School board approves critical speech therapy contract amid shortages

In a recent board meeting, members unanimously approved a contract for professional speech therapy services with Texas Star, LLC, for the 2024-2025 school year, not to exceed $130,000. The decision comes amid a statewide shortage of speech therapists, which has significantly impacted the ability to meet student needs. The board noted that the contract amount was reduced due to the hiring of two additional therapists just before the meeting, which helped mitigate costs.

Additionally, the board adopted the 2024-2025 student code of conduct, which included minor updates, notably a provision that will clarify the law enforcement duties of school resource officers and security personnel, effective January 1, 2025. This change aims to streamline the approval process by incorporating necessary updates into the existing code.

The meeting also included a closed session where the board discussed personnel matters, leading to the approval of appointments for school marshals. All motions presented during the meeting received unanimous support from board members, reflecting a collaborative approach to addressing the district's needs.