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Board renews Victoria ISD District of Innovation plan with multiple flexibilities through 2031
Summary
Trustees approved a five-year renewal of the district's District of Innovation plan, preserving and adding local flexibilities on teacher certification, probationary contracts, Texas Reading Academy timelines and minimum-class-size waivers. Staff said the renewal followed DEIC review and a required public posting period.
The Victoria ISD board approved renewal of the district's District of Innovation (DOI) plan for 2026–2031 after administrators outlined proposed flexibilities and the public review process.
"The state created the District of Innovation option ... It allows a district to exempt themselves from certain parts of Texas Education Code," Ms. Chestnut told the board, summarizing the DOI's purpose. Administration said the plan allows local flexibility on multiple matters, including hiring non‑certified teachers or those working toward certification, extending probationary-contract timelines in limited cases, using alternative timelines for the Texas Reading Academy for new K–3 teachers, and allowing mentor teachers with fewer than three years' experience in some situations.
The DOI renewal also includes administrative flexibilities, such as limited changes to school-day nonacademic interruptions and a waiver process for minimum class-size exceedances (to reduce paperwork burden where mobility causes temporary overages). Staff presented data showing the number of classes over the 22-student threshold declined since the waiver was adopted, and they described procedures used to solicit DEIC feedback and to post the proposed plan for the required period.
Trustee Margaret Pruitt moved to approve the 2026–2031 DOI renewal as recommended by administration; the motion was seconded by Trustee Mickey Castella and approved by the board. Administration said it will notify the Texas Education Agency and post the approved plan to comply with statutory requirements.
The DOI gives the district targeted local control; approval does not eliminate compliance obligations in areas not covered by the plan and staff said any future amendments would be returned to the board for approval.
