Board reviews special-education service contracts and adopts updated Ohio model policies

The board reviewed proposed special-education contracts and a recommendation to adopt Ohio’s 2025 special education model policies to maintain state and federal compliance.

Assistant Superintendent Mister Spinner and Director of Pupil Services Miss Martin described contracts with Warren County Educational Service Center (ESC), Hamilton County ESC and Butler County ESC for a range of services including preschool nursing and speech services, assistive-technology access, audiology and teacher-of-the-deaf support. The presenters said some positions that had been contracted previously (two speech positions and a preschool nurse) were brought in-house this year after district hiring made them full-time district positions.

Nut graf: The administration said the contracts are routine renewals of consortium and ESC services; changes this year include bringing some positions into district payroll when those services became full-time, continued use of ESC leasing for specialized equipment and an update to special-education model policies required by Ohio to reflect 2025 revisions.

Miss Martin said Warren County ESC’s quote covers a broad menu of services, Hamilton County ESC provides assistive-technology and gifted services and Butler County ESC provides audiology and teacher-of-the-deaf services. She said Butler County’s approach usually leases hearing-assistive devices rather than purchasing them, and the board asked staff to return with comparative cost information on leasing versus purchasing after questions about replacement costs and billing for lost or damaged items.

Separately, Mister Spinner summarized Ohio’s updated 2025 special education model policies, noting the changes: clarifying when parents can request records be discarded, allowing parents the opportunity to request independent evaluations at any time, removing "emerging skills" from extended school year services and removing suggested services during short-term removal. He told the board the updates keep district policy aligned with state and federal requirements.

Ending: The board asked staff for follow-up cost comparisons on leased assistive devices and accepted the contracts for consideration; the updated Ohio special-education model policies were presented for adoption to maintain compliance.