Read About Rockwall ISD Facilities, Planning and Construction

Filed under Facilities, Planning & Construction on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 by Author: Adi Bryant.

Welcome to the Rockwall Independent School District’s Facilities, Planning, and Construction website.  The district’s Facilities, Planning, and Construction umbrella consists of the following departments: Energy Management, Custodial Operations, Grounds, Environmental, Leasing/Scheduling, Maintenance, Land Acquisition, and Construction.  Although our team consists of over 150 of non-teaching support specialists, we are critical district team members focused on providing safe and comfortable learning environments for all students.  The goal is to provide a positive atmosphere for meaningful and engaging instruction meeting the needs of students, staff and community members.

The guiding focus of Facilities, Planning, and Construction is provided by the district’s Belief statements.  These Beliefs include the following:

1.      Students are the center of all decisions.

2.      Instruction is meaningful and includes work that is engaging.

3.      High expectations lead to high levels of success.

4.      Success is dependent on the strength of our relationships.

5.      Sustained success comes from shared leadership and continuous improvement.

6.      Families and the community participate as partners.

The following is a brief overview of each department emphasizing the support of the preceding Belief statements:

Energy Management – Next to payroll, energy costs comprise the second largest expenditure for school districts. The goal is to conserve energy while providing a warm/cool environment conducive to a great learning environment.  Conserving energy dollars is essential in order to reach the mission of the district: To be an exemplary education entity fostering excellence in all areas and focusing on academic success.  Temperatures are controlled by the energy management system located in the maintenance department.  Technicians are dispatched throughout the district insuring the system is operating properly.  Temperatures are set by the district energy policy adopted by the Rockwall School Board.

Custodial Operations – The custodial department is responsible for cleaning several million square feet each day.  Each custodian cleans approximately 20-25,000 square feet depending upon the area and specific duties required by the district.  All the district products are green label or environmental friendly.  The district credits the custodial staff for their hard work and the “clean and shiny look” our buildings reflect.

Grounds – The grounds department is responsible for mowing and grooming several hundred acres of grass, which includes the athletic fields.  They are also responsible for pesticide and herbicide spraying using green products.  Relocating staff and attending to various other seasonal activities comprise the duties of the grounds staff.  The goal of this department is to create a positive first impression for the community by providing an appearance of a college-campus for all RISD schools.

Environmental – In 2008 the district initiated the environmental division in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  This program monitors several areas such as Integrated Pest Management and Indoor Air Quality.  Additionally this division inspects each building for indicators of mold or mildew.  The department oversees many Federal, State, and Local unfunded/mandated programs such as asbestos.  Through the implementation of this program, parents are assured the district is doing all it can to preserve the best and safest learning environment for students.  Rockwall leads the way by placing the students at the center of all decisions.

Leasing/scheduling – The district schedules over 14,000 events annually, which includes academic, athletic, fine arts and events leased by residents of Rockwall.  A fee for all non-school related rentals is charged to cover the energy and labor costs.

Maintenance – The district maintenance team consists of all the major trades and general maintenance people to keep the facilities in top shape.  All mechanical, electrical and plumbing functions are usually repaired by in-house personnel.  The leadership of this department sets high expectations that lead to high levels of success.  By utilizing the maintenance department rather than contracting outside services allows the district to target funds for educational purposes.  Outside contractors are used for emergencies and when the technical capabilities are beyond those of our maintenance department. 

Land Acquisition – Purchasing land for schools is challenging since campus size varies from 15 to 75 or more acres per site.  The actual size can vary when elementary and middle schools are on the same site.  A primary consideration when purchasing land is having the infrastructure in close proximity to the site.  Infrastructure includes roads with turning lanes, electricity, water, sewer, gas, and fiber.  Bringing infrastructure to a new site adds costs to taxpayers.  The district is constantly looking for land with infrastructure at or within a reasonable distance.

Construction – During recent bond allocations, the voters of Rockwall ISD have allowed the district to build new schools and remodel/expand existing buildings to accommodate the district’s growth.  District officials are mindful of the past while looking towards the future.  Future bonds must be passed for the district to house future students. Families and the community participate as partners to achieve academic success.  At build-out, the district will have approximately 50,000 students and roughly 44 school facilities.  Along with the increasing number of facilities, the district accepts that it must expand transportation, maintenance, operations, grounds, child nutrition and warehousing to support the increasing number of students in Rockwall ISD.  As the district continues to grow and build, residents continue to show support for all students by volunteering time, promoting the education foundation, mentoring students, supporting bond initiatives,  backing athletic teams, and voting on school-related topics.  The district’s success is dependent on the strength of our relationships.

Being the newest member of the Rockwall ISD’s leadership team is exciting and challenging.  The leadership team believes in the students, staff, and community.  The School Board and Superintendent challenge us daily to provide academic excellence and leadership for the students and staff.  This responsibility is taken seriously.  Our motto this year is The Power of One – The power of one student, one staff member, one community member – to make a positive difference in the lives of another. We are all lucky to experience the Power of this One Great District where the focus is on reaching and teaching every child, every minute, of every day.    Our sustained success comes from shared leadership and continuous improvement.   I am happy to be part of this shared experience!

Thank you for allowing me to be a member of your team!

Sincerely,

Greg Carver

Executive Director of the Facilities, Planning, and Construction.