School board moves forward with district of innovation plans

OLNEY—  The Olney Independent School District Board of Trustees approved authorizing Superintendent Greg Roach to notify the Texas commissioner of education of its district of innovation plan, which Roach previously said seeks to alter teacher accreditation requirements and 2017-2018 school start date.

During Monday’s monthly board meeting, trustees unanimously approved authorizing Roach to notify Texas Commissioner of Education Matt Morath, following a Feb. 24 public hearing and a 17-3 approval of the plan by a committee of school officials earlier that month.

“I’m authorized to contact the commissioner and notify him that we do plan to vote on a district of innovation plan,” Roach said. “It’s a clerical deal. If you don’t give me authority to do that, then I can’t notify him.”

Roach said the reason the plan did not pass with a unanimous vote was from concerns regarding daycare for teachers and salary concerns.

“After I went through it with everyone, there was not a lot of opposition to it,” Roach said. “It was a good meeting. I enjoyed it ... We put items in that we believe fit us and do what is best for us.”

Roach later requested the board approve holding a special meeting Monday, March 27, at noon to give the vote a final approval.

Along with approved canceling its May election after no one signed up to challenge incumbent trustees Kyle Hinson and Teresa McClatchey. 

The board also:

Approved giving Athletic Director Mark Young a 1-year contract extension.

Approved rescheduling its April meeting to April meeting from April 10 to April 11 so not to conflict with the junior high school district track and field competition.

Authorized Roach to hire a math teacher for the 2017-2018 school year.