Dayton school board approves Title 4 mentoring coordinator, ratifies construction contract and several superintendent recommendations

The Dayton Public School Board voted on multiple superintendent recommendations and staffing proposals, approving a new Title 4-funded community volunteer/mentoring coordinator, ratifying contracts and approving travel reimbursements during the meeting.

District staff described the proposed mentoring coordinator as a role to recruit, train and manage volunteer teams to support the district’s most vulnerable students (special populations, including those in foster care or group homes). The staff presenter said the initiative would rely on community partners and training rather than placing mentors in paid caseloads. The position was identified as Title 4-funded; district staff noted Title 4 carryover rules and the risk of losing unspent funds if not utilized. The board approved the position on a 5–2 vote after members pressed for clearer partner commitments, competitive hiring documentation and caseload expectations.

The manager recommended ratifying a contract with Broombach Construction Incorporated. The board ratified the contract unanimously (recorded as eight yes votes).

Board members also debated a 48-hour waiver tied to procurement for calendar-related contracts and discussed an Elevate K-12 contract that had been added, removed and reintroduced to the agenda after internal review. District leaders acknowledged earlier implementation and onboarding issues with the vendor (IT, HR and business-system integration) but said Elevate K-12 now staff certified teachers and that lessons learned had improved collaboration. The board recorded an eight-vote tally on the 48-hour waiver and bundled superintendent recommendations.

Members debated approving board travel and expense reimbursements for a series of conferences, noting limited funds and the need for equitable distribution. The board asked its external-organizations committee to propose rules for travel allocation and approved the listed travel with a caveat limiting registration until committee guidance is returned.

Why it matters: the Title 4 position creates an explicit staffing mechanism for mentoring and volunteer coordination tied to federal grant fund rules; contract ratifications and the 48-hour waiver affect how quickly the district can secure services and vendors. Board members emphasized the need for clear partner commitments and measurable outcomes when grants are used to create new positions.

The board recorded votes: the Title 4 mentoring coordinator passed 5–2; Broombach Construction ratification and a set of superintendent recommendations (including a 48-hour waiver and several bundled approvals) were recorded with eight yes votes; travel reimbursements were approved with conditions (tallies recorded as eight yes votes). District staff said they would follow up on competitive hiring documentation, grant conditions and the Preschool Promise survey requested earlier in the meeting.