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Board renews state‑approved flexibility waiver to preserve teacher collaboration time
Summary
The MSD Martinsville board approved continuing a state‑approved flexibility waiver that preserves a one‑hour professional learning community (PLC) block for teacher collaboration; trustees discussed the waiver’s role in training new teachers and retention.
The MSD Martinsville Schools Board of Trustees voted to continue a state‑approved flexibility waiver that maintains a one‑hour professional learning/community (PLC) block for teachers.
Board members said the hour serves as built‑in collaboration and mentoring time that supports newer teachers and improves classroom practice. The board approved continuing the waiver by voice vote.
Board members described the PLC time as critical for on‑the‑job mentoring and for having district experts train other teachers. “This PLC time, that mentoring time is essential to try to bring them along,” a board member said during discussion. Trustees noted some districts vary in length of PLC time, but an hour is commonly used locally.
Board discussion also framed the waiver in the context of teacher recruitment and retention. A trustee said the district is “training some really, really good people, and they go to neighboring districts for more money,” and that the collaboration time helps teachers feel supported beyond pay.
The waiver must be applied for annually; administrators said districts around MSD Martinsville commonly request the same one‑hour window. The board approved the continuation and indicated it will reevaluate the waiver in future years as needed.
