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We reviewed the upcoming agenda for DESOTO ISD and found 7 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| PRIORITY (LEVEL 8) |
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Contracts for Student Data Aggregation Platforms
The board will approve two contracts totaling $111,240 for student data platforms: Eduphoria ($61,280) and School Status ($49,960). The School Status platform aggregates student data including demographics, attendance, discipline, special education, homeless, migrant, and free/reduced lunch status. These systems create a comprehensive infrastructure for student monitoring and data collection.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: For items 7.C and 7.E, obtain the full contracts and data sharing agreements. Add DeSoto ISD to the state tracker for student data privacy and document the specific data elements being collected by third-party vendors.
Policy Lever: $111,240 Local Funds
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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District Reviewing School Resource Officer Agreements
The board will discuss and take possible action on its interlocal agreements with the City of DeSoto and the City of Glenn Heights for school resource officer (SRO) services. The agenda cites review of ‘contractual compliance, billing and payment obligations, questioned charges, and available legal remedies,’ suggesting potential disputes or changes to the S-R-O program.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: Monitor the discussion and outcome of items 8.E and 8.F. Request any related documents or proposed amendments to the SRO agreements to understand the nature of the dispute and its potential impact on law enforcement presence in schools.
Policy Lever: SRO Program Stability
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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Approval of K-5 Social Studies Curriculum
The board is set to approve the purchase of the ‘myWorld Social Studies’ curriculum from SAVVAS for grades K-5 at a cost of $20,210 for a one-year license. This item is on the consent agenda, bundling a core curriculum adoption with routine administrative matters. The ideological content of the curriculum is not detailed in the agenda.
Policy Use
PULL THE DOCUMENT: Before the vote on Consent Item 7.I, request the curriculum review materials for SAVVAS ‘myWorld Social Studies’ to assess its alignment with state standards and for contested ideological content.
Policy Lever: $20,210 Local Funds
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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Quarterly Report Details Federal Grant Activity
A quarterly financial update shows the district processed $1.18 million in federal grant activity from April to June 2026. Major funding sources include Title I, II, III, and IV, IDEA-B, Perkins V, and GEAR UP grants. The report also lists activity from a ‘Stronger Connections / Safety’ grant.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 6.A is an informational report, not a new grant acceptance. Document the scale of federal funding and specific programs like ‘Stronger Connections’ for the state implementation tracker.
Policy Lever: $1.18M Federal Grants (Q4)
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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Approval of ‘Good Cause Exception’ Policy
The board will vote on a ‘Good Cause Exception’ as part of the consent agenda. The title suggests a policy for waiving established rules for students, potentially related to discipline, attendance, or enrollment. The specific nature and criteria for the exception are unknown as the referenced policy text was not available for analysis.
Policy Use
PULL THE DOCUMENT: Retrieve the referenced attachments for Item 7.F (‘2026-27 DeSoto ISD Good Cause Exception’) from the official agenda link and confirm the operative language before the vote.
Policy Lever: Discipline & Attendance Policy
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Approval of Juvenile Justice Alternative Education MOU
The board will approve a Memorandum of Understanding with Dallas County and other districts for the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP). The agreement outlines procedures for placing expelled students, including defining ‘Serious Misbehavior,’ data sharing under FERPA, and financial responsibilities. This formalizes the district’s process for handling students removed for disciplinary reasons.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 7.A renews a standard interlocal agreement for alternative education. Document the MOU’s definition of ‘Serious Misbehavior’ and data-sharing provisions for the state policy file.
Policy Lever: Student Discipline Policy
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Approval of New Grant-Funded Director Position
The board will consider approving a ‘Director of LASO Grant’ position. The agenda provides no information on the grant’s source, purpose, funding amount, or what the ‘LASO’ acronym represents. This action creates a new administrative position funded by an unknown grant.
Policy Use
REQUEST INFORMATION: Contact the district to clarify the purpose, source, and conditions of the ‘LASO Grant’ referenced in Action Item 8.G before the vote.
Policy Lever: Undisclosed Grant
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