Board approves consultant contract to help with elementary consolidations; some trustees seek spending updates

The ABC Unified School District board on Dec. 9 approved a contract with Leadership Ledge LLC to support staff, students and families through the district’s phase‑in consolidation of several elementary schools for 2025–26.

District staff described the Leadership Ledge engagement as a tailored process to help roughly 260 staff and more than 3,000 students navigate transitions, with an upper estimate of hours that could cost up to roughly $74,000. Superintendent Dr. Gina Zitlo said the district selected the consultant for relevant experience and to provide targeted facilitation, site visits and community‑engagement work.

Board Clerk Leticia Mendoza expressed concern about the cost and asked staff to provide updates on spending: “It's a large amount of money. If we could get kind of like an update on how much we're spending… I'm just concerned about the expense,” she said. Other trustees asked whether the contract was a single consultant working with principals and district staff; staff replied that one consultant would lead the work and coordinate with school leaders and district personnel.

At the same meeting the board approved contracts with PBK, Huckabe & Associates and Studio W Architects to provide architectural services related to the Measure BB bond program; staff said the firms’ fees follow AIA guidance (about 12% of construction) and recommended multiple firms for capacity and availability during ongoing capital work. Trustees also welcomed Lori Fana (Fonca in remarks) as the district’s new Director of Nutrition Services.

The motion to approve the consultant and architecture contracts passed unanimously. Trustees requested regular updates on consultant hours and a report on how contracted transition work will be evaluated and integrated with principal‑led efforts.