Board hears Title I provider recommendations and raises questions about program impact and oversight

District staff recommended two outside providers — Friday Night Place and Yemba — to deliver Title I supplemental programming, pending board approval of the Year 1 expenditure. District staff explained the vendors were chosen because they have experience in the community and have run similar youth programming.

Staff said the services would include after-school and out-of-school programming and summer opportunities targeted to students eligible for Title I services. The memo before the board listed initial costs for providers and recommended contracts in the $39,000–$45,000 range for the upcoming year.

Board members asked for evidence of impact and raised concerns about attendance and outcome measures. One board member said prior reporting showed little measurable effect on attendance and discipline for previous years' funding of the same providers and asked whether the district could attract other providers or expand existing in-house programs that have waiting lists (for example, Girls on the Rise and Boys on the Rise). The board asked staff to return with clearer, comparative data — including attendance, referral and academic impact — and to consider reissuing the request for proposals if the current pool is limited.

District staff agreed to provide more robust program outcomes and to explore alternatives or supplementary in-district programming options for Title I–eligible students before finalizing long-term commitments.