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Maple Heights board tables vote on Effective School Solutions after staff presentation and questions
Summary
After a staff presentation that described reduced suspensions and potential cost savings from an in-district clinician program, the Maple Heights Board of Education voted unanimously to table approval of a contract with Effective School Solutions until a later meeting.
The Maple Heights Board of Education on March 17 tabled a vote on an agreement with Effective School Solutions after a staff presentation describing the program’s services, student outcomes at a district the presenter visited and detailed cost comparisons.
Miss Love, a district staff member, presented findings from a March visit to the Greater Johnstown School District and summarized how that district used an Effective School Solutions clinician to provide tier‑3 behavioral and therapeutic supports. She said Johnstown saw a drop from 865 in‑school suspensions in the 2023–24 school year to 215 so far in the current year, and reported a marked decline in daily “major infractions” from 26 per day in November to 7.6 per day in February.
Why it matters: Board members said the program could provide an additional option between classroom supports and costly out‑of‑district placements. The district’s staff presented a cost comparison showing the current out‑of‑district placements for nine students cost the district $762,699.33 for one year; bringing Effective School Solutions in starting April would be prorated at $54,750, the presenter said. The superintendent’s office had recommended approval of an agreement covering services through June 30, 2027, with a total contract figure referenced in the meeting packet as "$692,000 and $77.50." The board chose to postpone the formal vote to allow further discussion.
Presentation details and questions: Miss Love described the clinician model observed in Johnstown: one clinician per building with caseloads of about 9–12 students who provide weekly individual and group sessions, serve as a point of contact when students are in crisis, and work with families on individualized plans. She said Johnstown repurposed an existing space as a student support annex to co‑locate clinicians and wraparound services.
Board members asked how transitions would be managed for students currently placed out of district and how teachers would be involved in any reintegration. In recounting a principal’s view from Johnstown, Miss Love quoted the principal, “bringing on Effective School Solutions clinician to the team of student support services that we offer at the elementary school has been an excellent addition to our school. We have been able to keep our students in our school where they learn best.” Miss Love also relayed the visiting superintendent’s remark, as she put it: “I want my teachers to be teachers,” meaning clinicians should provide mental‑health supports so classroom teachers can focus on instruction.
Action taken: Board members moved to table the contract vote; the motion to table carried unanimously.
Next steps: The board did not set a specific date for reconsideration during the meeting. Staff said they would provide additional information and continue site‑visit coordination and consultation if the board chooses to advance the agreement.
