The Woodland District 50 board voted unanimously Aug. 28 to contract for expanded social-emotional, behavioral and mental-health professional development and coaching and to fund curriculum consultant supports for fiscal year 2026.

Dr. Schroed and other administrators described the social-emotional coaching plan as an expansion of work piloted during the prior year: teachers who requested additional support could receive in-class observation and individualized coaching from the consultant, followed by data collection and follow-up. The board approved the proposal for consultant Brianna Simmons by a 7–0 roll-call vote.

Separately, the board approved curriculum consultant supports to continue K–5 literacy curriculum development with McTigue & Associates and to add secondary support with consultant Tracy Jekaitis (packet spelling appears variably as Jekaitis/Jokaitis). Administrators said McTigue helped complete stage 1 K–5 literacy work and would continue into stage 2 (assessment alignment); Jekaitis will work with middle-school teachers and coaches on standards-based learning and assessment.

Board members asked about the cost structure for the curriculum work. Administrators said the nationally known consultant McTigue carries higher fees and travel costs; a number discussed in the packet for McTigue was $54,000, and the two consultants together were discussed in the meeting as a combined figure that board members noted must tie to the budget. The board asked administration to ensure the budget numbers reconcile with packet line items.

Why it matters: The social-emotional coaching and curriculum work are central to the district’s priorities for student well-being and instructional quality; both projects use grant funds and district budget allocations for FY26.

The board voted 7–0 to approve the social-emotional coaching contract and 7–0 to approve the curriculum consulting supports. Administrators said additional budget details would be provided and that some proposals include travel-day costs and per-day rates in the consultant proposals.