UCPS committee forwards multiple sole-source instructional purchases to full Board

The Union County Public Schools Curriculum Committee on Aug. 27 voted unanimously to forward several sole-source instructional purchases to the full Board for approval. Committee members moved each item to the Board following brief staff presentations describing how the platforms are used in the district.

Products and descriptions provided in the committee packet and during the meeting include:

- Grama Teacher Academy: Presented as an online resource for sixth- through 12th-grade drama and theater teachers; packet materials were provided to members.
- Ron Clark Academy: Described as a program that increases parent and student engagement, enhances school culture and includes teacher retreats and empowerment sessions; staff said the Academy typically invites teams to visit the school.
- Leader in Me: Characterized as a whole-school transformation model and process.
- Curriculum Associates LLC: Listed as a platform that provides instructional resources and data to inform teacher instruction and track student progress; staff noted the district has used it for years.
- Lexia Learning Systems LLC: Described as a reading platform that screens students, identifies needs and guides practice; staff said the tool supplies data teachers can use for small-group instruction.
- EC extended content curriculum (academic online curriculum): Described as supporting students on the extended Common Core standards, including some students with autism; assistant director Hillary Croboff was present to answer questions.

District staff answering questions included directors for college readiness and federal programs. Committee members asked a procedural question about whether the Ron Clark Academy could be brought to the district and staff said they would inquire about on-site options.

Each sole-source purchase was the subject of a committee motion to forward the item to the full Board; motions carried unanimously at the committee (recorded as 4-0 for each item once all members were present). The committee did not award or authorize spending at the meeting; final approval and any purchase authorizations will be decided by the full Board.

No dollar amounts, contract terms or vendor-selection rationales beyond the statement that these are sole-source and currently used platforms were provided during the committee discussion. Committee members did not amend the sole-source recommendations at the meeting.

The committee scheduled its next meeting for Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. via Zoom.