Board hears multiple contract and program requests: Xello career platform, Klingberg mental health MOU, early-childhood curriculum and FIRST grant

District staff presented several contracts and grant items at the Sept. 4 workshop; board members asked questions but did not record roll-call approvals for the items presented at the workshop.

Xello: College and Career Readiness staff requested board approval to enter a three-year contract with Xello Inc. for a comprehensive college-and-career platform for grades K–12. The district presented a three-year cost of $179,552. Board members asked about implementation timing and whether counselors and families would have access; staff said counselors needed immediate training for seniors and hoped for phased rollout beginning in January.

Klingberg Family Centers: The Board heard an amendment to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the district and Klingberg Family Centers to continue mental-health services at seven schools (listed in the amendment). The amendment would assign three clinicians (each covering two schools), one supervisor, and a community health worker covering all seven schools. Staff said the service will be provided at no cost to the city and that clinicians are vetted through human-capital protocols and fingerprinting procedures; the amendment term was stated to run through Oct. 3, 2026.

Early childhood curriculum: The Office of Early Childhood asked the board to approve a three-year contract with Teaching Strategies LLC to continue using the Creative Curriculum, assessments (Gold portfolio) and associated professional learning, digital subscriptions and some print materials to support pre-kindergarten classrooms and grant-funded programs. Commissioners asked about evaluation and whether the curriculum sufficiently supports bilingual/ESL students; staff said the curriculum is hands-on and that the district is reviewing assessments and pacing to better serve three- and four-year-old students.

FIRST / ReadyCT grant: The Academic Office described a FIRST (robotics) grant that would provide $10,847 to each of three rookie teams (Westside Middle School, North End Middle School, and WAMS Middle School) for registration, equipment and supplies. Commissioner Van Stone asked about a press-release clause that requires notification to ReadyCT five days before publication; he requested the clause be reviewed by legal before the district signs.

Jackie Carroll temporary staffing contract (citywide): HR staff presented a collaborative, city-and-district contract to provide temporary staffing services through Jackie Carroll Temp Services. Presenters said 11 firms responded to the RFP and recommended Jackie Carroll based on responsiveness and local knowledge. The proposed contract is up to three years with two one-year renewal options; the not-to-exceed figure cited was $255,000 per year (three-year total $765,000 if fully exercised). Commissioners raised concerns that multiple city departments would draw on the same not-to-exceed pool (elections, registrar, facilities), which could reduce the available allocation for district staffing. Staff said each department must create separate purchase orders to control spending and that the general fund would cover education-side usage.

College Board PSAT: The board also heard a motion to add a one-year College Board agreement to administer the PSAT for 9th and 10th graders (funded by an Alliance grant). The motion to add that item to the agenda was made during the workshop; presenters indicated the College Board item had been added as an addendum and that more details would be in the packet at the next meeting.

Board action: At the Sept. 4 workshop these items were presented and discussed; staff requested approvals or board direction as noted, but the transcript does not show recorded vote tallies approving each contract during the workshop. Several items were described as appearing in the board packet or as add-ons scheduled for formal action at a future regular meeting.

Why it matters: These contracts affect student supports (mental health clinicians), curriculum and assessments for early childhood, student college-and-career planning tools and robotics/team programming for middle schools, and they include a citywide staffing contract with multi-department budget implications.

What comes next: Staff said they would return with formal approval requests or legal clarifications where commissioners requested them (e.g., the ReadyCT publicity clause and Jackie Carroll contract controls).