Rockwall ISD board approves District of Innovation amendments affecting grievances, parent conferences and instructional plans

The Rockwall Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Sept. 22 to adopt proposed amendments to the district's District of Innovation (DOI) plan that formally document the district's existing practices for grievance timelines and procedures, parent conferences and instructional plans.

Dr. Gist, presenting the item, said the DOI resolution originally passed in 2017 and was renewed in 2022; the proposed amendments were approved by the district-level committee on Aug. 26 and are intended to allow the district to continue current practices following recent state legislation.

Specifically, the amendments would:

- Allow the district to continue adhering to established grievance procedures and timelines as outlined in local board policies DGBA, FNG and GF. - Require teachers to offer at least one parent conference per year on the campus calendar and permit additional conferences at the request of parent or teacher. - Maintain that Rockwall ISD will provide instructional plans (referred to as parent content guides) for core courses on the district website and produce instructional plans or syllabi for noncore courses upon parent request.

An administrative recommendation that the board approve the amendments was accepted. A motion to approve was made by Board Secretary Stan Bridal and seconded by Dr. Sherry Packer. The board vote recorded a unanimous approval (6-0-0).

The presenters said the amendments are intended to preserve practices already in use at the district and ensure compliance with recent legislation affecting district reporting and parental access to instructional materials.