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We reviewed the upcoming agenda for CEDAR HILL ISD and found 6 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| PRIORITY (LEVEL 9) |
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District to Consider Joining Undisclosed Class Action Lawsuit
The board will consider taking action to join a class action lawsuit. The subject of the lawsuit is not specified in the public agenda, having been discussed only in a closed session with the board’s attorney.
Policy Use
URGENT: Item VIII.C is an action to join a lawsuit discussed in closed session under item IV.A.1. The subject is unknown. Direct a representative or local contact to inquire about the nature of the lawsuit before the vote, as it could concern state or federal policy.
Policy Lever: Litigation Costs
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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Approval of Campus Plans Embedding SEL and Restorative Practices
The board is set to approve Campus Improvement Plans for all 13 schools. A review of the attached plans shows the integration of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and restorative practices as key strategies.
Policy Use
DOCUMENT: Under Action Item VIII.A, the board is approving Campus Improvement Plans. Pull the attachments for Highlands, Lake Ridge, and Collegiate Prep elementary schools to capture the specific language on SEL, PBIS, and restorative practices for the state implementation tracker.
Policy Lever: Contested Ideological Frameworks
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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Approval of Vendor List Including SEL Provider ‘Conscious Discipline’
The consent agenda includes approval of a vendor list for teaching aids and instructional materials. The attached bid tabulation list includes ‘Loving Guidance LLC (Conscious Discipline)’, a provider of a widely adopted Social-Emotional Learning framework.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: Item IX.E approves a vendor list that includes SEL provider ‘Loving Guidance LLC (Conscious Discipline)’. Add this district and vendor to the state tracker for SEL-related procurement.
Policy Lever: SEL Program Procurement
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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District Reports on Purchasing Services from Communities in Schools
A routine report on purchases over $50,000 reveals the district paid $54,500 to ‘Communities in Schools of the Dallas Region’ for social worker contracts. Communities in Schools is a national organization that provides wraparound services, often including SEL and other support programs.
Policy Use
DOCUMENT: Item X.B reports a $54,500 payment to Communities in Schools. Add this expenditure and vendor partnership to the district’s profile as an example of funding for wraparound services.
Policy Lever: $54,500 Contract
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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Budget Amendment to Fund ESL Teacher Certification Waivers
The district is amending its budget by $30,000 to support an ‘ESL Exception Waiver.’ A separate report indicates the district requires waivers for 47 teachers who are not certified to teach English as a Second Language, highlighting a significant staffing shortage for state-mandated programs.
Policy Use
BRIEF STATE AFFAIRS: Items III.A.3 and IX.F show the district is seeking 47 ESL waivers and amending the budget by $30,000 to manage the staffing gap. This is a data point on the operational and fiscal challenges of meeting state bilingual education mandates.
Policy Lever: $30,000 Budget Amendment
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Waiver to Replace Instructional Time with Staff Development
The board will approve a waiver allowing the district to convert up to 2,100 minutes of student instructional time into staff development. This action reduces the total time students spend on instruction during the school year.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item IX.H approves a waiver trading instructional minutes for staff development. Note the approval and recommend a public records request for the training materials used during this time to determine if they align with other policy priorities.
Policy Lever: Loss of Instructional Time
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