[5. Call Meeting to Order]
[00:00:06]
>>> GOOD EVENING. IT IS 5:39 P.M. AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS BEING CALLED TO ORDER. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM IN PLACE. WE ALSO HAVE MADAM PRESIDENT
VIRTUALLY. >> I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER.
[6. Convene Public Hearing A. Lancaster Independent School District's 2022-2027 Proposed District of Innovation Plan (DOI) Extension - Dr. Cassandra Barker - Presenter]
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTY JONES. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION OF THE DOI INFORMATION PRESENTED BY DR.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING, MADAM BOARD PRESIDENT -- EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING HER.
>> DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS, THIS PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT IS ABOUT -- MAYBE. IT IS ABOUT OUR DISTRICT OF INNOVATION -- [INAUDIBLE]. OUR DISTRICT OF INNOVATION PLAN.
THIS PLAN IS A FIVE-YEAR PLAN. WE HAVE BEEN IN DISTRICT OF INNOVATION SINCE 2017. THE CONCEPT WAS PASSED BY THE 84TH LEGISLATION -- ELECT TIFF SESSION AND HOUSE BILL -- LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND HOUSE BILL 1842.
THAT GIVES ISD'S THE ABILITY TO GAIN FLEXIBILITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF EXEMPTIONS. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST ADOPT THE PLAN TO ACCESS THESE EXEMPTIONS.
AND THE DISTRICT MAY AMEND CHANGE IT THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AND UTILIZE TO ADOPT THE PLAN.
THE MOST RECENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE RATING MUST BE ACCEPTABLE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS INNOVATION.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT OUR MOST RECENT DESIGNATION WAS A BIT MORE THAN ACCEPTABLE. I LIKE TO REPEAT THAT OVER AND OVER. WE WERE AN ADAB AND THAT DEEMS US AS ELIGIBLE. WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FLOW CHART THAT I WILL TALK THROUGH AND GIVE YOU SPECIFIC DATES.
WE STARTED THIS ON AUGUST 30TH.
I PRESENTED TO THE BOARD THE DOI.
WE ADOPTED A RESOLUTION THAT WAS SIGNED BY MADAM BOARD PRESIDENT.
THAT IS THE HEARING WE ARE HAVING TODAY AND WE WILL SEND IT TO THE COMMISSIONER TOMORROW AND POST IT TO OUR WEBSITE FOR 30 DAYS. WE START TO HAVE OUR DISTRICT ADVISORY MEETING WHICH IS OUR DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLANNING COMMITTEE IS. -- COMMITTEE. WE WILL HAVE A MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, AND THEN WE WILL BRING THE PLAN BACK WITH ANY UPDATES THAT THEY MAY GIVE US FROM THAT MEETING.
THEREAFTER WE WILL NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER.
I DO WANT TO TALK THROUGH THE INTHAT YOU VAGUESES -- THROUGH THE INNOVATIONS WE HAD IN THE DISTRICT.
WE HAD EIGHT SPECIFICALLY. THE FIRST IS THE TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXEMPTION. THANKS.
IT IS THE TEACHER CERTIFICATION AND IT IS ONE OF THE INNOVATIONS THE BENEFIT TO US ESPECIALLY NOW AS LANCASTER IS EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE SAME THINGS ACROSS THE METRO -- THE DALLAS METROPLEX AS WELL AS NATIONALLY, STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY.
IT IS A NATIONAL TEACHER SHORTAGE.
WHAT THIS INNOVATION DOES IS IT HELPS US AROUND -- IT HELPS US TO BE ABLE TO FIELD TEACHING POSITIONS WITHOUT REQUIRING CERTIFICATION AND SOME PARTS OF THE OPEN POSITION.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT SIDE, I HAVE STATED AND IN YOUR PACKET YOU WILL SEE MORE IN DEPTH OF WHAT THE EXPLANATIONS ARE OF EACH OF THE TA CODES THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
IN THE ABSENCE OF THIS WE WOULD HAVE TO COME TO THE BOARD WITH A WAIVER WHICH WAS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING THAT HAD BEEN A PRACTICE BEFORE THIS DISTRICT.
IN THE NEXT INNOVATION THAT WE -- THROUGH THIS DOI THAT WE WOULD BE ASKING THE EXEMPTION OF IS THE -- IT IS REGARDING TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR APPRAISAL.
IT MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE RECOMMENDED APPRAISAL INSTRUMENT THAT IS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
[00:05:05]
WE HAVE ADOPTED THE RECOMMENDED APPRAISAL FOR THE TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL WHICH IS TTEST AND WE STILL USE THE TAX SYSTEM FOR SOME OF THE POSITIONS THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE GOVERNED BY -- OR A VEHICLING TO EVALUATED BY THE RECOMMENDED APPRAISAL SYSTEM -- THE APPRAISAL INSTRUMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER. THE NEXT ONE IS AROUND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO EXTEND THE ADDITIONAL YEARS ON THE PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS.THIS HELPS US AROUND THE NATURAL TEACHER SHORTAGE.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO MAY NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE SUPPORT BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL THREE YEARS.
