Committee recommends staying with current yearbook vendor for now; requests cost comparison and 1‑year contract option

At its Feb. 11 meeting, the student activities committee discussed yearbook photography vendors and recommended the board keep the current vendor for the remainder of the school year while the administration prepares additional information for a final decision.

Miss Gatto, the yearbook adviser, told the committee she believes the current vendor referred to in the meeting as "Katie" produces higher‑quality photography but has had some scheduling challenges in their first year in the district. "I will say that I do think Katy offers better quality photography," she said, noting that the vendor's portal keeps files and lists in a digital, constantly updated form that helped avoid omissions.

Committee members contrasted that with Christmas City, a local vendor that committee members said has been convenient for families and the school. Committee members noted Christmas City has introduced a portal as well, but advisers had not yet tested it. Speakers also raised the 2025 incident in which a student photo was omitted; Miss Gatto described layered checks being added with the yearbook publisher to avoid a recurrence.

Administrators recommended the committee finish out the current contract year with Katie and bring a recommendation to the full board. The committee asked administration to prepare a side‑by‑side cost comparison for families and to present only a one‑year contract rather than a multi‑year commitment. The committee also asked that the district solicitor review vendor contracts before final board action.

There was no formal vote recorded as a binding contract award at the committee level. Committee members asked staff to include the vendor recommendation, the requested cost comparison, and the one‑year contract option in their materials for the upcoming board meeting.