School board hears proposal to contract with Atlas for intensive special‑education placements

The Flagler County School Board on June 17 reviewed a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Atlas, a nonprofit that provides services and placement options for students with intensive special education needs.

The presentation came from district staff and representatives of Atlas, who described the organization’s programs for students with complex behavioral, sensory and mental‑health needs and explained how referrals from Flagler County would be handled. The board did not take action on the MOU during the workshop; staff asked for guidance and clarified terms.

Why it matters: The MOU would create a district pathway to place some students in an age‑appropriate, specialized setting when the district’s existing programs cannot meet a student’s needs. Board members asked detailed questions about referral criteria, transportation, staffing ratios, cost, insurance and student data protections — concerns that affect student safety, district liability and family access.

What staff and Atlas said: Superintendent Tammy Moore and district staff said the MOU is intended for students the district has already determined require a non‑brick‑and‑mortar placement after IEP (individualized education program) team meetings and data collection. Atlas representatives said their model includes two phases: an intensive, on‑campus phase and a second phase for less‑intensive needs, and that Atlas uses community partners for applied behavior analysis (ABA) and behavior technicians.

On transportation and cost, Atlas said it can provide transport where the district cannot, at a per‑student transportation charge included in the MOU; district staff said transportation decisions would be made case‑by‑case as part of the IEP and that the agreement allows Atlas to bill for transportation when the district opts in. Board members asked whether the district’s insurance and FERPA/HIPAA obligations would cover transfers of student data; the district attorney and staff confirmed the draft MOU requires Atlas to maintain state and federal compliance and carry its own insurance, and staff said they would pause or end the agreement if Atlas failed to meet requirements.

Staffing and certification: Board members requested clearer language and documentation in the MOU about the certifications and titles of Atlas staff (for example, registered behavior technicians versus behavior interventionists), how Atlas vets hires, and whether staff will meet district background‑check procedures. Atlas and district staff said Atlas would provide staffing details and that Atlas personnel would undergo the district’s vendor/vendor‑on‑campus clearance process in addition to Atlas’s own screening.

Enrollment and tuition: Atlas representatives explained the tuition and transportation line items in the draft. The projected tuition shown in the draft (roughly $15,000 annually per student, with transport as an additional charge) will be billed to the district for students referred by Flagler County; staff said these are placements for identified district students, not an open public enrollment pathway for families to send children to Atlas independently.

Next steps: Staff said the MOU would be revised to clarify referral processes, transport options and vetting/credential documentation and returned to the board for formal approval. Board members asked staff to add more explicit language about data security, annual renewal terms and how the district would supervise and monitor Atlas placements.

Board members’ concerns and context: Several board members pressed for more clarity about when the district would use Atlas versus existing community partners (for example, Halifax Behavior and PACE), and emphasized that placements should be age‑appropriate (K–12). A few members stressed the need for explicit statements about liability, insurance and parent communication so Flagler remains “held harmless” only where the MOU explicitly provides it.

Ending note: District staff said Atlas would be one of several options the district could use when an IEP team determines a specialized placement is required. The board asked staff to return an updated MOU that addresses staffing credentials, data protections, transportation and liability before a formal vote.