THIS IN THE PAST HAS HELPED US AND WE HAVE EXTENDED TO FIVE YEARS. SOME OF THE SAME REQUIRED SUPPORTS THAT WE WOULD DO IN THE 0 TO 2-YEAR TEACHERS WHICH MAY MEAN A MENTOR OR EXTRA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
WE AS YOU ALL KNOW AND AS THE PUBLIC KNOWS, THIS DISTRICT HAS INVESTED IN EXTRA SUPPORT AROUND TEACHERS AND INVESTMENT IN OUR TEACHER -- TEACHERS GIVES US THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK IN OUR STUDENTS. THE NEXT INNOVATION IS AROUND THE CALENDAR AND THE MINUTES OF INSTRUCTION.
THE REQUIREMENT HERE IS THAT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL CANNOT START BEFORE THE FOURTH MONDAY IN AUGUST.
THIS YEAR AND IN YEARS PRIOR WE START [INAUDIBLE] AND THIS ALLOWS US TO DO THAT. IT HELPS WITH OUR EARLY COLLEGE AND DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS. WE PARTNER WITH DALLAS COLLEGE AND THEIR YEAR MAY START BEFORE OR EVEN END A LITTLE BIT BEFORE OURS. THIS GIVES AS YOU -- THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXEMPT THOSE STUDENTS FROM THE 7500, 7600-MINUTE REQUIREMENT AND HELPS US TO OFFER TO OUR STUDENTS. WE WERE VERY CREATIVE AND THOSE ARE THE DAYS WHEN OUR NUMBERS WERE HIGH.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO RECOUP STATE FUNDING FOR THAT, BUT IT ALSO DIDN'T COUNT AGAINST US WITH THE REQUIREMENTS WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE. WE WERE ABLE TO EXEMPT AND TO ALLOW FOR THAT. THE NEXT IS CLASS SIZE WAIVER.
AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING WE HAD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS AROUND CLASS SIZE WAIVER. THE DISTRICT, AS ALWAYS, WE WILL ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE 21-1 RATIO FOR GRADES K-4.
AND WE WILL TRY TO MAINTAIN ONE CERTIFIED TEACHER FOR EVERY 20 STUDENTS IN OUR ADA. HOWEVER, AGAIN, WITH THE NATIONAL TEACHER SHORTAGE, THIS MAY AFFECT US.
RIGHT NOW WE DO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT, BUT THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY SO THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS OR IF THE 23RD PERSON ENROLLS INTO OUR DISTRICT AND THE CLASSES IS LARGER THAN OUR 22-1 RATIO, EVEN IF IT IS 22.1 TO 1 RATIO WE ARE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE PARENT AND MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS TO START TO BUILD ANOTHER CLASS. THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO BE FLEXIBLE AROUND THAT.
WE DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE OUR K5 AND THIS SAYS K4 WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT, BUT I FEEL COMFORTABLE TO SAY K5 THAT WE TRY TO STAY IN THE 21-1 RATIO. WE TRY TO DO THAT IN OUR UPPER GRADES AS WELL. SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON THE SELECTIONS OR THINGS THE STUDENTS MAY NEED FOR GRADUATION, THE NUMBERS MAY VARY, BUT FOR THE THIRD TIME, I WILL SAY THAT WE MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO TRY TO MAKE 22-1 OUR NUMBER AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL. THE NEXT IS THE DESIGNATION.
THE DESIGNATION OF THE CAMPUS COORDINATOR.
THEY HAVE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE FORMALLY PUT IN PLACE THIS YEAR. WITH THE NTSS PROCESS WE NOW HAVE OR WE ARE BUILDING ON THE CAMPUSES TEAMS OF INDIVIDUALS OR COMMITTEES OF INDIVIDUALS TO HELP TO COORDINATE BEHAVIOR ON CAMPUS. WITH DOING THAT, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THERE IS A DECEMBER SIG KNEE -- DESIGNEE AS A CAMPUS COORDINATOR. AS MENTIONED HERE, WE BELIEVE INSTEAD OF ONE PERSON BEING JUDGE AND JURY, EVEN THOUGH THAT
[00:10:03]
HAPPENS OR SEEMS TO HAPPEN WITH THE SYSTEM PRINCIPAL, WE TRY TO SURROUND OUR STUDENTS WITH WRAP AROUND SERVICES TO ES -- ESPECIALLY AFTER OUR TIME COMING OFF OF COVID AND STUDENTS ARE ADJUSTING BACK TO BEING IN CLASS TOGETHER, THAT IF WE HAVE GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO HELP NOT JUST MANAGE BEHAVIOR, BUT HELP WITH ANY SUPPORTS THEY NEED. THIS HELPS US AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THIS IS SOMETHING LANCASTER HAD IN 2017 BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW THAT THE PANDEMIC WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.THIS IS A CORE BELIEF OF OUR DISTRICT.
