Board approves interagency agreement with Project Youth Plus; administration secures matching state grant
Summary
The board approved an interagency agreement with Project Youth Plus. Administration said the contract amount will bring funding back up to about $150,000 for the 2025–26 school year; later in the meeting staff announced a separate state grant of $180,000 supporting related services.
Grants Pass School District 7 approved an interagency agreement with Project Youth Plus after staff reported the contract exceeds the board's $100,000 notification threshold. Member Schmidt moved to approve the agreement and Member Sable seconded; the roll call showed approval.
Administration told the board the 2025–26 agreement will be approximately $150,000, which restores funding toward prior levels after a reduction in 2024–25. A staff member said the district had reduced payments in recent years and is now “ratcheting it back up for the 25–26 school year to $150,000.” Board members asked about student data access. Staff replied that Project Youth Plus will have access to specified data needed for program evaluation but not unrestricted access to all student records; they said the agreement will comply with FERPA and parents’ approvals.
Separately, administration announced that a state grant of $180,000 (reported as $90,000 per year for two years) had been awarded to the district in partnership with Project Youth Plus to provide additional support at Gladiola. The district said the funds will help sustain services but did not detail specific contract language in the grant announcement at the meeting.
Board members asked clarifying questions about thresholds and organizational‑meeting guidance for large contracts; staff said the contract notification practice had been discussed at the organizational meeting and that the intent was to inform the board of large agreements.
