Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Teacher Recruitment Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commenter urges Phoenix district to reconsider 15-year sole-source Teach For America contract
Summary
An electronic public comment read at the board meeting urged the district to not enter a 15-year sole-vendor contract with Teach For America, citing concerns about competition, turnover, dependence on a single supplier and transparency; the board noted it could not discuss items not on the agenda.
An electronic public commenter urged the Phoenix Elementary District Governing Board to reconsider a proposed 15'year sole-vendor contract with Teach For America for teacher placement and to pursue competitive bidding instead.
Paul Booth, whose written comment was read into the record by Missus Shipp, listed five concerns: lack of competition and price transparency in a sole-vendor contract; limited innovation and potential stagnation over 15 years; operational dependence on a single supplier; high turnover among Teach For America corps members (the comment stated "about half" leave after their two'year commitment and "only 15 percent" remain after five years); and perception of favoritism or lack of transparency if the contract were awarded without competitive bids.
The comment urged the board to explore alternatives that allow competitive bidding and partnerships with a broader range of teacher preparation programs. After the comment was read, President Carmen Trujillo reminded members that they may not discuss items not on the meeting agenda and that any response to public comment is limited to directing staff to study the matter or rescheduling the matter for a later agenda.
No formal action on the contract was taken at the meeting.
