Crowley ISD board approves waiver to allow remote homebound instruction after parent seeks public explanation

Crowley ISD trustees approved a waiver authorizing the district to submit a Texas Education Agency request to count remote homebound instruction for attendance and state funding after a parent asked the board to pull the item from the consent agenda for public explanation.

Parent and district volunteer Liz Pignon told the board she was speaking on agenda item 6.5 and urged trustees to pull it from the consent agenda so families could hear how many students the change would affect and how bilingual and special-education services would be delivered and audited. "When something that directly affects medically fragile students and students with disabilities is handled through consent, families can feel like it's just a routine checkbox when in real life it shapes whether a child receives instruction, related services, and the language supports in a way that is truly accessible," she said.

District staff explained the waiver is limited to remote delivery of homebound services and does not change homebound eligibility or individualized education program (IEP) requirements. Ms. Williams, the district's homebound coordinator, said the district currently serves 48 homebound students, 13 of whom receive special education services, and that three students were pending for remote homebound via the virtual platform. "Once we receive physician documentation and an ARD or properly constituted 504 meeting agrees that homebound is appropriate, we start services; the waiver lets us account for that remote instruction in our state funding formula," she said.

Trustees asked how services are initiated, whether remote provision affects teacher pay, and what oversight ensures instructional minutes and IEP service requirements are met. Staff said homebound services begin with a parent request and physician documentation and that in-person homebound teachers provide face-to-face services when possible; remote homebound requires board approval of the waiver so the district can be reimbursed for the instruction. Staff stated teachers are district employees and will be paid for providing the services, while the waiver allows the district to report the student as present for attendance and funding purposes.

The board first voted to remove item 6.5 from the consent agenda for discussion (motion by Trustee Kalisha Stevenson, second by Dr. Latonya Woodson Mayfield), then approved the waiver after discussion (motion by Trustee Stevenson, second by Trustee June W. Davis). The motions carried on show-of-hands votes with no dissent recorded.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to pull 6.5 from consent (Stevenson; second Mayfield): passed unanimously.
- Approval of consent agenda without 6.5: passed.
- Approval of remote homebound instruction waiver (6.5) (Stevenson; second Davis): passed unanimously.

The district indicated it will submit the waiver to TEA and continue to monitor homebound services monthly to ensure students receive required instruction and services. A parent in public comment requested regular public updates on special-education progress and measurable targets; trustees did not set a specific reporting schedule during the meeting. The board also approved other personnel and grievance items later in the session.