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We reviewed the upcoming agenda for JUDSON ISD and found 4 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| PRIORITY (LEVEL 9) |
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Board to Approve 52 Vendors for Staff and Student Development
The board will approve a pre-qualified list of 52 vendors for consulting, speaking, and program presentation services for a multi-year period. The list includes vendors offering services such as ‘culturally responsive instruction’ and ‘equitable breakthrough solutions,’ creating a pathway for DEI and SEL programming without requiring individual contract review.
Policy Use
BRIEF STATE AFFAIRS: Consent Item 7.D pre-approves a vendor list for professional development. Highlight vendors like Stetson and Associates Inc. (‘culturally responsive instruction’) and Equitable Breakthrough Solutions as examples of how districts create broad pathways for ideological consultants. Recommend model policy requiring individual board approval for all curriculum-related consultants.
Policy Lever: Pre-approval of 52 PD/Consulting Vendors
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 8) |
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District to Approve Student Data-Sharing Agreement with Police
The board will approve a ‘Handle with Care’ MOU allowing law enforcement to notify the district when a student is involved in a traumatic event off-campus. The agreement, which facilitates school-based interventions, does not specify any requirement for parental notification or consent, raising significant parental rights concerns.
Policy Use
BRIEF STATE AFFAIRS: Consent Item 7.J creates a data-sharing program with law enforcement that does not mention parental notification or consent. This is a model for how student services can be triggered without parental involvement. Recommend model policy requiring parental notification and opt-in for any non-academic services provided based on law enforcement data.
Policy Lever: Law Enforcement Data Sharing
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 8) |
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Board to Delegate Year-Round Hiring Authority to Superintendent
The board will vote on amending policy DC(LOCAL) to give the Superintendent year-round final authority to hire all contractual personnel at the assistant principal level and below. This removes the current seasonal restriction on this delegation, significantly reducing the elected board’s oversight of most professional staff hires.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: Consent Item 7.K represents a significant transfer of power from the elected board to the administration. Document this policy change as a model of reduced governance and accountability for state policy teams to use as an example.
Policy Lever: Board Authority Delegation
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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District to Spend $280,000 in Grant Funds on Math Coaching
The board will approve a $280,000 expenditure from the ‘LASO 4 Lift Grant’ for Carnegie Curriculum & Instruction to provide mathematics coaching at eight underperforming schools. This represents a significant investment in an external consultant for core instructional support, funded by a grant with unknown conditions.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: For Consent Item 7.B, request the full grant agreement for the ‘LASO 4 Lift Grant’ and the contract with Carnegie to identify any conditions related to curriculum, SEL, or DEI. Add district to state tracker for grant-funded professional development.
Policy Lever: $280,000 Grant Funds
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