Board limits approval of special‑education nonpublic contracts to a two‑week provisional window after community demands for transparency

The Sacramento City Unified School District board declined to approve long‑term master contracts for special‑education nonpublic agencies and schools without additional transparency and negotiated reductions, instead approving a two‑week provisional contracting window so services can begin while staff prepares fuller documentation.

Public speakers and community advocates pressed the board for greater accountability. "You can't call for transparency all year and then approve a $46,000,000 in agreements with no underlying data," Jennifer Womack told the board, criticizing the supporting documents as identical Google Sheets without provider‑level breakdowns. Carl Pinkston of the Black Parallel School Board also urged clearer metrics tying youth‑development and contracted services to academic outcomes and cost per student.

SELPA staff told the board that the contracts fund legally required services under IDEA and that many agreements were negotiated or re‑negotiated to lower rates; staff said some renegotiations yielded substantial per‑therapist savings. Board members repeatedly asked for itemized spreadsheets, object codes, and evidence of negotiations and oversight. Member Singh moved, and later amended his motion, to approve contracts only for a two‑week period and require staff to return with a full presentation and negotiated reductions; Member Ibarra seconded. The board voted by roll call to approve the amended motion; the district will ask vendors to provide temporary service while staff completes the documentation and negotiations and will return to the board in two weeks with a detailed proposal.