www.1stgencollege.com/about-klyoung
19 September 2016
DELIVERED VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
Mr. Kimball Young, College Advisor
℅ Horizonte Alternative High School
1234 Main Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Re: Horizonte Graduate Advisor Services
Dear Mr. Kimball,
I feel compelled to write to you and apologize for the manner in which the District’s Business Administrator, Janet Roberts has treated you and inappropriately severed your contractual relationship with the Salt Lake City School District. Upon hearing that your contract with the District was haphazardly terminated, I directed several inquires to the Superintendent and Business Administrator. Throughout those exchanges I was able to determine the following:
In September 2014 – It appears that the decision was made at the local school level to hire someone on a full-time basis to help students with the transition into Higher Educational opportunities. The District issued an RFP for Graduate Advisor Services and you were chosen by District personnel to provide those services.[1] Subsequently, the District entered into a contractual agreement with you, to provide Graduate Advisor Services for the students at Horizonte Alternative High School. [2] It is my understanding that prior to this, you had volunteered your time in this capacity, as your schedule would allow. [3] Entering into this contract with the District, secured your services on a full-time basis. The Salt Lake City Board of Education authorized payment of your contract on the following dates:
As the result of a GRAMA request that I submitted last week, the District provided me with a copy of your contract and a purchase order status report that reflects that authorization of payment by District officials (including Ms. Roberts) occurred on 07/29/16. [7]
As you can see, on August 2, 2016, the Board of Education authorized the payment of your contract for the 2016-17 school year in the amount of $48,000.00. [8] The last communication I received from Superintendent Cunningham is that she will not answer anymore of my questions on this issue and will instead inform the entire Board at Tuesday night’s Board meeting as to the reason or reasons why the District’s Business Administrator has countermanded an official act of the Board of Education. [9]
At this point, I am perplexed by yet another instances of an unauthorized action by Ms. Roberts. [10] According to Utah Statutes, as the District’s Business Administrator, she is subordinate to the Board of Education and does not have the authority to override an official vote of the Board. [11]
In closing, on behalf of the community that elected me to represent them, please accept my gratitude for the work you have done for the students at Horizonte Alternative High School over the past decade. We all look forward to a speedy resolution to this misunderstanding and a continued association with you. [12]
Shalom,
J. Michael Clára
Board Member, District 2
Enclosures
cc: Dr. Cunningham, Superintendent
Horizonte School Improvement Council (SIC)
Horizonte School Community Council (SCC)
[1] RFP # JB1544-GA
[2] An Agreement For Graduate Advisor Services Between Salt Lake City School District and Kimball Young 09/01/14
[3] About Kimball Young, 1st GenerationCollege.com
[4] Salt Lake City School District –Purchase Report to the Board 09/16/14
[5] Salt Lake City School District –Purchase Report to the Board 05/01/15
[6] Salt Lake City School District –Purchase Report to the Board 08/02/16
[7] SLC School District Purchase Order Status Inquiry PO B170475 07/29/16
[8] Supra note 6
[9] Superintendent Cunningham email to Michael Clára –Salt Lake Education Fund Audit 09/19/16
[10] Utah Code §53A-3-303 Duties of Business Administrator Also see: Board of Education Handbook & Board Policy B-1
[11] Salt Lake City School Board of Education –Meeting Minutes 08/02/16
[12] Salt Lake City’s Alternative High School Boosts Students Into College, Salt Lake Tribune 06/08/13 & SLCC, Horizonte Partner to Bridge Gap Between High School, Higher Education, Deseret News 05/17/16