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Contracts awarded to aid city schools
By Denise Dick
By DENISE DICK
Youngstown
The city schools’ Academic District Commission took another step in implementing a plan aimed at getting the district out of academic emergency.
The panel at a meeting Monday awarded contracts for services outlined in the academic-recovery plan.
Debra Mettee, commission chairwoman, said the awards are based on the recommendations from the Ohio Department of Education.
A contract for monitoring and oversight of the plan went to Pearson K-12 Solutions of California with offices in Ohio. The plan, devised by the commission and approved by the state superintendent of public instruction, calls for a monitor of the plan’s implementation. The cost is about $100,000.
The $100,000 systems audit will be done by Ed Focus Initiative of East Palestine. The audit will include district systems, policies and processes including board policy, administrative guidelines, staffing levels, staff evaluations, building-level student codes of conduct, staff handbooks, core curriculum and instructional resources.
Commission members also approved Mosaica Turnaround Partners, an Atlanta company with offices in Columbus, to improve leadership within the district. The contract is capped at $405,000.
Mentors will report all performance measures including individual leadership-development goals for principals, principal attendance and participation in monthly meetings and general assessments of leadership knowledge skill and competency development.
The contracts are to be forwarded to the Fiscal Oversight Commission for approval as well.
Academic Commission members complimented Superintendent Wendy Webb and members of her administration for the work they’ve already done in implementing the recovery plan, including student testing.
“You could have waited until the monitors were put in place,” said James Hall, commission member. “You didn’t do that. Congratulations.”
The commission also approved Connie Hathorn as the new city schools superintendent.
The school board, which selected Hathorn, formerly of the Akron School District, last month, is negotiating contract terms with him.