Board hears curriculum shortfall and debates grant-funded literacy and math coaching positions
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Summary
Academic staff reported a projected curriculum-materials shortfall and proposed a Super App grant requesting up to $500,000 for literacy and math teacher-collaboration facilitator positions (up to $25,000 per position per eligible site). Board members asked whether positions are mandated, whether existing staff could be reassigned, and whether one-year grant funding is sustainable; the committee tabled job-description approval pending clarification.
School district academic staff told the committee they face a curriculum-materials shortfall for 2026–27 and described a plan to apply for Super App funds to support school-based teacher-collaboration facilitator positions in literacy and numeracy.
Academic director Gagneer presented a line-by-line spreadsheet of curriculum expenditures and inventory. She reported the district has a remaining balance of $648,701 in current curriculum allocations and a projected shortfall of roughly $388,446 for immediate purchases; staff identified a total need of about $1,037,147.50 when other line items and professional-development requirements are included. She recommended reallocating $250,000 budgeted for summer learning to reduce the shortfall and requested permission to take the budget adjustment to the full board.
Grant-funded coaches: Staff also presented two draft job descriptions for Super App-funded positions—literacy teacher-collaboration facilitator and mathematics teacher-collaboration facilitator—eligible at CIR/UIR sites. The district’s application requested up to $500,000 to cover up to $25,000 per position at eligible sites (the record counted nine eligible schools after a site-code change). Members questioned whether these positions are mandated, whether strong existing teachers would accept one-year, grant-funded roles, and whether the district would be required to cover salary shortfalls from the general fund if the grant funding is partial or one-time.
Action and next steps: The committee moved the curriculum budget-adjustment recommendation to the full board. On the job descriptions, members voted to table approval and asked staff to confirm (1) whether the Super App positions are required as a condition of funding, (2) the likely allocation the district will receive, and (3) whether the district can fill positions with internal staff without general-fund costs.
Public-interest note: Board members emphasized timing: curricular purchases must be completed by May 15 to meet district distribution timelines, and staff asked the committee to weigh short-term reallocation options while final grant allocations are confirmed.
