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Board approves Twig Education science platform; members raise concerns about five‑year, up‑front payment
Summary
Joplin Schools approved a five‑year Imagine Learning/Twig Education contract for middle‑school science; board members pressed district staff and vendor representatives on the absence of an obvious exit clause and the decision to pay multi‑year fees up front for a fiscal discount.
The Joplin Schools Board approved a five‑year contract to adopt Twig Education (from Imagine Learning) as a digital resource for middle school science but several board members questioned the payment and contract structure during discussion.
Dr. Mangi said the PK‑12 science team selected Twig to support phenomenon‑based instruction and to help spiral standards between grades. The district described the purchase as a five‑year agreement costing about $18 per student over the contract period and said the platform will integrate with the district Canvas learning management system.
One board member asked about the lack of an out clause and the practice of paying the full five years up front, saying, "When I read it, sir, what caught my eye on it was that it looks like we're paying the five years up front." Jordan, representing the vendor or district implementation team, replied: "we have had that conversation, but in order to get that break, that extra discount, it is up front."
District presenters said they piloted and reviewed the platform and obtained feedback from at least one other district; they also emphasized that curriculum frameworks will allow staff to supplement the vendor resource where gaps appear.
The board approved the contract after discussion. Staff noted the fiscal tradeoff: the district secures a discount in exchange for multi‑year, up‑front payment, while retaining the ability to supplement vendor materials locally.
The contract approval moves the resource into rollout planning for middle school teachers and instructional coaches, with further curriculum‑framework work anticipated across grade levels.
