Brookesmith Independent School District
DistrictofInnovationPlan
2017-2018through2021-2022
HB1842ofthe84thLegislativeSessionallowsTexasdistrictstoqualifyasaDistrictofInnovation.
DistrictsofInnovationareabletogainlocalcontrolofcertainoperationsthatarecurrentlyunderthecontroloftheTexasEducationAgency.
Introduction:
“The mission of the Brookesmith Independent School District is to educate, within a safe environment, all students to live and work effectively, efficiently, and responsibly to their maximum intellectual and physical capacities. At Brookesmith I.S.D., the focus of our mission is: ‘SCHOOL IS FOR ALL STUDENTS.’”In order to facilitate the overall goal and mission of Brookesmith ISD, the districtisseekingflexibilityinareasallowedtoDistrictsofInnovation.Theseareaswouldincludeflexibility with the schoolcalendar,thedistricttransferpolicy,attendanceandcoursecreditpolicies,teachercertificationandminutes/hourrequirements.ThisflexibilitywillallowBrookesmithISDtomeetrigorouscurriculumstandardsthatneedtobepresentforourstudentstobesuccessfulatapostsecondarylevel.
DistrictofInnovationCommitteeMembers:
Steven Mickelson- Superintendent
Sandra Lehman- Principal
Adam Cline- Athletic Director/Teacher
Kim Hancock- Elementary Teacher
Kate Means- Elementary Teacher
Raymond Gerth- Elementary Teacher
Juakana Nelson- Elementary Teacher
Angela Bradley- Elementary Teacher
Branden Czarnecki- High School Teacher
Doddie Drake- High School Teacher
Mitsy Paz- Junior High Teacher
Willie Schoen- HS/JH/Ag Teacher
Pattie Boenicke- Community Member
Nicole Burns- Parent
Matilda Martinez- Business Owner
Term:
ThetermofthePlanisforfiveyears,beginninginthe school year 2017-2018andendingattheendofthe2021-2022schoolyear,unlessterminatedoramendedearlierbytheBoardofTrusteesinaccordancewiththelaw.TheCommitteewillcontinuallymonitortheeffectivenessofthePlanandrecommendtotheBoardany suggestedmodificationstotheplan.
Timeline:
May 17,2017-BoardResolutionsignedbyDistrictAdvisoryCommittee
May 17,2017-Publichearingbyschoolboard
May 17,2017-Boardappointscommitteetodevelopplan
May 17,2017- DOICommitteeMeetingtobeginDOIPlan
May 18,2017-PostPlanonline
June 28, 2017 - BoardApprovalofPlan
ImplementPlan
BeginningofSchoolYear:
EBLegal,TexasEducationCode25.0811,TexasEducationCode25.0812
CurrentLaw:StatelawcurrentlyprohibitsschooldistrictsfromstartingclassbeforethefourthMonday inAugust,unlesstheyareyear-rounddistricts.
Proposed: It is the intent of Brookesmith ISD to build and operate a calendar that best serves theinstructional needs of our students and meets the needs of our community. The flexibility of astart date allows the district to determine locally, on an annual basis, what best meets theseneeds. This plan will allow a more balanced number of instructional days per semester and moreinstructional days prior to the state assessments given in early May. Benefits tothis exemption include, but are not limited to:
a.Better balanceofthedaysinthefallandspringsemesters.
b.Providemoreeducationaldayspriortoscheduledstateassessments.
c.Betteralignwithdual-creditcollegecourses intheFall,SpringandSummersemesters.
d.Creategreaterflexibilityin theDistrictCalendartoimprovetheoveralldistrictattendancerate.
e.Improvestudentsuccesson stateandlocalassessments.
f.Allowforinnovativeoptionswithschedulingcurrentlyunavailable.
g.Allowforgreateropportunityformeaningfulstaffdevelopmentthroughouttheschoolyear.
