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Sheldon ISD to amend District of Innovation to align with recent state changes
Summary
At a public workshop, district staff proposed targeted amendments to Sheldon ISD's District of Innovation plan, including removing a multi-person campus behavior coordinator designation, seeking exemptions for posting syllabi, and keeping library review with local librarians rather than full board approvals.
Presenter (S3), an administrator, told the Board of Trustees that Sheldon ISD's District of Innovation (DOI) plan, adopted in 2017 and revised in 2022, allows local exemptions from some state requirements and can be amended before its 2027 expiration. "Sheldon ISD is actually already a District of Innovation," Presenter (S3) said, explaining the district currently uses eight DOI exemptions.
The administration recommended several focused amendments after recent legislative changes. Notably, Presenter (S3) said the district would remove the district's prior practice of naming multiple campus behavior coordinators because "the law has changed there, and they say, you can no longer put this in your DOI. You have to have one person who's your campus behavior coordinator." The presenter added the designated coordinator may delegate duties but that the DOI must reflect a single responsible person.
On grievance timelines, staff noted recent statutory shifts under Senate Bill 12 that can extend filing deadlines in some cases. Presenter (S3) said parents had told administrators they preferred quicker resolutions and cautioned that extended deadlines could make it harder to preserve evidence such as camera footage.
Administration also proposed exempting the district from a new requirement to post course instructional plans and syllabi on the district website before every semester begins. Presenter (S3) said curriculum materials are already online but asked the board to preserve teacher flexibility for classes without daily syllabi (band, dance) and to allow the district to manage posting at the system level.
Library materials were another point of focus. Presenter (S3) said the district intends to include library procedures in the DOI but does not plan to require the board to review every individual title. "We have librarians, and that's why we have Becky Zalesnick to look at that information," Presenter (S3) said, adding the district's library catalog is available online for parents.
Presenter (S3) said administration will place the DOI amendment on the board agenda for consideration on the 16th; if the board directs adoption, the district will notify the commissioner and post the revised DOI.
Next steps: the board will see the DOI amendment on a future agenda and may vote to adopt revisions that reflect current law and local practice.
