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Board approves $66,200 K–3 literacy program; questions on accountability
Summary
The Benton Harbor board approved a $66,200 invoice for the Institute for Multi-sensory Education to support K–3 literacy intervention. Trustees asked for fidelity checks and weekly documentation; Treasurer Bradley recorded the sole no vote.
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approved Sept. 9 a $66,200 purchase of training and instructional materials from the Institute for Multi-sensory Education to support a K–3 early literacy program.
Dr. Erica Foster, director of academics, described the program as a tier-one literacy intervention for kindergarten through third grade aligned with state requirements and district goals. The staff report identified the funding source as a '35M grant' line in the presented materials; the public record did not further specify the grant name or award status.
Trustees asked how the district will ensure the materials are used with fidelity. Dr. Foster said the program will include walkthroughs, weekly logs for interventionists and principals, biweekly principal check-ins and monthly interventionist reviews. The superintendent said the union will be engaged in implementation planning.
Treasurer Bradley asked for clarity about the grant source and earlier investments in curriculum that were not fully used; that trustee cast the sole recorded no vote when the board approved the invoice. The motion to approve staff report T1 was made by Treasurer Bradley and supported by Trustee Gavin; recorded votes show Bradley voting no while the other members present voted yes.
The board approved the item with implementation oversight to be handled by the teaching-and-learning team and principals. The staff report lists the invoice total as $66,200 and names the Institute for Multi-sensory Education as the vendor.
