Spring
Branch ISD trustees at the Dec. 12 regular meeting unanimously approved
two local exemptions to state education code, the first as a District of
Innovation (DoI).
Trustees
exempted the district from the rule that mandates the first day of school
cannot be before the fourth Monday in August, and also the rule that mandates a
school day be at least seven hours.
The school
start date exemption came at the request of the District
Improvement Team (DIT), which helps put together the district’s academic
calendar. The DIT wants to look at alternative start dates to help create a
better balance of days between semesters.
The
seven-hour rule was exempted to allow campuses to schedule early dismissal days
to allow for parent-teacher conferences and staff development. The Texas
Education Agency normally grants waivers for early dismissal days but has now
advises districts to seek District of Innovation status for the waivers.
Trustees
unanimously approved SBISD’s designation as a District of Innovation in April
of last year, following a seven-month community-based process that resulted in
a required Local Innovation Plan that also serves as the district’s new
five-year plan, The
Learner’s Journey.
SBISD
trustees added a requirement that DoI exemptions require a two-thirds
affirmative vote before approval, or five of seven trustees. Trustees also
created a process for community input on exemptions being considered, posting
them for 30 days on a website for public inspection and comment.
The 84th
Texas Legislature passed HB
1842 in 2015, the legislation allowing for Districts of Innovation. Spring
Branch ISD was one of the first districts in the state to designate itself a
DoI.
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