[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6172555,"mediaKeyId","5388624-198cfa1c827fb50714276971686a7a5e","parentId",5388624,"title","Board rescinds custodial award, directs re-bid and approves 90‑day interim contract","audioSeconds",241,"startMs",6119000,"endMs",6360000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5388624-198cfa1c827fb50714276971686a7a5e&start=6119&end=6360","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5388624-198cfa1c827fb50714276971686a7a5e/thumbnail_6119000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6172555/Washington/Board-rescinds-custodial-award-directs-re-bid-and-approves-90day-interim-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172555-3771945550ffd7961aa5608c6348fff2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133177&Signature=LoEVGvQ06CvjFvmc0oouJi2~1IUdYj76uVLn72b5xAJkE2VdvJu9sEx8onDuHfC7~pDc20nDGXEUGkW5ufStoiG648VFthtghAVEwjqq7g~IqlGrS0E0FkbLnPrQbDwDvQQXelMt9fRIxKIYjJLaEgLkummQBF6w6j8W1HMjjB56SHcrUsSPl4ns3~dxECR90pqfW~NBPu4Unq~drhaJHD02TmxXWTpcthjEgm2lhi6RGv~zkrl9LvIrPM4laS~cUfTu1-D8Bm5XVoKleHtrSLGsgcEmK7FIadUE1vk7z-I9CHjFFUVzeTIVFc-wddR819CLfPXAVrJlvYoXsKjOWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Grandview School District","date","2025-07-14T21:42:03Z","article","The New Haven Board of Education voted to rescind a previously approved award for part‑time custodial services and directed staff to reissue the request for proposals (RFP) after an executive‑session review found procurement irregularities.

During an open meeting after the executive session, Superintendent Doctor Negron said the district had identified “anomalies” in the RFP process for part‑time custodial services and that staff did not uniformly follow up with all bidders when questions surfaced about union wages. Negron said the district will put the procurement back out on an expedited schedule to assure a fair opportunity for all potential bidders.

The board then approved, on a separate motion, a 90‑day agreement with SJ Services to provide custodial management so schools would be serviced through the summer while the RFP is reissued and reviewed.

Why it matters: The district said it prizes working with unionized labor and moved to reopen the competition to make the union‑status language explicit and to preserve a consistent procurement record. The interim contract is intended to ensure summer cleaning and readiness for the coming school year while a full competitive process is completed.

Key details and timeline: Doctor Negron told the board the administration intends to reissue the RFP “on an expedited schedule,” with a planned release by July 20, proposals due by August 7, and a target to return a new recommendation to the board at its Sept. 8 meeting. Negron said the district has not yet paid the previously selected vendor, Integrity Concepts doing business as ServiceMaster.

Board debate and votes: Board member Miss Downer moved to rescind the prior award to Integrity Concepts (d/b/a ServiceMaster) and to direct staff to put the work back out to bid; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call in which the members present voted yes. Wilcox moved the separate 90‑day agreement with SJ Services; that motion carried on a roll call vote in which Miss Downer voted no and other voting members voted yes.

The board’s action follows questions raised during executive session about whether bidders would be required to operate under collective‑bargaining wages and whether the district had followed consistent procurement steps for all vendors. Doctor Negron said staff will revise the RFP language to make union‑wage expectations explicit if that is a requirement and will apply the scoring rubric consistently when proposals are returned.

What the board directed staff to do: Reissue the part‑time custodial RFP on an expedited schedule (planned release July 20; responses by Aug. 7) and return a scored recommendation to the board by the Sept. 8 meeting; in the interim, finalize a 90‑day custodial management agreement with SJ Services to cover summer work.

Next steps: Staff will publish the RFP and return a recommendation after scoring. The board motion to rescind the prior award took effect at the vote. No procurement funds had been paid to ServiceMaster at the time the board rescinded the award, according to board members.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Haven Board of Education Regular Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The New Haven Board of Education voted to rescind a previously approved award for part‑time custodial services and to reissue the procurement after staff identified irregularities; the board also approved a 90‑day interim contract to maintain cleaning services while a new RFP is issued.","taxTitle","Grandview School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",55570,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6172541,"Union and staff members urge transparency on closures, transfers and budget; call for audits and staffing for language programs",815,131000,946000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5388624-198cfa1c827fb50714276971686a7a5e&start=131&end=946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5388624-198cfa1c827fb50714276971686a7a5e/thumbnail_131000.jpg","/articles/6172541/Washington/Union-and-staff-members-urge-transparency-on-closures-transfers-and-budget-call-for-audits-and-staffing-for-language-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172541-56ca363b11e5953b758de89e3dc84d98/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133177&Signature=XUv~laGU~nkLtvtAEyXV01uuOv8vsHnmb-4FZ1WGVARxvyL4hnDLWkTXSvE23MPs4P-0~AsvGl5WDmj8zmbqPpW1KdT1QJTNYVnxD~7pVSRQs161tlepkhYyEQbdLvBvjDwV1jPb~H9qbpjeIj1zz146zE8Ll0yCkgIXksUoGVZkUr5GHoGbVPIsSPxspsN5ghAymD1wo9q~PdhJ6C2R3fCJdt-w98IdJpkpdPgtVbMjKCY6NUFsDys5--3v0N0AVlnbsNXMdnkEJLdsj2ew2Gjn8PX-tjrrsidbf0WPsIyvt21eOa5K026rcr8UUPV5eo7zWQauSaN8PBvhmVnbgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several public commenters pressed the board and district leadership to provide greater transparency on school closures, personnel transfers and the budget and to prioritize staffing in language programs and supports for families.

