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Board questions $1,000,000 Wayfinder contract, staff say districtwide implementation continues
Summary
Directors asked why a roughly $1,000,000 Wayfinder social-emotional learning contract appears to show fewer than one-third active users; Assistant Superintendent Dawn Golden and Superintendent Dr. Walters said Wayfinder is districtwide in Year 3, with classroom lessons and administrative supports that may not appear in login metrics.
At the agenda-review meeting May 20, 2026, board members pressed administration about the Wayfinder social-emotional learning program (agenda item 6.1), raising concerns about usage data and contract value.
Director York asked why the district is contracting for Wayfinder for all schools when active-user data in the board response suggested "fewer than one third of PPS students are utilizing this resource, but we are purchasing it for the entirety of the school district." She asked how the district plans to increase utilization to get "the maximum benefit possible from this contract." Director York added: "How are we spending $1,000,000 on something that's meant to be utilized across the entire school district, but only a third of our students are using it?"
Assistant Superintendent Dawn Golden said the district expects Wayfinder to be used throughout the district and that her office is developing a system to support buildings that are struggling with implementation. "The current expectation for Wayfinder is that it is used throughout the district... this is year 3 of implementation," she said, adding that supports are being developed with the team overseeing SEL implementation.
Superintendent Dr. Walters clarified that all schools implement Wayfinder "in different forms," noting that students may not log into the platform even when teachers are using Wayfinder lessons in classrooms. "Because students don't necessarily log in, it doesn't mean that teachers are not using the Wayfinder lessons with their classes," he said, explaining the difference between platform-active-user metrics and instructional use.
Context and significance: The exchange highlights a common implementation issue for districtwide digital programs — platform logins do not capture lesson delivery in classrooms. Directors said they wanted clearer metrics and supports so that the district’s investment yields measurable implementation across buildings.
No motion or vote was associated with the Wayfinder discussion; staff indicated they will continue supporting implementation and that the district intends districtwide use of the program.
