Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves consolidated and individual contracts to secure special‑education services before school opens
Summary
The board unanimously approved contracts and individual purchase orders so the district can provide speech, sign‑language, nursing and related services at the start of the school year; staff said the overall dollar total did not increase from the June approval and purchases will start at 50% pending state budget action.
The Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education unanimously approved contracts Aug. 12 to ensure students with exceptional needs will receive required related services as the school year begins. The action authorizes a mix of a consolidated contract and individual contracts after some providers declined to participate in the consolidated agreement.
Dr. Paula Wilkins, the district’s chief financial officer (presenting for the item), told the board the district’s goal is to maintain continuity of services for speech‑language pathology, sign‑language interpreting, nursing, orientation and mobility, and related itinerant services. Wilkins said the overall contract amount does not change from the total the board approved in June but noted staff will begin issuing purchase orders at 50% of the price while the state budget situation is unresolved. “We are working towards that because we are waiting on a final approved budget by our state legislature,” she said.
Wilkins provided a staffing and service breakdown in the meeting materials and during the presentation: the combined contracts will cover multiple speech‑language pathologists and assistants, sign‑language interpreters, orientation and mobility services and nursing supports; she said nursing services increased by one student since initial materials were published (from 21 to 22 nursing supports). Wilkins also said some vendors declined to join the consolidated contract, requiring the district to sign individual contracts for particular providers.
Public commenter Jen Gallagher, speaking during public comment, asked the board to require a recruitment and retention plan from human resources so the district can reduce reliance on contracted vendors and build stable, in‑house staffing for mandated services.
Discussion versus decision: Board discussion acknowledged staff concerns about recruitment and the tradeoffs between contracting and internal hiring; the board approved the contracts by voice vote. The motion to approve the EC contracts was made by Board Member Wood and seconded by Board Member Miller; the board voted unanimously in favor.
Ending: Staff said they will provide a further breakout of which vendors joined the consolidated contract and which will be engaged under individual contracts. Wilkins said she would email the detailed vendor breakout to board members the next morning.
