District seeks up to $500,000 in Super App allocations for teacher‑collaboration facilitators as curriculum shortfall grows

Miss Branson (S11), academic lead, presented a detailed spreadsheet of curriculum expenditures and inventory. She told the committee the district’s 2026–27 projected materials needs create a shortfall of approximately $388,446 and asked for permission to pursue internal budget adjustments and potential grant offsets to cover purchases that must be completed before the May 15 procurement deadline.

Branson also reviewed the Super App application the district submitted asking for up to $500,000 to create two sets of grant‑funded positions: one literacy (ELA) teacher‑collaboration facilitator and one mathematics teacher‑collaboration facilitator per eligible CIR/UIR school (originally 10 sites in the application; after recent site‑code changes the district expects nine eligible sites). The Department of Education guidance cited at the meeting allows up to $25,000 per facilitator per site; staff noted that the grant covers only a portion of salary and benefits and that the district would be responsible for any remainder.

Board members raised concerns that top teachers may be unwilling to take one‑year grant positions and asked whether current staff could be reassigned rather than hiring new employees. Members also asked whether the district is legally required to create these positions; staff said the roles are eligible expenditures under the Super App for eligible sites but not created by separate legislation, and that final funding amounts will be announced in April. Given funding uncertainty and timing, the committee voted to table approval of the job descriptions until staff can confirm allocation totals and clarify whether general‑fund support would be needed.

What happens next: staff will return with the confirmed Super App allocation (expected in April), an estimate of the district share if the grant is partial, and a recommendation on whether to advertise or use current staff for the facilitator roles.