Bridgeport board renews contract with Effective School Solutions for school-based mental‑health services

The Bridgeport School District Board of Education voted June 9 to renew a contract with Effective School Solutions (ESS) for $1,363,000 to continue providing high‑acuity mental‑health, emotional and behavioral services in district schools.

The contract renewal, presented by Duncan Young, chief executive officer of Effective School Solutions, replaces last year’s agreement and, Young said, “actually represents a reduction versus our contracted rate for this year. Apples to apples, it's actually a reduction of $200,000.” He told the board ESS applied a $100,000 state grant and expects about $100,000 in Medicaid billing to lower the district’s net cost; the district’s contract was increased by $163,000 for expanded professional development supporting special education programs.

Why it matters: ESS provides intensive, wraparound care aimed at the district’s highest‑acuity students and says those services can reduce out‑of‑district placements that are costly and disruptive. Board members questioned whether the private provider duplicates…