Teacher/AdministratorAppraisals:
(TexasEducationCode21.203, TexasEducationCode21.352, Texas Education Code 21.354 & 21.3541)
CurrentLaw:TheStateofTexashasusedtheProfessionalDevelopmentandAppraisalSystem(PDAS) since1997.Thestatehasissuedanewteacherappraisalsystemin2016-2017,calledtheTexasTeacher EvaluationandSupportSystem(T-TESS)andtheTexasPrincipalEvaluationandSupportSystem(T-PESS).ThedomainswithinthesesystemsaredevelopedbytheStatetomeettheneedsoftheentireStateofTexas,buttheydonotnecessarilymeetthespecificneedsoftheBrookesmithISDfacultyandstaff. Thesesystemsalsorequirethatstatestandardizedtestscoresbeusedasoneofthevaluationmeasuresfor teachersandadministrators.
Proposed: Brookesmith ISD districtandcampusadministratorswilldevelopateacherevaluationsystem,principalevaluation system,andasystemofevaluationfornon-certifiedinstructionalstaff,aswellas,non-instructionalstaff thatcanbecateredtothenon-traditionalinstructionalprogramsthataregoingtobeimplemented.For example,T-TESSmaynotbethebestinstrumenttoevaluateeverydomainneedingtobeevaluated.In ordertopromoteprofessionaldevelopmentthatfocusesonindividualgrowth,theDistrictneedstomaintainlocalflexibilitytocontinueitscurrentpracticeofusingvariousmeasures,includingmultipleobservations,goalsettingandtracking,andstudentgrowthprogresstowardlearningobjective,as evaluationmeasuresonteacherandadministratorappraisals.Thisalternativewillallowforauniqueandtailoredprocessthatcouldbecreatedbylocaldistrictstakeholdersandthatcouldincludeandacknowledgeinnovativeinstructionalstrategiesnotnecessarilyrecognizedunderthecurrentappraisalsystem.
Certifications:
TexasEducationCode21.044,21.003
CurrentLaw:Intheeventadistrictcannotlocateacertifiedteacherforapositionorateacheris teachingasubjectoutsideoftheircertification,thedistrictmustsubmitarequesttotheTexasEducation Agency.TEAthenapprovesordeniesthisrequest.
Proposed:InordertobestserveBrookesmith ISDstudents,decisionsoncertificationwillbehandledlocally.
a.Thecampusprincipalmaysubmittothesuperintendentarequesttoallowateachertoinstructandsupervisestudentsoutoftheircertifiedfield.Theprincipalwilldocumentqualifications thatwouldallowtheteachertoteachthissubject.
b.AnindividualwithexperienceinaCTEfieldcouldbeeligibletoteachavocationalskillor coursethroughalocalteachingcertificate.Theprincipalwillsubmittherequesttothesuperintendentwithalltheindividual’scredentials.Thesuperintendentwillthenapproveor denytherequestbasedoniftheyfeeltheindividualcouldbeanassettostudents.ThesuperintendentwillreportthisactiontotheBoardofTrusteespriortotheindividuals’ employment.Localcertificateswillbevalidforoneyearandtheemployeewillbeat-will.
c.Thisproposalwillprovidemoreflexibilityinschedulingandmoreoptionsforstudentsinclass offerings.
TheflexibilityinallowingBrookesmithISDtomakelocaldecisionsaboutteachercertification wouldprovideabetteropportunitytoofferinnovationincourseselectionsforCTEcoursesaswellashardtofill,high-demanddualcreditcourses.Byobtainingexemptionfromexistingteachercertificationrequirements,theDistrictwillhavetheflexibilitytohireprofessionalsfromdiverseacademicorvocationalfieldsthatqualifythecandidatetoteachaparticularcoursetheymaynot becertifiedtoteach,internalapplicantsseekingassignmentsoutsidetheirtraditionalcertificationarea,aswellasenrichapplicantpoolsinspecificcontentareasinordertoaffordmorestudentstheopportunitytotakedualcreditcoursesifcertifiedteachersare notavailabletoteachthosecourses.Atthesametime,whenbestforthecurriculumforourstudents,Brookesmith ISDwillcontinuetoseekandemployfullycertifiedteachers.However,theexemption,whenneeded,willallowmoreflexibilityandinnovationsinourschedulingandmoreoptionsandinnovativeofferingsforourstudentsinclassofferings.
