SANFORD-FRITCH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Amended
District of Innovation Plan
2022 – 2027
Purpose
House Bill (HB) 1842, passed during the 84th Legislative Session, permits Texas public school district to become District of Innovation (DOI) and to obtain exemption from certain provision of the Texas Education Code. The SFISD Board of Trustees believes in supporting innovation and local initiatives through the use of local District control. The adoption of the District of Innovation plan allows District flexibility to improve the educational environment for the benefit of students and the community.
Term
The term of the plan is for five years, beginning August 01, 2022 and ending July 31, 2027, unless terminated or amended by the SFISD Board of Trustees in accordance with the law. If, within the term of this plan, other areas of operations are to be considered for flexibility as part of HB 1842, the Board will nominate a new committee to consider and propose additional exemption in the form of an amendment. Amendments adopted by the Board will adhere to the terms of the original plan. The District may not implement two separate plans.
SFISD District of Innovation Committee
Jason Garrison, Superintendent
Richard Hein, Business Manager
Stephen Vanderpool, High School Principal
Phillip Wiggins, High School Teacher, Athletic Director
Pam Walker, High School Teacher, UIL Academic Coordinator
Dwight Kirksey, Community Member, District Advisory Committee
Gina Moos, Teacher, Elementary Campus Advisory Committee
Kayla Deatherage, Junior High Teacher, Campus Advisory Committee
Aimee Lyles, Counselor, High School Campus Advisory Committee
Tonya Stephenson, Secretary, At-will Representative, District Advisory Committee
SFISD PROPOSED INNOVATIONS
School Start Date/Last Day of School [EB (LEGAL), TEC 25.0811, 25.0812]
- Current: Student instruction cannot start before the fourth Monday of August. Waivers are no longer allowed to alter start date. The last day of instruction may not occur before May 15 of any year. Again, no waiver is allowed. These changes occurred through the lobby of tourism groups which argued the loss of business due to local control of school calendars.
- Plan: To meet local community needs and offer a more balanced calendar through the design of the instructional periods, start dates and end dates. Instruction will not begin before the first Monday of August and end the school year on or prior to the fourth Friday in July. Advantages:
Teacher Certification [DK(LEGAL, DK(LOCAL), DK(EXHIBIT), TEC, 21.003, 21.055]
- Current: A district must place a certified teacher in the instructional classroom. The teacher cannot teach outside their certification without the District submitting a request to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). TEA may then approve or deny the request.
- Plan: Allow local control over certification requirements so that the best interest of the student is served. Advantages:
Teacher Contract Days [DCB(LEGAL), DCB(LOCAL, TEC 21.401]
- Current: TEC Chapter 21 defines a teacher contract as a ten month contract equivalent to 187 days.
- Plan: Allow local control over the teacher contract days. Requirements and advantages:
Contract Employees [TEC Chapter 21]
- Current: The definition of teacher for purposes of Chapter 21 is a principal, supervisor, classroom teacher, counselor or other full-time professional employee who is required to hold a certificate issued by the State Board for Educator Certification (as well as educational diagnosticians and nurses). Superintendents may receive term contracts, but not probationary or continuing contracts.
- Plan: Allow local control over the issuance of a probationary or term contract. Advantages:
Transfer Students [FDA LOCAL and TEC 25.036]
- Current: Under TEC Chapter 25.036, a district may choose to accept, as transfers, students who are not entitled to enroll in the district, but TEC 25.036, has been interpreted to require a transfer to be for a period of one school year. Sanford-Fritch ISD maintains a transfer policy under FDA (LOCAL) requiring nonresident students wishing to transfer to file a transfer application each school year. In approving transfer requests, the availability of space and instructional staff, availability of programs and services the student’s disciplinary history records, work habits, and attendance are also evaluated. Transfer students are expected to follow the attendance requirements, rules, and regulations of the district.
- Plan: Allow local control to eliminate the provision of a one-year commitment in accepting transfer applicants. Advantages:
DAEP Teacher Certification Requirement [FOCA (LEGAL), FOB LEGAL), TEC Chapter 37.006, 37.007, 37.008]
- Current: TEC 37.006 states that an elementary student may not be placed in a DAEP with any other student who is not an elementary student. However, students younger than 10 may only be placed in a DAEP if they commit an expellable offense under TEC 37.007. TEC 37.008 DISCIPLINARY ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS. Requires each school district to provide a DAEP that provides for the students who are assigned to that program to be separated from students who are not assigned to the program. (a) Each school district shall provide a DAEP that: (7) employs only teachers who meet all certification requirements established under Subchapter B, Chapter 21;
- Plan: Allow local control over DAEP requirements. Advantages: