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Board approves Project Stealth pilot at Pershing with start-date, reporting and staff qualifications required
Summary
The board approved a pilot mentoring contract with Project Stealth to serve Pershing students, with conditions including a revised start date, an MSW minimum for mentors, a measurable attendance target and a required evaluation report; vote 6-1.
The Central Unified School District Board of Trustees voted Jan. 28 to approve a pilot mentoring contract with Project Stealth to support students at Pershing, directing administration to amend the agreement to reflect an updated start date, include a minimum-qualification for mentors and require a written evaluation after the pilot.
Area Administrator Garrett, who presented the item, told trustees the contractor proposed mentor staffing and measurable goals, saying the mentor support “will contribute to an overall increase in student attendance from 80.2% to 82.2% over the time period of February to June 2025.” Trustees asked for additional startup and evaluation detail before approval; Garrett said the district would track both aggregate attendance and individual student goals and present an analysis at the end of the pilot.
Trustees debated cost and scope. During discussion several trustees expressed concern about the price, noting the written materials cited an administrative start-up fee of approximately $30,000 and a monthly operational cost of $10,000. Trustees asked administration to amend the contract to reflect the actual service start date (February 1, 2025), to change total contract amounts if January services were not provided and to require a post‑pilot report including student counts served, attendance outcomes, course credits or credit recovery results and qualitative feedback from students and families.
After amendments were requested on the record, Trustee Sellers moved to approve the contract with conditions: revise the start date to no earlier than Jan. 28 (administration committed to a February 1 start), adjust the contract sum to reflect the revised start date, include an MSW (master of social work) as a minimum qualification for mentors, and require a comprehensive evaluation report with specified metrics at the end of the pilot. The motion passed 6-1 on a voice vote.
The board’s action authorizes a short-term pilot intended to bridge a gap in wraparound supports for Pershing students while administration evaluates sustainability and alternatives. Administration will return a finalized, executed contract and a mid‑pilot/final evaluation to the board.