Probationary Contracts:
Texas Education Code 21.102
Current Law: States that a probationary contract may not be for a term exceeding one school year.
The probationary contract may be renewed for two additional one-year periods, for a maximumpermissible probationary contract period of three school years, except that the probationary periodmay not exceed one year for a person who has been employed as a teacher in public education for atleast five of the eight years preceding employment by the district.
Proposed: This limited time is not always sufficient to evaluate the teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom sinceteacher contract timelines demand that employment decisions must be made prior to the availabilityof end of year classroom and student data. For experienced teachers, counselors, librarians, or nursesnew to Brookesmith ISD that have been employed as a teacher in public education for at least five ofthe eight previous years, the probationary period when becoming employed by Brookesmith ISD shallbe for a period of up to two years with probationary contracts issued for each of the possible twoyears.
TransferPolicy:
TexasEducationCode25.036
CurrentLaw:Adistrictmaychoosetoacceptstudentsastransfers,eveniftheyarenotentitledto admissioninthedistrict.TEC25.036,however,hasbeeninterpretedtorequireastudenttransfertobefor aperiodofoneschoolyear.
Proposed: BrookesmithISDstudenttransferpolicyFDA(local)requiresthatallnonresidentstudentswhowishto transfermustfileatransferapplicationeachschoolyear.Inapprovingtransferrequests,theavailabilityof spaceandinstructionalstaff,availabilityofprogramsandservices,thestudent’sdisciplinaryhistory records,workhabits,andattendancerecordsarealsoevaluated.Ontheapplication,transferstudentsareinformedthattheyareexpectedtofollowtheattendancerequirements,rules,andregulationsofthedistrict.Inpastyears,theformalsoinformednonresidentstudentswhohadbeenacceptedasinter- districtstransferstudentsthattheymighthavetheirtransferstatusrevokedbytheSuperintendentatany timeduringtheyearifthestudentisassigneddisciplineconsequencesorsuspension(inoroutofschool), placementinadisciplinaryalternativeprogramorexpulsion.Inaddition,studentswhodonotattendthestate’sminimumattendancestandardsor90%ofallclassesinasemester/schoolyearweresubjectto possiblerevocationofthetransferstatus.
TEC25.036hasbeeninterpretedbyTEAtoestablishtheacceptanceofatransferasaone-year commitmentbythedistrict.BrookesmithISDisseekingtobeexemptfromanyone-yearcommitmentthatmightbeinterpretedorimpliedbytheprovisionsofTEC25.036whenacceptingtransferapplicants. Onrareoccasions,studentbehaviorwarrantsthekindofrevocationconsequencescontemplatedinthetraditionalBrookesmith ISDtransferagreement.Studentswhoengageinthekindofmisbehaviorlistedintheagreementandstudentswhodonotattendschoolfor90%ofallclassesinterferewithourschooldistrict’s abilitytoeducateourstudentbodyinawaythatiseffective,tailoredtostudentswhoareconsistentlyatschool,andreadytolearn.BrookesmithISDneedstobeabletofocustimeandattentionondeveloping creativeandinnovativeinstructiontopreparestudentsforeventualsuccessintheworkplaceandto preparethemforachievementonstateassessmentsinthepresent.Whenstudentsaredisruptiveand/or excessivelyabsent,ourteachersmusttaketimecorrectingthebehavior,catchingthosestudentsup,and cannotadequatelypreparethestudentswhoarebehavingandwanttolearn.Theseteachersarehampered intheirabilitytohavethetimetheyneedtoimplementanykindoftrulyinnovativestrategies,becausetheyarespendingtheirtimediscipliningstudentsandcatchingupstudentsthatarefallingbehindthe90% staterequirement.Forthesecases,BrookesmithISDseeksexemptionfromtheone-yeartransfer commitment.
