Board approves delay submission for teacher certification reporting and adopts 2026–27 academic calendar

Ector County ISD trustees authorized district staff to submit a request to delay teacher certification reporting through the 2029–30 school year and approved the proposed 2026–27 academic calendar.

A district administrator explained the certification item is a delay request, not a waiver, and provided updated counts of uncertified core-content teachers. The administrator said the count used at last week’s review was 263 uncertified core-content instructors and that the current count is 274, with breakdowns by elementary and secondary core areas. Staff said the district is working with local teacher-preparation partners, including Odessa Pathway to Teaching and UTPB, and asked the board to approve the submission.

Separately, the board reviewed the academic-calendar development process and calendar options (A–D). The presenting administrator described stakeholder outreach, three initial calendars and subsequent iterations that produced 'Calendar D,' which spreads professional development days across the year, accommodates local events such as the West Texas Relays, and keeps nine-week grading periods. The board approved the recommended calendar by unanimous voice vote.

Both actions were recorded as approved; staff said they will continue partnerships and implementation planning for certification support and will phase the calendar changes next school year.