Mindy Ardeneaux Tolleson

The Board of Trustees convened for a special called meeting to review election returns and formally canvass the results of the recent trustee election. The board officially declared the election winners for District 2, District 4, and the At Large Place 7 position, confirming their respective terms.

The Board of Trustees conducted a public forum with no participants. Additionally, the Board approved the order canvassing returns and declaring the results of a trustee election.

This District of Innovation Plan for Texarkana ISD outlines strategies to enhance local control and operational flexibility under HB 1842 by seeking exemptions from specific state statutes. The plan focuses on areas such as employment contracts, teacher certification, specialized teacher evaluations, school start dates, inter-district student transfers, class size limits, school counselor work time, student discipline for minor offenses, visitor removal policies, and banking depository contracts. These measures are designed to provide the district with greater adaptability in staffing, academic programming, student management, and administrative functions.

This District of Innovation Plan, effective from December 2023 to December 2028, provides Texarkana Independent School District with greater local control and flexibility from specific state education code statutes. The plan outlines exemptions and local guidelines for various areas including employment contracts, teacher certification, teacher evaluations, re-employment of retirees, school start dates, inter-district transfers, class sizes, grievance procedures, counselor work time, and bank depository contracts. The objective is to enhance operational efficiency, staffing flexibility, and instructional effectiveness to improve student learning outcomes.

The council discussed updates regarding the district library and book lists, including the addition of a Driver's Education handbook to the high school library. The committee reviewed book donations from the Daughters of the American Revolution and discussed the process for posting and approving new book lists for the upcoming budget. The discussion also covered the status of classroom libraries, the promotion of the Teaching Books resource for educators, and a proposed policy regarding books in personal or digital libraries not listed in Destiny. Additionally, the committee reviewed a new flier concerning SB 13, intended for distribution to parents, and voted to approve the spring book lists.