Would result in more local control, officials say
Officials are taking the first steps toward Hermleigh ISD being named a district of innovation.
During their Monday meeting, Hermleigh ISD trustees approved a resolution declaring their intent to attain the district of innovation designation for the district.
Superintendent Cassie Petty said the designation would result in increased local control over certain aspects of the school year and students’ education.
“It would allow us to have more flexibility over the (school year) calendar and more flexibility over things like class sizes, student-teacher ratios and what we do during the school day,” Petty said. “Any time a school district can get more local control, that’s a good thing.”
Petty said one big advantage of trustees having more latitude on the school calendar is that Hermleigh will be able to align its schedule with Western Texas College. Petty noted that without the designation, Hermleigh students wouldn’t start the school year until a week or two after WTC begins its fall semester, meaning that Hermleigh students taking concurrent courses from the college would be a week or two behind other students.
By approving the resolution Monday, trustees have “gotten the ball rolling” on a process that could take two or three months to complete, Petty said. First, school officials will appoint a District of Innovation committee, which will be charged with developing details for the innovation plan.
Public hearings and attorney reviews of the plans will follow before it is finally submitted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Petty said TEA approval of the plan could come as early as June.
In other business, trustees adopted resolutions supporting the sale of three district-owned lots to Billy Digby and John Williamson for a total of $20,000 and approved contract extensions for district teachers and other professionals, a bid for restaining the gymnasium floor and budget amendments.