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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming ROCKDALE ISD agenda. There are 6 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 10) |
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District to Adopt 2026 Property Tax Rate
The board will hold its final vote to set the 2026 property tax rate. The agenda does not disclose the proposed rate or how it compares to the no-new-revenue rate, which is the rate that would not increase the total tax levy on existing property.
Response
PACK THE ROOM: Show up and sign up for public comment to speak on Item VIII.G. Demand the board adopt the no-new-revenue tax rate and provide a clear, apples-to-apples comparison of how the proposed rate will increase the average homeowner’s tax bill.
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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District to Issue “Unlimited Tax” Bonds
The district plans to issue “Unlimited Tax Refunding Bonds.” While refunding can save money by refinancing old debt, the “unlimited tax” provision gives the district authority to raise taxes as high as necessary to repay this debt, bypassing future taxpayer control.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Rockdale ISD board (see district website for contact info) and ask for a full presentation on Item VIII.E. Ask them to confirm on the record that this action only refinances old debt for savings and does not add any new debt or extend the repayment timeline.
💰 Impact: Long-Term Debt Obligation
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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Undisclosed Classroom Library Book Lists Up for Approval
The board is set to approve book lists for classroom libraries, but the lists themselves have not been made public with the agenda. This prevents parents from reviewing materials for age-appropriateness before they are placed in front of their children.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the Rockdale ISD board and demand the vote on Item VIII.A be postponed until the complete book lists are published on the district website for public review and comment.
💰 Impact: Bypassing Parental Review
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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Cameras to be Installed in Special Needs Classrooms
The district is seeking approval to install cameras in “Life Skills” classrooms, which often serve students with significant disabilities. The agenda provides no details on the policies for data storage, who can access the footage, or parental consent and notification procedures.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Rockdale ISD board regarding Item VII.E. Ask: ‘What is the policy for parental consent, who has access to the camera footage, and how long will the data be stored? Please publish the policy before the vote.’
💰 Impact: Student Privacy Violation
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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Vague “Performance Objectives” on Consent Agenda
The board plans to approve the 2026-2027 District and Campus Performance Objectives using the fast-track “Consent Agenda.” These documents, which set district priorities and can include controversial goals, were not included with the agenda for public review.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Contact the Rockdale ISD board to pull Item VII.C from the Consent Agenda for a separate discussion and vote. Ask them to publish the full “Performance Objectives” document online before the meeting.
💰 Impact: Hidden Policy Changes
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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Undisclosed Budget Amendments Up for Approval
The board will vote on unspecified budget amendments. Without the details of these amendments, the public cannot know how taxpayer money is being reallocated, potentially funding new priorities without a transparent discussion.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Rockdale ISD board and ask that the specific line-item changes for the budget amendments in Item VIII.D be published online before the vote so taxpayers can see where their money is going.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Spending
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