Board debates scope and timing of possible outside audit; administrators recommend defining narrow scope first

Board members debated whether to commission an outside audit of district academic programs during the Oct. 30 Education Committee meeting. Several trustees said they want an independent assessment to identify strengths and areas for improvement; proposals ranged from focused special education and IEP audits to broader curriculum reviews and comparisons with high-performing districts.

Administrators cautioned that an external review requires a clearly defined scope, staff time to support the review, and funding for consultant work. Several board members suggested starting with targeted questions: for example, whether IEP documentation and special education resource allocation match student needs; why performance differs between north and south high schools; or how district-level metrics align with third-party rankings. Administrators suggested working with internal staff (Tom Barnes) to identify data gaps and potential cost ranges, then explore options from the IU, Hanover Research or other third-party vendors if the board decides to proceed.

No RFP was issued at the meeting. Trustees asked staff to return with options for scope, estimated cost, and timelines for a possible RFP; several trustees emphasized they prefer an audit that looks beyond compliance to identify best practices and cost-effectiveness. The committee agreed to continue the discussion at a future meeting once administrators provide recommended scopes and vendor options.