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Parents and educators urge board to reject high‑cost consultant contract
Summary
Multiple public commenters asked the board to reject or closely review a three‑year contract with Partners in School Innovation, citing hourly consultant rates ($144–$224) and arguing those roles should be in‑house and funded at schools.
Remote and in‑person commenters questioned a proposed contract with Partners in School Innovation, calling its hourly rates excessive and arguing the district should hire permanent staff instead of paying outside contractors. "I'm not opposed to coaching, but I am opposed to contractors getting paid between a $144 and $224 an hour," said Chris Klaus, a special education department head at Washington High School, who urged the board to favor in‑house union member positions that would better serve school communities.
Alyssa Wynne, who spoke next, echoed that concern and framed it as an equity and labor issue: "The challenge to equity is paying private consultants $224 an hour... Stop cutting school nurse and social work positions." Another parent said parents at Guadalupe had found a bilingual TK teacher but were told to find the students; commenters argued the district should prioritize funding directly in schools rather than outsourcing.
NAACP and Alliance representatives also tied the contract concern to after‑school programming, urging the board to consider giving funds to teachers and retired teachers rather than external contractors. The board did not vote on the consultant contract at the meeting during public comment; staff later pulled a separate construction contract (item 39) from consent to be re‑noticed and returned.
Speakers advocated for fiscal transparency and asked the board to scrutinize contracting practices in light of prior 'Neutral Fact Finding' findings that identified overspending on contracted services; several asked the board to move funds into classrooms and direct services for students instead of consultant fees.
