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Blue Valley board unanimously approves literacy materials purchases, AV upgrades and liaison appointment
Summary
The Blue Valley Board of Education on March 3 unanimously approved contracts to adopt Amplify CKLA and expand 95% Group phonics materials for elementary literacy, and approved bond-funded audiovisual upgrades for high school performing arts spaces.
The Blue Valley Board of Education on March 3 voted unanimously to approve several contracts and appointments as part of its regular meeting.
Key actions (all motions passed 7-0 unless stated):
- Amplify Education, Inc. agreement: The board approved a seven-year purchase of AmplifyCKLA (third edition) for grades K–5 to serve as one of the district's core English language arts knowledge-strand resources. Jennifer Luzinski (curriculum staff) and Jason Gillum (finance/staff) told the board the adoption follows a year-long vetting process and an overwhelming teacher preference. The purchase combines print and digital resources, includes consumable student workbooks for years 1–5 and district-controlled digital rights for years 6–7, and was structured with a three-payment schedule (July 2025, July 2026, July 2027) to avoid a single upfront payment. The board approved the contract on a motion by Sonya, second by Patrick.
- 95% Group agreement: The board approved an expanded annual purchase of 95% Group materials, adding fourth- and fifth-grade phonics editions and additional decodable-class sets for kindergarten through second grade to expand foundational skills districtwide. Jennifer Luzinski said teachers overwhelmingly supported extending the phonics program to all elementary grades. Motion by Clay, second by Jody.
- Conference Technologies, Inc. (CTI) contract for AV upgrades: The board approved a bond-funded contract to upgrade audiovisual systems in performing arts centers, small theaters and black-box spaces at five high schools and the Hilltop Conference Center. Presenters said the work will occur over two summers and winter break, with two schools addressed this summer (North and West) and the remainder in summer 2026; Hilltop work will occur over winter break. The district reported savings by centralizing logistics and said the contract came in at about $1,933,000 (the bond line had been budgeted at just over $2 million). Motion by Jody, second by Clay.
- Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) Region 11 liaison: The board reappointed Jan Kessinger to a one-year term as the district's board liaison to the KASB Region 11 legislative committee. Motion by Jim, second by Jody.
Other routine actions approved earlier in the meeting included adoption of the meeting agenda and consent agenda, each by unanimous roll call. The board also voted to enter executive session 7-0 to review superintendent candidates under KSA 75-43-19(b)(1) and reconvened only to adjourn.
Board members and staff highlighted that the Amplify selection followed a year-long review and teacher preference; finance staff noted approximately $103,000 in logistics savings on the Amplify purchase, and a hybrid approach to consumable workbooks to reduce end-of-adoption waste. The CTI contract was described as bond-funded and driven by ticketing and service needs; staff said selected sites were prioritized by need and age of equipment.
