College Station ISD board approves $236,861.80 Solution Tree professional development purchase

The College Station Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $236,861.80 purchase from Solution Tree on Oct. 21 to continue districtwide professional development in PLC (Professional Learning Communities), RTI and behavior solutions.

Mister Mann, who led the presentation to trustees, described the work as an extension of the district’s strategic plan adopted in 2021 and traced Solution Tree activities from initial proposals in 2023 through cohort-based trainings, summer institutes and campus coaching. "The training that our campuses went through is what Solution Tree calls PLC at work," he said, outlining a sequence of multi-day academies for guiding coalitions, principals and instructional coaches.

Mann told trustees the district divided schools into cohorts to manage readiness and funding and to maximize on-site training. He described a mix of on-site professional development, virtual modules (Global PD Teams) and books/resources for participating staff, noting some expenditures were below the $50,000 threshold and communicated via transmittals rather than separate board agenda items.

On the funding breakdown, Mann presented a multi-year accounting of Solution Tree expenditures and funding codes, explaining that district-level spending has been driven largely by federal grants. "97% of it has come from federal funds," he said, and he highlighted Title II funds as the primary source for this purchase. He said campus activity funds and local funds accounted for a small share of total spending on Solution Tree work.

Trustees asked about vendor selection, measurement of outcomes and long-term sustainability. Mann said Solution Tree was chosen in part because it provides in-person Texas-based associates and a long-standing PLC model familiar to educators. Board members emphasized the need for measurable returns on investment and recommended future staff surveys and outcome metrics tied to student learning and behavior indicators.

Doctor Darren Payne moved to approve the purchase "as presented;" Trustee Kristen Wilson seconded. The motion carried 7-0.

Next steps include implementing the on-site coaching scheduled for the fall and following semesters and continuing evaluation of student learning and staff buy-in to determine future district investments in the program.