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District 204 discusses $175,000 PRISM academic ROI proposal to inventory programs and measure impact
Summary
Dr. Louis Lee presented a proposal to engage the District Management Group (DMG) to implement PRISM, a framework to inventory initiatives and calculate academic return on investment; the board debated data quality, scope and how core instruction and MTSS would be evaluated. Administration plans to return with a formal proposal March 23.
Dr. Louis Lee presented a proposed partnership with the District Management Group (DMG) to implement the PRISM (Prioritizing Resources and Initiatives for Strategic Management) academic return-on-investment framework. Lee described PRISM as a navigation system to map every initiative, calculate an initiative-level ROI (including fully loaded costs such as staff time), and align resource allocation with district priorities and MTSS supports.
Lee said the aim is to move from asking 'did we do it?' to 'did it work?' and to provide data to inform the district's next strategic plan and the fiscal year 2027 budget process. He said the proposed investment is $175,000 on a roughly $490 million budget and estimated the work would kick off in April, with data gathering across cabinet members, directors and principals and a final report to inform decision-making. He described PRISM's mixed-methods approach combining quantitative measures and qualitative surveys of building leaders.
Board members raised multiple questions about PRISM's methodology and scope. Justin Karubas and Mark Rising expressed reservations about the subjectivity of some inputs, the reliance on principal responses rather than a broader survey of teachers, parents and students, and the decision to exclude zero-based budget items such as facility maintenance. Karubas asked for a post-implementation review ('was it worth it') and for clarity on how the analysis would handle mandated programs and costs.
Lee and district administrators said DMG has worked with the district for years, that the firm will guide an inclusive inventory process, and that the PRISM output would not automatically force cuts but would provide an evidence base for decisions. Administration said DMG would coordinate with the district data team to minimize the burden on staff and that sample reports and implementation details would be provided if the board moves forward.
Administration requested time to return with a formal proposal and potential contract terms at the March 23 meeting. Board members indicated interest but also asked for more detail on sample reports, data inputs and how PRISM would account for core instruction and tier‑1 MTSS fidelity.
