Board approves educational agreements; officials explain high contracted costs for students with complex needs

The Anthony Wayne school board approved multiple educational agreements Tuesday that the administration said are necessary to meet individualized education program (IEP) requirements for students with complex medical or behavioral needs.

Superintendent Kevin Herman and other administrators explained the district’s responsibility to provide the least restrictive environment in which a student can be successful. When the district cannot meet a student’s specialized needs in‑district, it contracts with other providers or places the student in out‑of‑district programs. Those placements can carry high per‑student costs because they frequently require specialized transportation, full‑time medical staff during transport, one‑to‑one aides, or other contracted services.

Herman said some contracted services are for students with intensive medical needs and that district staff work with families and the IEP team to determine appropriate placements. "When we have students that have special needs, we are required to meet those needs…we may need full time nurses," Herman said, describing why transportation and contracted placements can be expensive. He noted the district transports students daily to facilities in Defiance and Archbold when necessary.

The board approved the agreements as part of the consent agenda. Trustees also discussed the budgetary effect of such encumbrances, which were noted earlier in the treasurer’s financial presentation as contributing to increased purchase‑services appropriations.

Board members asked administrators to continue seeking appropriate placements and to explain costs to the community; administrators said they would do so and that federal and state funding sources help but do not cover all costs for contracted placements.

The motions to approve the educational agreements passed on roll‑call votes.