Crandall ISD

Renewal of Crandall ISD District of Innovation Plan 2025

• Amendment

Exemption From:

TEC §21.003(a), TEC §21.055

TEC §21.003(a) states that a person may not be employed as a teacher by a school district unless the person holds an appropriate certificate or permit issued by the appropriate state agency. In the event a district cannot locate a certified teacher for a position or a teacher is teaching subject outside of their certification, the district must request emergency certification from the Texas Education Agency and/or State Board of Educator Certification.

TEC §21.055 states that if a teacher is not certified, the district may issue a teaching permit to employ the individual. This process requires notice to the Commissioner and its usefulness is extremely limited. Additionally, the language of this section could be construed to prohibit the employment of a teacher without a teaching certificate or a school district teaching permit obtained under this section.

Proposal: The district will maintain its current expectations for employee certification and will make every attempt to hire individuals with appropriate certifications for the position in question. However, when that is not reasonably possible, the district will have the flexibility to hire individuals who are knowledgeable in the area and equipped to effectively perform the duties of the position in question. Crandall ISD would like the ability to locally certify teachers in areas of high demand, to better meet the educational needs of our students. These areas would include, but are not limited to CTE, bilingual education, and languages other than English. Teachers with industry certifications and native speakers with qualified experience could be eligible to teach a course through a local teaching certification. Additionally, Crandall ISD will notify parents if a locally certified teacher is employed for their child's class. This process will allow more flexibility in our scheduling, and provide more options for our students in class offerings leading to industry recognized certifications.

Overview presentation of District of Innovation

August 4, 2016 – Board update regarding District of Innovation via Friday Report

November 29, 2016 – Board update regarding District of Innovation via Friday Report

December 12, 2016 - Board adopts Resolution; public hearing; votes to develop Local Innovation Plan, Board of Trustees allows Superintendent to appoint Committee similar to AEC committees

January 13, 2017-Superintendent reports names of Local Innovation Committee Members

January 17, 2017 – Presenters meeting at 1:45 In Training room

January 19, 2017 12:30 Local Innovation Committee Members meeting to identify possible areas of exemptions and have the Local Innovation Committee meet to approve and pass Local Innovation Plan by majority vote

January 23, 2017 - Presentation to Board of Trustees from Local Innovation Committee member to provide update and gather board input Board meeting LIC presents LIP to Board: board votes to notify commissioner of intention to vote on adopting LIP (Approved Innovation Plan attached) – same meeting that we declare there will be a board election – place this on the agenda in order to get to 30 days for the posting.

January 24, 2017 post for 30 days on district website

February 27, 2017 – Board of Trustees votes on Local Innovation Plan

Exemption From:

TEC §25.0811, TEC §25.0812

TEC §25.0811 states that a school district may not begin student instruction before the 4th Monday of August. For many years this was the rule; however, districts had the option of applying for a waiver to start earlier, even as early as the 2nd Monday in August.

TEC §25.0812 states that a school district may not schedule the last day of school before May 15.

Proposal: These laws restrict flexibility in the design of annual calendars to fit the needs of the school district and community. The flexibility to begin instruction earlier in August will enable the district to develop a calendar that best meets the needs of the students in CISD. An earlier start date allows a better balance between semesters, more instructional days prior to mandatory testing, and a school end date prior to June. Without the restriction of t a mandatory last day of school date, the school district would have the flexibility to set a calendar fitting to the completion of required minutes.

Exemption From:

TEC §25.081

TEC Code 25.081 For each school year, each school district must operate so that the district provides for at least 75,600 minutes of instruction, including intermissions and recess.

Proposal: Pre-K and PPCD are required to attend 37,800 minutes for half day. In order for the teacher of record to attain these minutes of instruction, our employees must cover the conference periods and lunch times of Pre-K teachers. The preference of the district is to have the flexibility of minutes in order for the teacher of record to have their conference and lunch times when students are not on campus. This allows the freedom of the strained personnel to be able to complete their jobs.

Pre-K schedule consisting of two three-hour sessions of 155 minutes, which allows each teacher to teach two groups of students while still having the required conference period and 30-minute duty free lunch.

Crandall ISD has determined an amendment to its current District of Innovation Plan is necessary based on the passage of HB 114 during the 88^th Regular Legislative Session.

Discipline for Use or Possession of an E-Cigarette

Texas Education Code § 37.006(a)(2)(C-2) requires that a student be removed from class and placed in a disciplinary alternative education placement (DAEP) if the student possesses, uses, sells, gives, or delivers to another person an e-cigarette, as defined by Section 161.081 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.

Rationale for Exemption

·        An exemption from this requirement allows Crandall ISD to distinguish between a student’s possession of an e-cigarette or vape product that contains nicotine from one that contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). An exemption allows for the District to determine appropriate local consequences for the possession of such devices.

Benefit of Exemption for CISD

·        While Crandall ISD remains committed to addressing the possession or use of e-cigarettes or vape devices, the exemption will provide CISD the benefit of addressing possession of e-cigarettes or vape products that contain nicotine through progressive consequences and required awareness programs before removing a student from class and placing the student in a DAEP. 

Local Guidelines

·        Possession, use, selling, giving or delivering to another person an e-cigarette or vape device that contains any amount of THC will remain a mandatory DAEP offense.

·        The local guidelines for possession, use, selling, giving or delivering to another person an e-cigarette or vape device that contains nicotine will be addressed in the Crandall ISD Student Code of Conduct and approved by the Board of Trustees annually.

Exemption from:

TEC §28.004

Current law states the board of trustees of each school district shall establish a local school health advisory council to assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the district's health education instruction. 

Crandall ISD seeks exemption from the statutory provision requiring the School Health Advisory Council to meet at least four times each year.  This innovation will be implemented by the District as follows: 

• The SHAC will meet once a year in the Spring.
• The Board will be kept informed following each SHAC meeting.
• This exemption directly supports the District’s commitment to health education and instruction without overburdening designated council members.