Staff recommend Big Rock as LASSO grant provider to expand elementary math coaching
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Summary
East Central ISD staff proposed hiring Big Rock under a LASSO grant to deliver differentiated elementary-math coaching; the district said 70% of the grant (about $479,000) would fund the vendor and that board approval will be required because the vendor is new and the contract exceeds $100,000.
East Central ISD staff recommended that the district hire Big Rock as the technical-service provider under a LASSO grant to deliver differentiated coaching and instructional leadership support for elementary mathematics.
Jennifer (Presenter, EAST CENTRAL ISD) told trustees the district re-interviewed approved vendors and was impressed by Big Rock, saying the company "had the receipts" showing that 60% of districts they served improved at least one letter grade in math and that the vendor differentiates the intensity of coaching by campus.
Why it matters: staff said the proposal aims to build district capacity so instructional leaders and principals can sustain higher-quality math instruction without ongoing dependence on outside providers. Big Rockwould target the districtelementary campuses and provide heavier coaching for the two most needy campuses, lighter support for the highest-performing campuses, and intermediate levels for the rest.
Details and process: staff said the LASSO grant requires that 70% of funds be spent on an approved technical provider; the district estimated that 70% of this grant "comes out to about $479,000." Because Big Rock is a new vendor for the district and typical vendor contracts over $100,000 require board approval, staff said they will bring the contract to the board at the next meeting for formal approval. Staff also said a draft contract and a data-sharing agreement are under negotiation.
Implementation: staff described a three-year contract model with an annual review point. Big Rock would begin with a needs assessment (staff said work would start in April), provide weekly two-hour check-ins and a dashboard of activity, and allow the district to terminate or renegotiate at each annual review if performance is not met.
Use of remaining grant funds: staff explained the remaining 30% of the grant could fund teacher stipends, an additional math coach at the district, or a student-facing platform such as i-Ready or IXL; staff said the district is exploring other funds to sustain any purchased platforms beyond the grant.
Whathappens next: staff will return to the board with the proposed contract and any finalized data-sharing terms; trustees asked for lists of local districts and campus sites where Big Rock has worked so principals could observe the vendor in action. The transcript does not record a board vote on the vendor at this meeting.
