Board approves virtual school psychologist contract and extends partnerships for student mental-health services

The Danville School District 118 Board on June 17 approved a collection of special-education and student mental-health measures intended to maintain services while the district faces continuing recruitment challenges.

Soliant Health LLC contract for virtual school psychologists

The board approved contracting with Soliant Health LLC to provide two virtual site school psychologists for the 2025–26 school year. The contract would supply psychologists for 36.25 hours per week at an estimated district cost of about $137,000 per contractor (approximately $274,050 total for both positions). District staff said the work would be virtual and that the arrangement is a response to multiple years without viable local in-person candidates. The board voted 6-0 to approve the contract.

Special-education staff and administrators told the board that virtual delivery is not ideal but is legally necessary to meet timelines and obligations under special-education law (for example, the district must complete evaluations within 60 days of parental consent). Staff warned that virtual psychologists may require additional in-building support (for example, teaching assistants or staff to assist during evaluations and meetings) and that additional personnel or scheduling changes could increase total cost.

University of Illinois affiliation for social work interns

The board unanimously approved a 10-year clinical affiliation agreement with the University of Illinois School of Social Work to place social work interns in District 118 buildings. Staff said the program has been a pipeline for hiring school social workers in the past — roughly half of current school social workers began as interns — and the agreement involves no direct payment; it clarifies supervisory responsibilities and placement logistics.

Community partnerships: Crosspoint, Rosecrans and Dr. Angela Mahome

The board approved continuing the district’s partnership with Crosspoint Human Services (vote 5-1) to arrange after-hours counseling referrals and to pursue additional in-school counselors as staffing allows. Crosspoint has provided services to hundreds of students over the years at no cost to the district.

The board also approved continuing a partnership with Rosecrans for substance-abuse counseling, with plans to resume in-person services at Danville High School in the fall when staffing allows. That motion passed 6-0.

District staff recommended continuing a partnership with child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Angela Mahome, who sees district students by referral at scheduled weekend clinics; the board approved continuing that arrangement 6-0. Staff said appointments include initial visits that take up to an hour and shorter follow-ups, and that Dr. Mahome’s services have reduced wait times for psychiatric access in previous years. Staff also noted the program is currently free to students and that the district had not billed insurance for those visits; board members asked staff to explore whether billing would be appropriate or feasible in future years.

Assistant/clinic support (Ashley Mahome) tabled for further review

The board voted to table a separate agreement for Ashley Mahome, who assists with clinical coordination for the psychiatrist’s clinic, until the July 16 meeting. Board members asked for a clearer job description, qualification requirements and whether any existing district staff could perform the duties.

Board members consistently framed the actions as responses to workforce shortages in clinical roles. Staff emphasized the district’s legal obligations for evaluation timelines (60 days) and for services to students transitioning from early-intervention programs. Several board members asked staff to quantify baseline evaluation backlogs, anticipated additional costs for in-building support, and expected changes to student wait times as a condition of future reporting to the board.