Kirsten Holtz McFadden, an attorney and recently retired district teacher, told the board it must “do better,” saying two school closures this year occurred in predominantly Black neighborhoods and criticizing how staff and families were notified. McFadden called for empathy from district leadership and for officials to join teacher and paraeducator rallies in Hartford to press for funding.

Marie Ackerman, a paraeducator at Worthington School, urged the district to reconsider transfers of assistant principals and other moves that she said disrupt neighborhoods and school communities; she asked the board to keep the neighborhood school open so it can continue serving local families.

Leslie Bledo, president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers and a parent, raised concerns about the district’s public access to the 2025–26 budget (she said the most recent publicly posted budget on the district website was for 2024–25). Bledo also urged the board to reconsider a 60‑minute cap on public comment, asked the district to plan for increased legal and mental‑health supports for families amid a climate of immigration enforcement, and praised a grant proposal to add part‑time Arabic teachers while urging investment in full‑time positions.

Bledo also criticized a process she said left the district paying an additional $1.4 million this summer on top of a $5.6 million contract to clean and ready schools; she urged earlier planning and greater transparency so dollars might have been negotiated into a single contract and possibly avoided other closures or instructional losses.

Why it matters: Speakers tied district staffing and budgeting decisions to equity and to operational readiness for the coming school year, and they asked the board to make budget details publicly accessible so community members can follow allocations and staffing choices.

Responses and context: Superintendent Doctor Negron later summarized personnel and staffing changes in the personnel report and acknowledged vacancies in central office positions. The board did not take immediate action on public comment requests beyond discussing personnel approvals and procurement items later in the meeting.","Public commenters called on the New Haven Board of Education and district leadership for increased budget transparency, fewer disruptive transfers, expanded language staffing and a forensic audit of district expenditures.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6172546,"Superintendent reports gains in literacy, attendance and career pathways; Smarter Balanced results remain preliminary",179,6827000,7006000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5388624-198cfa1c827fb50714276971686a7a5e&start=6827&end=7006","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5388624-198cfa1c827fb50714276971686a7a5e/thumbnail_6827000.jpg","/articles/6172546/Washington/Superintendent-reports-gains-in-literacy-attendance-and-career-pathways-Smarter-Balanced-results-remain-preliminary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172546-479758d3dba32b7af82d1eb0c4a49cb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133177&Signature=fwzVSk2RtKBLYi0sC0Basv7wwE8eicOLwIYKOaccob2ZWFGJxykAgrlT0wEhQu3tjzUwMTw5p~VwnGD~6f1n066doW8MKgS3mnL~y8dNr1sWyRVV6hErfo69dJHb8zSN6loanWRE5vTJ-9WoUI6eKgmHj7lab94l7jcEr752OCtq7zPZWNT29Lm8kqd~w8Y73T6VkQdiWDDYadyU9AxEcooWArFk4LP7zUXl8IBmA5YC02rE4R0g00~dXsHG8KrlLulZhvk9XAjqN-6BWPgxWtwYfe0S5nYbBWGlETjr4Eyql7uINjUXZLq62GZg5PYz2vEv9QSCaeWwcDo1XVQGXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Doctor Negron reported districtwide academic and programmatic gains and outlined priorities and next steps for 2025–26 during the board meeting.

Negron summarized literacy gains measured by DIBELS from mid‑year to end‑of‑year: kindergarten students at or above grade level rose from 30% to 53%; first‑grade students below grade level fell from 56% to 37%; second‑grade students at or above rose from 35% to 47%; and third‑grade students well above grade level doubled from 13% to 26%.

On broader assessments, the superintendent described preliminary local analysis of Smarter Balanced results indicating a projected 0.5 percentage‑point increase in overall literacy proficiency and cited specific cohort gains, but she noted the district is awaiting official state release and emphasized the preliminary status of the data.

