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Board approves contracts for special‑education, alternative placements and related services
Summary
The Stow‑Munroe Falls board approved a set of contracts covering special‑education services, audiology, interpreter services, residential education and alternative placements after trustees asked for cost and student‑count details during discussion.
The Stow‑Munroe Falls City School District Board of Education on April 28 approved a bundle of contracts and service agreements covering special‑education supports, audiology, interpreter services, instruction for students placed in residential hospitals and alternative‑education placements.
Board members said they wanted clearer counts and cost breakdowns before voting, then approved each agreement by roll call.
Board context: Why it mattered District staff described the educational service center (ESC) agreements and vendor contracts as a way to deliver federally and state‑mandated special‑education and alternative education services without hiring full‑time employees. Trustees asked how many students each contract would serve and whether the district receives state reimbursement for portions of the cost.
What the board approved and what staff said - Summit Educational Service Center primary service plan (2025–26): Doctor Gould said the primary service plan totals $366,109.54 and “services 4,981 students,” the district’s entire student population; he described the ESC as state‑funded and used to provide special‑education, gifted and general supports. The board approved the contract by roll call.
- Employment of individuals through the Educational Service Center (online Bulldog Academy director, prevention counselor, parent mentor): District staff said the online director position will move to a teacher contract (184 days instead of 260), lowering cost; the parent‑mentor position is charged to the district but reimbursed partially by grant dollars (staff said the district is reimbursed by state grant funds). The board approved the contract by roll call.
- Audiology contract: The ESC audiology contract was listed at $29,205.85 and said to serve 31 students; the board approved the contract by roll call.
- Summer interpreter services (sign language) for extended‑year services: Staff said one student requires summer interpreter services; the board approved the contract by roll call. (Exact dollar figure for the summer contract was not specified in the public discussion.)
- LearnWell service agreement (instruction for students placed in residential hospital settings): Staff described LearnWell as a per‑hour service ($51/hour, up to five hours a week) for students while inpatient; staff said the district cannot predict usage because placements are driven by clinical need. The board approved the agreement by roll call.
- LEAP service agreement (alternative placement for students needing more intensive social‑emotional/behavioral supports): Staff said cost is $160 per diem with a per‑student maximum of $28,800 annually; there were four students currently in LEAP placements and the board approved the agreement by roll call.
- Total Education Solutions (Kids Link/Wings of Change): Staff said the cost is $89,200 per student and two students were in those programs; the board approved the agreement by roll call.
How trustees framed the discussion Trustees repeatedly asked: How many students are served, are alternative vendors available, and what state or grant reimbursement applies. Staff repeatedly replied that many placements are required by individualized education program (IEP) team decisions and that some positions are reimbursed by state grant or per‑pupil reimbursement through the ESC. Trustees also noted that many of these contracts recur from prior years and that past agenda items showed similar, unchanged terms.
Outcome and next steps Each contract or service agreement was approved by roll call during the meeting. Staff committed to provide more granular historical counts for services such as the number of students served by LearnWell in prior years. The district indicated future use of its current legal counsel to advise on any use of outside counsel related to services and investigations.
Votes at a glance (selected items) - Summit ESC primary service plan (2025–26): approved (roll call: East Jenkins Aye; Marletti Aye; Sheehan Aye; Siodonick Aye; Wind Aye). - ESC employment agreements (online director, prevention counselor, parent mentor): approved (roll call as above). - Audiology contract ($29,205.85; 31 students): approved (roll call as above). - Summer interpreter services (1 student): approved (roll call as above). - LearnWell (residential hospital instruction; $51/hour, max 5 hrs/week): approved (roll call as above). - LEAP (alternative placement; $160/day; max $28,800/yr; 4 students): approved (roll call as above). - Total Education Solutions ($89,200 per student; 2 students): approved (roll call as above).
Ending District staff said they will bring back any additional requested counts or reimbursement detail on future agendas so trustees can monitor usage and cost trends for these recurring special‑education and alternative‑placement contracts.
