Board presented equity audit proposal from Ayala & Associates at not-to-exceed $42,500
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Summary
Staff proposed contracting Ayala & Associates, led by former Illinois Superintendent Carmen Ayala, for a district equity audit not to exceed $42,500 that would include board interviews, staff/student/parent/community focus groups and classroom observation; staff proposed bringing a contract to the board for consideration on Dec. 9.
Proviso Township High School District 209 staff recommended the board consider an equity audit to examine district policies, practices and instructional equity and to produce next-step recommendations.
Unidentified Speaker 6 described Ayala & Associates, led by Dr. Carmen Ayala (former Illinois state superintendent), as a firm with prior statewide work on equity and said the proposed contract would not exceed $42,500. The scope would include up to 19 one-hour interviews with board members and key staff, seven staff focus groups, four student focus groups, four parent focus groups and three community focus groups, plus classroom visits and data review.
"She's going to be in classrooms. She will be looking at data, and then she's going to really dig in and talk to people in our district," the presenter said, adding the work is intended to identify root causes and recommend next steps. The presenter said the item could be brought to the board for approval on Dec. 9 so the audit can begin promptly.
Board members asked about timeline and how focus-group participants would be chosen; staff said selection would be done collaboratively and would be shared with the full board. No contract was approved at the meeting.
