Board approves literacy professional development, Premier Speakers Bureau contract and staff stipends

The board approved several professional‑development actions: a $15,500 contract with Premier Speakers Bureau Inc. for a one‑day literacy workshop and a motion to distribute remaining YBell grant funds as stipends for certified staff who contributed extra work to improve literacy outcomes.

Administrators said most teachers will attend literacy training through the YBell grant and that bringing the speaker to the district is a cost savings compared with sending staff out of district. "This speaker is from there...it's quite a bit of a cost savings to have them come to us and just get everybody with the workshop," an administrator said.

Trustees debated whether to first check with the state about reallocating unused grant funds to other districts; administrators said they had already sought state approval for the stipend use and received preliminary confirmation. After discussion, the board voted to approve the Premier Speakers Bureau contract and then voted to stipend certified staff from the YBell grant funds. Trustees also approved a separate personnel action report and other consent items during the meeting.

Administrators noted the stipend is not characterized as a bonus but as pay directly correlated with out‑of‑contract work and summer effort that supported the district’s literacy gains.