Council Rock School District staff told the Finance Committee on Sept. 11 that they plan to renew an on-call contract with Brett DeNovi & Associates to provide short-term behavioral consultation and one-to-one support when student needs increase.
Tony Raft, the district's director of business administration, said the vendor's hourly rate remains $55 per hour, unchanged from the previous year. He said the district spent $51,046.25 with the vendor during the last fiscal year. Raft described the service as an on-demand staffing option similar to other temporary staffing arrangements: the vendor provides trained staff who can support de-escalation, develop short-term behavior plans and provide immediate, short-term coverage while the district pursues longer-term placements or supports.
Special services staff said typical use is short-term (two weeks to a month) to stabilize a classroom or student while staff implement a transition or placement. "This is meant to be a short term intervention," a staff member said. The district does not pay the vendor unless services are used.
Committee members asked for evaluation of the vendor's performance. A committee member with prior experience using the vendor in another district said they had found the vendor responsive and well trained, and that the company had helped keep students in school and safe. District staff said they plan to renew the agreement so the district has immediate access to trained behavioral support when needs arise.
Next steps: if the renewal is approved, the contract will remain available for use as-needed, and staff will continue to report usage and costs to the board as part of routine financial updates.