The district also reported NWEA gains: in 17 schools the percent of typical growth achieved exceeded 100%; over 50% of students met typical growth targets and over 30% reached a 150% (stretch) growth benchmark. High‑school SAT increases were highlighted at two schools (MBA and Career) that exceeded district averages in evidence‑based reading and writing.

Negron reviewed career pathway expansions and credentials: the district now reports six defined pathways (health care, manufacturing, education, business, BioCity, culinary), college credit accumulation for pathway students and increased industry certifications (from 118 to 158). She highlighted the first career pathway cohort’s outcomes, including 100% college acceptance among that cohort and an average of 25.5 college credits earned.

Attendance and school climate: The district reported a 1 percentage‑point increase in daily attendance (from 87.4% to 88.4%) and preliminary declines in chronic absenteeism; the superintendent said the district expects marked decreases once the state verifies numbers. Negron also reported expanded supports: every school now has a Wilson reading‑trained teacher, expanded PBIS training and other social‑emotional supports.

Board members praised the results and noted the work was accomplished despite constrained resources. Board member Mister Wilcox highlighted McKinney‑Vento homelessness counts (approximately 847 students on his note) to underscore the district’s challenges; Dr. Benitez and Mayor Elicker also commended staff and leadership.

Why it matters: The report sketches year‑over‑year academic improvement, increases in postsecondary credits and career certifications, and operational progress on attendance and climate, but key statewide assessment results remain preliminary until the state posts verified Smarter Balanced data.","Superintendent Doctor Negron presented a year‑end report highlighting DIBELS and NWEA gains, preliminary Smarter Balanced growth projections, expanded career pathways and improved attendance and chronic absenteeism metrics.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6172550,"Board approves personnel report; Doctor Paul White named chief of school operations",163,1514000,1677000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5388624-198cfa1c827fb50714276971686a7a5e&start=1514&end=1677","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5388624-198cfa1c827fb50714276971686a7a5e/thumbnail_1514000.jpg","/articles/6172550/Washington/Board-approves-personnel-report-Doctor-Paul-White-named-chief-of-school-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172550-941f53126678835365545207f2a07c06/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133177&Signature=fbzS7ixCdSdx0r1L-AfVaYN1vOLnSDkqheRa9xwqFeZ5fPb4u-8s77fNQ8YICeTQfo8EX4fxHjSgvwzyxdc~o~HeoNdK4r~eTIms4DN6DjmKDXzXUxn5o8LHoEL~Kq6YTBP8TY-MGWmyTPSZTQc6njqjwguljc1XnbI6UNEHk~fo9XONLjwEfBJpahc7rZ4ARzsdRkGj7u-nJtheLRi-40Y31HmtXbv1XFd2qYgcIfswqGBWOb4aV-T6xiDmpwNa1XNcT4AVJU0Job5iqp4qGphuBHC5GkBsB4QkOLFDneBQ00u5odQnThP8gXelcsES8562umX2bdYBnF-rK9ynqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Haven Board of Education approved the superintendent's personnel report, which included retirements, personnel transfers and the internal appointment of Doctor Paul White as chief of school operations.

Superintendent Doctor Negron highlighted retirees named in the personnel report, including Kirsten Hobbs McFadden (retired social studies teacher), Stacey Graham (kindergarten paraeducator) and John Bethke (school business manager), each noted to have completed long service to the district.

Negron also announced that Doctor Paul White will transfer into the newly renamed chief school operations role (which replaces the former chief operations officer position). The superintendent and colleagues described White as experienced in instructional leadership and ready to assume operational responsibilities immediately.

Why it matters: The personnel actions formalize leadership changes and acknowledge long service from multiple employees. The transfer consolidates operational authority in a leader who has served as an assistant superintendent and overseen multiple schools.

Board discussion and vote: Board member Mister Wilcox moved to approve the superintendent’s personnel action; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote. Several board members offered congratulatory remarks to retirees and to Doctor White before the vote.

What the personnel report included: Announced retirements after long district service, ongoing central office vacancies (assistant superintendent and chief of staff remain open, according to public remarks), and Doctor White’s transfer and appointment in the operations role. The board approved the personnel actions as presented.","The board approved the superintendent’s personnel report, noting several retirements and the transfer of Doctor Paul White into the newly titled chief of school operations role.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board rescinds custodial award, directs re-bid and approves 90‑day interim contract

Union and staff members urge transparency on closures, transfers and budget; call for audits and staffing for language programs

Superintendent reports gains in literacy, attendance and career pathways; Smarter Balanced results remain preliminary

Board approves personnel report; Doctor Paul White named chief of school operations