Wichita Falls ISD board adopts stricter transfer rules for employees, tightens proof-of-residence steps

The Wichita Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to adopt a revised interdistrict transfer policy (FDB local) after more than two hours of discussion about perceived inequities among campuses and the effect of employee transfers on school reputations. The board approved edits that (1) require district employees assigned to a campus to use the January transfer window for interdistrict transfer requests or to submit a request within 30 days of a campus reassignment, and (2) add a two‑step proof‑of‑residence verification for interdistrict transfer applicants.

The policy change was presented by Scott Hapley (staff member), who brought the draft back for a second reading and highlighted three specifics the board had requested after the prior meeting: a cross‑reference to the regulation used for annual updates; a two‑step residence verification for interdistrict transfers; and a requirement that documentation of revocation for lack of parental cooperation be shared with the director of student services for verification prior to revocation. Dr. Donny Lee, superintendent of schools, was present for the discussion and answered procedural questions.

Trustees debated the merits and optics of restricting transfer timing for employees who are not assigned to a campus (for example, Ed Center staff, traveling nurses and maintenance personnel). Some trustees said restricting transfers only for employees temporarily off a campus could damage morale and create operational complications for staff whose assignments change frequently. Others argued the practice has contributed to long‑standing perceptions that some campuses are “preferred” and that the district should limit opportunities for midyear transfers to reduce that perception and protect equity across campuses. Trustees repeatedly framed the problem as a symptom of deeper equity and academic‑resourcing issues the board and superintendent are addressing.

Board members and staff also discussed enforcement. The policy language includes the district’s existing remedies: campus registrars and principals will verify addresses and, when verification shows a falsified address, students may be returned to their assigned attendance zone; the student services office has an affidavit and application that can include notice of financial penalty and state law consequences for falsifying residency. Staff said the district already investigates reported falsified addresses and has, in recent cases, given families a limited period to correct their records before reassigning the student to the correct zone.

The board approved the policy revision by voice vote after a motion and second. The board specified the edit replacing the word "encouraged" with "required" for employee transfer timing and confirmed the 30‑day window applies to changes in campus assignment, not to non‑campus position changes. Trustees asked staff to ensure the district’s enrollment policy and campus registrar procedures match the new transfer‑verification steps and to circulate any related affidavits or forms used during investigations.

The board directed staff to (a) publish the updated transfer window schedule and the residence‑verification checklist, (b) include penalty language in the address affidavit/application used by student services, and (c) bring related enrollment‑policy cross‑references to a future meeting so the documents are consistent.

The revisions take effect immediately as the board adopted the local policy update at the meeting and staff said they would open the next transfer window as scheduled.