WITH US STANDING UP AND FORMALIZING THE PROCESS, IT FALLS IN LINE WITH THE DIRECTION THE DISTRICT WAS GOING EVEN AT THAT TIME. THE NEXT IS THE TRANSFER OF STUDENTS. THIS EXSWREPL -- THIS EXEMPTION ALLOWS LANCASTER TO BE AN OPEN ENROLLMENT DISTRICT.
WE HAVE AT LEAST IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCED A DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT. I SHOULD SAY FIVE YEARS PRIOR TO THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR WE HAVE SEEN AN UP TICK IN ENROLLMENT. I WILL GO OUT AND SAY I THINK IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU ARE ADAB RATING.
PEOPLE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SUCCESS AND BE A PART OF THE THINGS HAPPENING IN LANCASTER. THIS ALLOWS US TO ATTRACT STUDENTS TO COME WITH US. WE GO BACK AND FORTH DISCUSS FIGURE THIS IS AN INNOVATION THAT WE LIKE OR ONE WE DON'T LIKE, WE DO KNOW THIS WE WILL GET AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE DIVERSITY.
THERE IS DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND ETHNICITIES.
AS WE BUILD WORLD CLASS STUDENTS WHO CAN INTERACT WITH ANYONE, ANYWHERE, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OPEN ENROLLMENT AND OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE STUDENTS FROM ANYWHERE, THIS IS AN INNOVATION THAT WE PLAN TO CONTINUE.
AND LASTLY, THE LAST ONE IS THE MINIMUM STATE PERSONAL LEAVE.
LISD HILLARY STRICT -- WILL RESTRICT DAYS USED FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WE BELIEVE, AS I MENTIONED, AND WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST THE TEACHERS. IT IS EVERYONE, ALL-AROUND.
THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE OUR STUDENTS.
EMPLOYEES WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS SKPWH -- AND SUBSTITUTE FOR TRADE DAYS IF WE OFFER IT. IN THE PAST, LANCASTER HAS BUILT A CALENDAR WHERE TRADE DAYS WERE INCLUDED IN THE CALENDAR.
WE DON'T HAVE IT THIS YEAR, BUT WE WANT TO KEEP THE FLEXIBILITY IN CASE WE BUILD A CALENDAR THAT HELPS US DO THAT.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST WAS THAT TRADE DAYS WERE BUILT IN.
IF STAFF DECIDED IN THE SUMMER THEY WANTED TO COMPLETE ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS AND THIS IS AN ADDED INCENTIVE.
IT IS A RETENTION STRATEGY AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT OPTION.
THIS IS NOT BUILT INTO THE CALENDAR RIGHT NOW.
WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS INNOVATION TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT TO OUR STAFF. AND WITH THAT, THESE ARE THE EIGHT INNOVATIONS WE WILL BE MEETING WITH FOLKS ABOUT.
HOPEFULLY EACH YEAR WE WILL GO BACK AND ASSESS WHAT THE DISTRICT NEEDS ARE. WE MAY WANT TO AMEND SOME OF THESE TO FIT WHATEVER NEEDS COME.
AS I LOOK THROUGH THESE AND READ THROUGH WAIVERS, I WILL SAY THAT LANCASTER STARTED ON THIS ROAD BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW HOW -- WHAT PANDEMIC THEY WOULD GET FROM COVID.
AND SEEING THESE INNOVATIONS AND HOW THEY HAVE AFFECTED OUR DISTRICT, WE WANT TO CONTINUE ON THIS PATH, BUT WE WANT TO BE OPEN JUST IN CASE THERE ARE OTHERS THAT FIT THE NEEDS OF OUR DISTRICT. WITH THAT I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OR ANYONE HERE WITH QUESTIONS ON
THE DOI POINTS. >> THEY QUESTIONS?
[00:15:04]
HEARING NONE, I GUESS WOULD YOU RETURN TO THE SCHEDULE?AND UNFORTUNATELY I MISSED THE LAST BOARD MEETING.
THE PLAN WILL BE SENT TO THE COMMISSIONER TOMORROW.
AND THAT'S THE PLAN THAT YOU JUST PRESENTED AS FAR AS THE
ACTUALLY IT WILL BE THIS AND THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PLAN THAT HAS BEEN ON THE WEBSITE FOREVER.
IT IS JUST THAT AS WE SPOKE ABOUT IT IN THE LAST BOARD MEETING THIS MEETING WILL HAVE UPDATED NAMES AND THERE WAS WORDING AND THAT WAS TAKEN OUT JUST TO REFLECT --
>> THIS PLAN WILL BE SENT AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE THESE COMMITTEES AND THEN IF THERE ARE ANY REVISIONS MADE, THEY WILL
THEN SEND OUT AN UPDATED COPY? >> THEN IT COMES TO THE BOARD.
AND THEN IF THE BOARD SAYS YES, THEN WE SEND IT BACK TO THEM.
>> TRUSTY WHIT KNEELED HAS ENTERED -- WHITFIELD HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING AT 5:55 P.M. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
I WILL REVIEW AND THEN IF I HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS I WILL EMAIL.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS WE WILL CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING A
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.