Committee advances GEAR UP and trustee custodian contracts to full board pending fee schedule

The committee advanced two trustee custodian contract items (US Bank National Association) and the GEAR UP grant-related contracts to the full board without recommendation so directors could review an outstanding fee schedule. The motion passed with four ayes.

Superintendent Brenda Caselli reported MPS had been awarded a GEAR UP grant described in committee as $3.3 million per year for seven years to serve more than 4,100 students in 28 schools with advising, academic enrichment, family engagement, dual enrollment and workforce-aligned pathways. Janita Domchick, director of procurement and risk management, presented the request to waive Administrative Policy 3.09 to authorize the GEAR UP contracts and three trustee custodian contracts for the district’s supplemental early retirement plan, the directors' plan, and the retiree health care/OPEB trust.

Matt Chasen of the Office of Accountability and Efficiency said he and the retirement plan committee support the contracts in principle but raised fiduciary concerns about contract language in section 11.3 (relating to vendor shutdown) and noted that attachments 12 and 13 contained a blank fee schedule. He recommended advancing the items without recommendation until the fee schedule is provided for proper fiduciary review. Administration committed to supply the fee schedule to board members the next morning. Director Reza moved to advance the items without recommendation while approving the remainder of the administration’s recommendations; the committee approved the motion.