Attendance:
TexasEducationCode25.092
CurrentLaw:ThestateofTexasmandatesastudentmaynotbegivencreditorafinalgradeforaclass unlessthestudentisinattendanceforatleast90%ofthedaystheclassisoffered.Inaddition,ifastudentisinattendancegreaterthan75%andlessthan90%theymaybegivencreditorafinalgradefortheclass ifthestudentcompletesaplanapprovedthecampusadministratorandmeetstheinstructionalrequirementsfortheclass.
Proposed: The90%ruleisanarbitrarypercentage,whichmeansschooldistrictsawardcreditbasedonattendanceratherthanmasteryofcontent.Thisexemptionwillallowthestudentstonotbepenalizedformissing classduetoextra/co-curricularactivities,academicactivities,orotherextenuatingcircumstances.Itwillallowthedistricttoawardcredittostudentswhentheyshowanunderstandingoftheconceptsregardless oftheirattendancerate.BrookesmithISDwillhavetheflexibilitytosetattendancerequirementswhichreflectastudent’sspecificsituationandexpectations.
ThisexemptiondoesnotimpactoralterexistingcompulsoryattendancerequirementsorUILrules.Allstudentswillstillbeheldaccountabletoallcompulsoryattendancerequirements.Further,optingoutof Section25.092innowaylimitsormodifiesateacher’srighttodeterminethefinalityofagradein accordancewithTexasEducationcodeSection28,()214,nordoesitrestrictoralterateacher’srightto assigngradesinaccordancewithTexasEducationCodeSection28.0216.
InstructionalDays/Minutesfor10-monthEmployees:
TexasEducationCode21.401
CurrentLaw:ThepassageofHB2610andTEC25.081changedtherequiredinstructionaldaysto minutesforstudents.However,thelawdidnotaddressthecontractdaysfor10-monthemployees.
Proposed: BrookesmithISDproposesthatthenumberofdaysrequiredforteachersforstaffdevelopmentbealocaldecision. BISDwilladdressareasofstaffdevelopmentandhowmanydaysitwilltakeforthattraining.10-month employeeswillmeetorexceedthe75,600minutesrequiredofstudentswithnodecreaseinteacher salaries.
420Minutes/Day:
TexasEducationCode25.082
CurrentLaw:StateLawrequiresaneducationaldaytobenofewerthan420minutes.
Proposed: ExemptionfromthiswillallowBrookesmithISDtheflexibilityneededtoaltertheschooldayschedulewheneveritislocallydeterminedasbeneficialtothedistrict.Thedistrictwouldnotbetiedto6earlyreleasedays, whichisthemaximumthatcanberequestedwhenfilinganearlyreleasewaiver.Exemptingthedistrictfromthe7hourschooldayrequirementwouldgivethedistrictlocalcontroloverschedulingwithoutfear oflosingstatefundingorcreditforinstructionaltime.BISDwillmeetorexceedthe75,600 minutes/yearofinstruction.“Earlyreleasedays”willbeplannedaheadoftimeandnotedontheschoolcalendartothegreatestextentpossible.
Theflexibilitytoadjustminutesofinstructionwithinadesignatedschooldaywillassistwith personalizinglearningtobettermeetstudentneedsandaccommodateprofessionallearning/collaboration opportunitiesforteachers.Modificationtothelengthofcertaindateswillberecommendedwhenthereis aclearlyidentifiedpurpose,suchasprofessionallearning,orsimilarfocusonmeetingtheneedsof studentsandemployees.