Trustees voted Thursday to move forward with a limited, phase-1 engagement of Civic Solutions Group (CSG) to review Spring ISD's optimization work.

Deputy Superintendent Miss Westbrooks told trustees the district's senior leadership team had produced a full set of optimization recommendations and that CSG would be engaged to "comb through our recommendations with a fine tooth comb," provide targeted recommendations and advise on strategic communications and public engagement. She said because the district had already completed much of the background work, phase 1 was priced well below the vendor's full-scope estimate.

Several trustees expressed concern about vendor selection and whether the lower-priced phase 1 was an insufficient appetizer that would leave essential work behind. Trustee Adams said he was "uncomfortable with the way it's structured to evade CH Local" and worried a later, larger phase would be required to get full value. Trustee Hodges, who has experience with civic engagement work, asked why the district would go outside when the senior leadership team had prepared the recommendations; the superintendent and deputy superintendent replied that outside experience in optimization, strategic communications and handling contentious community rollouts offered expertise the district had not previously used and could reduce implementation risk.

After discussion the board took a motion to proceed with phase 1 only. The motion, made by Trustee Adams and seconded by Trustee McDaniel, passed 5–2. Trustees did not authorize phase 2; administration said any subsequent phase exceeding the superintendent's spending authority would return to the board for approval.

Why it matters: Optimization work can include school consolidations, program changes and redistricting; outside validation and communication support can materially affect community acceptance and implementation risk. Trustees requested a more detailed breakdown of the specific services CSG will provide in phase 1.

Administration said phase 1 engagement had already been signed under the superintendent's authority within CH Local thresholds; trustees moved formally to approve phase 1 in the work session to ensure clear governance direction.