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Board approves Orenda baseline study despite teacher concerns about classroom 'shadowing'
Summary
The board approved a consent item authorizing a baseline instructional study by Orenda (reported contract cost $221,138) after teachers raised concerns about shadowing students without parental knowledge; staff said the study is a system baseline and Orenda will meet principals and union partners prior to work.
The Alisal Union School District Board approved the consent agenda Dec. 10, including Item 6H authorizing an Orenda baseline study of instructional systems despite public comment from teachers and the Alisal Teachers Association expressing concerns about classroom "shadowing" and timing during LPAC preparation.
An ATA representative told the board the study’s timing could conflict with LPAC testing and that "if parents found out that their children are being shadowed for a study without their consent, they would be upset," and raised the contract cost of $221,138.
Superintendent Ansel and staff responded that no work will commence without further communication: staff said Orenda will meet principals on Monday and then meet both certificated and classified union partners to explain the scope. "It is a baseline study of the system," the superintendent said, framing the work as a neutral review of district systems rather than a covert classroom audit.
Board members debated whether to table the appointment of an ALMA representative earlier in the meeting because of uncertainty about the committee’s current activity, but on the consent agenda vote the board approved the consent items 4–0 with one absence.
The motion to approve the consent agenda (which included the Orenda study) carried 4–0 with one absence; staff said they will follow up with principals and union leadership before Orenda begins work.
