Board approves $500K consultant to run high-school task force; critics question cost

The board voted to award a contract to a consultant team described in the agenda as ColorForce Education Partners (working with Partners in School Innovation and ABLE) to facilitate a 12‑month superintendent task force on high schools. The task force’s charge includes gathering community input, mapping the existing portfolio of high‑school offerings and producing recommendations on admissions policy and broader improvements. The consultant team described a yearlong timeline with two major deliverables: recommendations on admissions by April 30 and final recommendations by September.

Several public speakers questioned the contract’s cost and potential conflicts of interest. “I am absolutely appalled by the half a million dollar price tag for this contract,” said a public commenter, who urged the board to consider alternatives and to ensure equity and transparency in the selection and task-force application process.

Consultant representatives said the work will involve student ‘journeys,’ community conversations and data analysis; the proposal said roughly a small team of consultants plus technical staff will support the task force and that the firm will recruit a diverse task-force membership with parity between staff and community members. Commissioner Alexander recused himself from the vote because a consultant had earlier donated to his campaign; the vote passed with six affirmative votes.

Next steps: staff and the consultant will finalize scope and budget details, begin task-force selection and report progress to the superintendent and the board on a scheduled timeline.