District leaders briefed trustees on proposed changes to the Teacher Excellence Initiative that incorporate feedback from teachers, staff and stakeholders. TEI is a continuous improvement model for strategic compensation that seeks to define, support and reward teacher excellence. Under one proposed change, teachers at Proficient I and above would receive performance retention increases on top of their base salaries if they stay at the same effectiveness level. Survey results show that 80 percent of teachers believe such an increase would make TEI more fair. Other proposed TEI changes include: Reducing the number of spot observations; Ensuring market competitiveness for all…

A proposal under consideration would give Dallas ISD more control regarding when the school year starts, as well as allow the district more flexibility in hiring hard-to-fill select teaching positions. The Texas Legislature passed a bill that allows Texas school districts to pursue a District of Innovation (DOI) designation. The designation gives districts such as Dallas ISD most of the flexibilities available to the state’s open-enrollment charter schools. More than 100 independent school districts in Texas have approved the DOI designation. Trustees earlier this year appointed representatives to a DOI Committee, which then created a proposed plan. DOI Committee members…

It could be a skinned knee, allergies, a cold, a fever, a lost tooth that takes students go to the school nurse’s office – or even a complex medical procedure such as catheterizations, tube feedings or medical emergencies! No worries because our nurses are ready. Being greeted by a friendly, soothing professional in the clinic is the first step to recovery. Wednesday, May 10, is National School Nurse Day – a time to celebrate and thank the nurses on the front lines of student health. Nurses will be honored at a special ceremony tonight, and a Health Services Employee of the…