation, “Following in the footsteps of public universities and colleges, K-12 school districts and their local communities are establishing their own foundations to leverage private dollars and expand opportunities for their teachers and students. Education Foundations provide a tangible way for citizens to support and invest in their local public schools.” 

“The Education Foundation Board of Directors is dedicated to our community and educational excellence, and I am proud to serve with them to support and enhance the tools available to the district,” states Ward Roddam, president of the Rockdale ISD Education Foundation. “We are very excited that community members have organized to help attract private funds to benefit our schools,” he added. The executive committee includes Ward Roddam - President, Nathan Bland - VP Finance and Governance, Wenda Dyer, VP Programs, Kasey Delz - VP Marketing and Events, Kaybee Belson - VP Development, Renee Knesek - Secretary, Dr. Denise Monzingo - Superintendent of Schools, and Haley Leopold - Director-at-Large. Additional board members include Dr. John Mike Weed, Lee Jenkins, Gaye Bland, Kelli Timmerman, Jenny Gebhart, Kirk Williams, and Ferlando Giles. Rebecca King is the foundation's liaison with the district.  

More information can be found on the foundation’s page on the district’s website as well as on Facebook.

Email: foundation@rockdaleisd.net

Facebook: @RISDEducationFoundation

Website: https://www.rockdaleisd.net/foundation

For donations: https://givebutter.com/D2PWEE

Rockdale ISD Child Nutrition department has announced the district will provide free meals for all students for the 2022-23 school year. The meals will include one entrée, one choice of milk and student’s choice of fruit and vegetables for both breakfast and lunch. Second meals, additional entrées and milk, and any à la carte snack items are still available for a charge.

The district qualified for the free meals under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). RISD is reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on participation in other specific means-test programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Erin Lopez, General Manager of the RISD Child Nutrition department, stated “because all students receive meals at no charge, individual children at CEP schools no longer have to worry about the stigma associated with free or reduced price status. And most importantly, by offering all students a nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost, CEP helps boost participation, helping schools ensure more students come to class well-nourished and ready to learn.” 

For more information, visit: http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/community-eligibility-provision.
 

Rockdale ISD will be going to online ticketing this school year for all sporting events. Reserved ticket holders will receive an email from Ticket Spicket some time around July 11 to claim your reserved tickets. Make sure to check your spam folder.

Reserved tickets will be available to be purchased by the previous ticket holders from July 11 to August 11. Then previous ticket holders will have the option to purchase any unsold tickets from August 12 to August 18. After August 18 all unsold tickets are available for the public to purchase.

The ticket prices are the same as last year which is $30 per ticket for the season.

Visit Rockdale's custom homepage to purchase tickets: https://spicket.events/rockdale.