Board approves $1.7M summer backpack purchase after public questions on language access and bidding

The Board approved a controversial consent‑calendar purchase on May 11 for family summer learning backpacks — a one‑time purchase from Teacher Created Materials of literacy kits intended for preK–5 families — at about $1.7 million.

Dr. Priestley explained the rationale: the vendor had been used during the school year, families responded positively, and the backpacks will include grade‑level trade books and a workbook matched to the reading materials. "We are going to be giving books, books to probably 25,000 families," Dr. Priestley told the board, framing the initiative as a way to put home libraries in students’ hands for summer enrichment.

Public commenters and several commissioners raised questions before the vote: whether families were consulted about the design, whether the materials were accessible to non‑English‑speaking caregivers (the district said school‑year materials were distributed in English and Spanish, but the summer packs were planned in English so students could practice English), and whether the contract had been competitively bid. Legal counsel said staff used a sole‑source exception for specific materials after vetting other vendors; staff also said they had compared options and judged this vendor provided quality at a competitive price.

Commissioner Maliga and others expressed concern about scale and oversight; Commissioner Lam urged looking for parent‑tip cards in Spanish (staff agreed to investigate whether Spanish parent tip sheets could be made available). Despite reservations, the board approved the item by roll call.

The board and staff said the purchase will be funded from federal/state learning‑recovery/summer program funds. Staff also committed to monitoring distribution and usage and to collecting feedback from families about the materials’ usefulness.