The Georgetown ISD board of trustees unanimously voted to appoint a committee to develop a District of Innovation plan at its Sept. 19 meeting. The committee includes 15 teachers, five principles, five administrators, five parents and seven community business leaders. The board originally voted to pursue a DOI status at its July board meeting. Appointing a planning committee was the next step in the process for the plan that would likely be implemented for the 2017-18 school year. The DOI designation was created by Texas House Bill 1842, which state lawmakers passed in 2015. The bill allows school districts to adopt a local innovation plan that outlines more flexible operating models, including some exemptions from state regulations previously offered only to charter schools. Districts with a DOI designation can avoid requirements such as class size ratio, teacher certification, and some student discipline provisions. The district can become a DOI after the newly-appointed committee develops a local innovation plan with public input and receives approval from its elected district-level committee. The board of trustees will then vote on final approval of the plan before it is implemented. GISD spokesperson Suzanne Marchman said that the board is not interested in pursuing several of the laws DOI allows for, such as cutting teacher benefits. School start date and certifications for certain teachers, such as career and technology development, are two items the board is interested in changing. The DOI plan is good for five years and can be modified during that time. Marchman said there is no official date for implementation if the designation is passed. However, the board will likely make the final vote on the DOI plan between January and March. If approved, the plan would be effective immediately, although GISD may not implement some pieces until the fall.