Chair introduced the idea of an operational review (described repeatedly as not a financial audit) to examine workflows, reduce redundancy and improve customer service across district operations. The proposal would ask an outside firm to interview administrators, observe processes and recommend changes; the chair said the work would be purely advisory and would not compel the district to adopt recommendations.

Kathy Hillers, a Jefferson County resident who described experience in operational reviews and consulting, outlined examples where modest changes produced measurable savings and said she would be happy to help the district develop an RFP "no charge." Hillers emphasized lessons learned from private- and public-sector process work and said firms could identify time and cost savings by redesigning repetitive tasks.

Some board members pushed back, saying an outsider advising the director could be "out of order" and questioned whether such a review is necessary. Supporters said the review could produce a multi-year pathway similar to earlier needs-assessment work that informed facility projects and security upgrades; staff noted the district operates on a large scale (board members referenced roughly 1,300 employees and a budget over $80 million) and said an RFP could be tailored to find firms with government experience.

What happens next: The chair said he would propose authorizing staff to draft a scope of work for the board to review and amend before issuing an RFP; no contract or vendor was selected during the work session.