Garland ISD is a massive district (57,000+ students, 70+ campuses) and the school board makes decisions that directly impact Rowlett families. Most Rowlett parents don't follow GISD board meetings, so here's a recap of the major decisions from the past year that affect our community.
Attendance zone adjustments: GISD adjusted several attendance boundaries effective fall 2026. For Rowlett, the most significant change is a minor shift in the Herfurth/Schrade elementary boundary near Lakeview Pkwy. Approximately 60 homes were reassigned from Schrade to Herfurth to balance enrollment. Affected families were notified in February. If you bought a home specifically for a school zone, verify your current assignment with the district.
Budget tightening: GISD faced a $15M budget shortfall for FY2026 due to stagnant state funding (Texas has not updated the basic allotment since 2019) and increasing costs. The board approved:
- Reduction of 85 positions district-wide through attrition (not layoffs)
- Consolidation of some transportation routes (longer bus rides for some students)
- Reduction in discretionary campus budgets by 8%
Rowlett campuses were not disproportionately affected, but the belt-tightening is felt everywhere.
Teacher pay: GISD approved a 2% pay increase for all staff, bringing starting teacher salary to approximately $58,000. This keeps GISD competitive with RISD ($59,500 starting) but lags behind districts like Frisco ISD ($60,000+) and Allen ISD ($59,800).
Safety and security: The board approved $4M in security upgrades across the district including:
- Upgraded camera systems at all Rowlett campuses
- New visitor management systems (ID-based check-in)
- Additional security personnel at the high school level
New programs:
- Expanded dual credit partnership with Dallas College — more courses available at Rowlett HS and Lakeview Centennial
- New computer science pathway added at both Rowlett high schools
- Mental health counselor positions added (1 per campus, phased implementation)
Bond election: GISD is expected to call a bond election in November 2026. Early indications suggest it will include facility renovations at aging campuses, technology upgrades, and security improvements. Rowlett HS and Lakeview Centennial are both 40+ years old and need facility investment. Watch for details this summer.
Sources:
- GISD Board of Trustees — meeting minutes and approved actions, 2025-2026
- GISD Budget Office — FY2026 adopted budget
- Texas Education Agency — school finance data
The teacher pay gap with Frisco and Allen is concerning. We lose good teachers to those districts every year. $2,000 per year doesn't sound like much but over a career it adds up, and teachers know it.