Shannon B Benson

The board meeting proceedings included the administration of the oath of office and the election of board officers. The board recognized student achievements in the PTA Reflections Program, the Letters About Literature contest, various state-level awards for career and technical education student organizations including FCCLA, DECA, HOSA, and the technical student association, and NASA HUNCH project finalists.

This District of Innovation Plan for Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD) serves as a roadmap to modify state requirements, providing increased flexibility to personalize learning and prepare students as productive citizens. The plan is built upon foundational components including a mission, vision, values, and beliefs. It articulates three main strategic goals: ensuring a secure environment where students and staff thrive and build leadership; providing world-class learning experiences that foster curiosity and achievement; and cultivating innovation through strategic collaboration and responsive stewardship. The plan leverages specific exemptions from the Texas Education Code to enhance local control in areas such as the school calendar, attendance policies, class size, educator certification, and grievance processes.

The committee reviewed and approved two state waiver requests: one for staff development time to mitigate school closures due to unforeseen issues, and a second to limit the number of foreign exchange students per comprehensive high school for upcoming school years. An update was provided on the district's new virtual program, Clear Tech, which will launch in the upcoming school year with a focus on grades 3 through 9. Additionally, the committee participated in a Title II stakeholder consultation to gather feedback for planning professional learning opportunities. The meeting concluded with subcommittee breakout sessions focused on academic innovation, finance and budget, and culture and teacher retention.

The committee reviewed and recommended new instructional materials for elementary and secondary mathematics. Presentations were held regarding proposed revisions to the District of Innovation Plan for the upcoming cycle, as well as an analysis of strengths and improvement areas concerning teacher culture and retention. The committee also examined budget priorities, including enrollment and facility concerns, and reviewed findings from the Comprehensive Needs Assessment based on STAAR data and satisfaction surveys. Additionally, the committee discussed identified needs related to federal program funding under the ESSA plan.

The committee reviewed and unanimously approved two secondary course proposals: a STREAM-focused CTE Aviation and Aerospace course for 7th and 8th graders at Clear Lake Intermediate, and a CTE Principles of Allied Health course for 8th graders at Victory Lakes Intermediate. Additionally, the committee analyzed voting data for the 2026-2027 academic calendar, identifying Draft One as the preferred choice among staff and community members, and moved to recommend its adoption to the Superintendent and the Board.