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Board member defends LETRS training role after public questions over July informal vote
Summary
Board member Tanya addressed public criticism that an informal July 7 vote benefited her employer; she said the vote related to Title funding and that Derby paid Orion nothing for LETRS training cohorts.
Board member Tanya addressed concerns raised after an informal July 7 vote and public comments that suggested the vote benefited her employer.
"That vote had nothing to do with my employer. It had everything to do with title funding," Tanya said, adding that the formal vote to exceed the revenue-neutral rate had passed 7-0. "I am an employee of Orion. We are 1 of 6 state service centers who serve school districts and we all receive the amount the same amount for LETRS cohorts. Derby paid Orion nothing for letters training and enrolled 2 cohorts which meant using 2 trainers from Orion."
Tanya explained that LETRS — described in the meeting as "the essential knowledge and practice of the research and evidence base of teaching reading and language" — is not a curriculum she sells and that she does not receive commission payments. She said LETRS cohorts attended by Derby staff were funded through ESSER federal grant funding; she added the district will be self-sufficient in LETRS facilitation going forward and that future training "have nothing to do with Orion."
Other board members urged clearer public explanation in the future to avoid perception issues. Board member Mike suggested that when a board member is closely tied to district vendors or service centers they consider recusal or a verbal statement explaining the relationship at the time of the vote. "I think we could have avoided a lot of this, I think, if maybe just recuse yourself and explain why," Mike said.
Tanya said she should have verbalized the funding distinctions sooner and apologized for not doing so during the televised meeting.
The board did not take any formal action tied to the LETRS remarks at this meeting; the comments were part of the board member reports and public context.
