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Board members and staff warn Safari Montage nonrenewal could cut Skyline access July 1
Summary
Board members pressed district staff about a removed contract renewal for Safari Montage, with staff saying Skyline depends on Safari Montage materials and students would lose access on July 1 if an interim approach is not in place.
Board members on June 25 pressed district staff about a removed procurement item for the Safari Montage platform and the operational risk it poses to summer and fall curriculum access.
Board member Smith asked directly whether the nonrenewal would disrupt student learning. A district technical lead responded: "So it's not a standalone software... if we do not have it, students... will not have access to Skylines starting July 1st." That exchange placed the onus on procurement and curriculum teams to ensure teachers and students have transition materials.
Smith asked whether using Google Drive as an interim repository could expose the district to intellectual property or privacy risk. The administration deferred that legal question off the public record, offering to follow up with board members privately.
Why it matters: CPS uses digital content platforms for summer programming and for curriculum supports that underpin classroom instruction. District staff told the board they are preparing supplemental curriculum to bridge any gap but acknowledged that the Skyline platform’s materials are hosted on Safari Montage.
What the district said: technical staff asked for time to give a clearer, concise response and described a plan to support a transition "without having Safari Montage" while preserving Skyline-linked resources during the platform changeover. Legal counsel declined to discuss privileged procurement or contract negotiations publicly.
What happens next: The board requested additional briefings and documentation on any interim curriculum access plan and on legal risks associated with alternate file‑sharing approaches. The item’s removal from the public agenda prompted several trustees to ask for full transparency about procurement timing and the implications for students.
