Trustees approve expedited staff‑development waiver and a student‑specific homebound remote‑instruction waiver

The Canyon ISD board on Sept. 8 approved two waivers administrators said are needed to maintain instructional continuity: an annual expedited waiver for staff development minutes and a case‑by‑case waiver to permit remote homebound instruction for an isolated student.

Administration explained expedited waivers fall under Chapter 7 of the Texas Education Code and allow districts to request commissioner approval for waivers of specified state requirements. The staff‑development waiver allows specified staff training minutes to be counted in lieu of a fixed number of operational minutes; the waiver helps the district avoid making up days in the event of weather or other disruptions and is an item the board brings forward each year.

Separately, trustees approved a single, student‑specific waiver that would permit remote instruction for a homebound student who must remain isolated for health reasons. Staff said without the waiver the district would not receive Foundation School Program funding for the student because state guidance expects homebound instruction to be provided in person at the student's home or hospital bedside. Trustees asked whether medical documentation would accompany such a request; staff confirmed required documentation would be maintained for audit purposes.

Why it matters: The expedited staff‑development waiver preserves calendar flexibility and lets the district count staff training minutes toward operational minutes. The homebound waiver is limited to individual cases where in‑person service is unsafe and affects how state funding will be claimed for that student.

Next steps: Staff will file the expedited waiver and the student‑specific remote homebound waiver with the commissioner as required and maintain medical documentation for the homebound case; trustees approved both waivers unanimously.