Board reviews renewals for special‑education vendors, Medicaid billing service and contracted specialists
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Summary
The board reviewed a package of contract renewals that serve students with disabilities and other specialized needs, emphasizing compliance and continuity of services as school starts.
The board reviewed a package of contract renewals that serve students with disabilities and other specialized needs, emphasizing compliance and continuity of services as school starts. Presenters said several contracts stem from a lack of in‑district licensed staff and are intended to ensure the district can meet evaluation and service timelines.
Mary Jesson and other administrators highlighted these items: Hearing Haven will provide instruction and teacher‑of‑record services for students who are deaf or hard of hearing (the district currently lists five students with that primary disability); Donna Marchand Stinson holds a visually impaired license and visits the district to serve students with low vision and blindness; AssetWorks (formerly GoSolutions) manages Medicaid billing that enables the district to recoup reimbursement for therapy and evaluation services; Jelani Educational Services is a contract psychologist used to complete time‑sensitive special‑education evaluations while district staff capacity is limited; and EPIC provides speech pathology services for preschool and other students, supporting approximately 450 children who receive speech or language therapy in the district.
Administrators said Jelani’s work is paid per signed evaluation to expedite completion within the regulatory timeline; they said an in‑house psychologist hire is forthcoming but a contract remains necessary to clear outstanding evaluations. On Medicaid billing, staff said they are exploring more automated tools to increase reimbursements (for services including social work and nursing) but continue to rely on AssetWorks as a clearinghouse for claims.
Trustees asked about subcontracting clauses and the district’s reliance on single‑source providers for specialized licenses; counsel explained subcontract restrictions are standard and that some licensures are scarce in the local labor market. No formal contract approvals occurred during the work session; staff will bring final agreements to the regular board meeting.
