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Special services director reports Medicaid billing gains, higher regular diplomas and new paraprofessional training
Summary
The district reported roughly $700,000 in reimbursable special-services deliveries and a year-over-year increase in regular diplomas for special-education students, while outlining steps to improve Medicaid consent rates, implement a paraprofessional onboarding program and host a special-education conference April 26.
Elko County School District Special Services Director Dr. Higbee told the board the district has delivered more than $700,000 in Medicaid-billable services this school year and is increasing collections by improving documentation and parent consent rates.
Dr. Higbee said speech therapy accounted for about $146,000 of the billed services, nursing about $18,000, occupational therapy $20,000 and physical therapy $16,000; he cautioned that those figures reflect recouped Medicaid billings rather than total program budgets. He said the district expects to be roughly 19% higher in Medicaid reimbursements year to date compared with the previous year and that an online consent option on student registration should reduce lost revenue caused when parents do not sign consent forms.
The director also reviewed special-education outcomes and supports. He said Elko High School will award an estimated 22 regular diplomas to students with individualized education programs in 2024–25 versus 19 the prior year, and noted adjusted diplomas are declining — a trend the district described as a positive shift toward more students earning standard diplomas. The district attributed improvements to case managers, classroom staff and greater use of data tools.
Dr. Higbee briefed the board on the district's use of Goalbook, a compliance and IEP-writing platform: 68 staff made 7,452 contacts in the system, with highest usage at Flagview. He said Goalbook helps generate data-driven present levels and progress monitoring for IEPs ahead of a compliance audit due in 2026–27.
On policy and practice, Dr. Higbee said the district revised its 504 procedure manual (last updated in 2010) and expects a new version this fall with clarified implementation steps. He described a "train-the-trainer" initiative and an onboarding program for paraprofessionals that will include a handbook, orientation, and self-paced Canvas courses to improve consistency and instructional support.
Dr. Higbee invited the board to the district's first special-education conference on April 26 at the convention center, which will include state and regional presenters and is free to district staff. He asked the board to encourage participation and support the professional development effort.
Board members asked about parental reluctance to sign Medicaid consents. Dr. Higbee said the reluctance appeared rooted in lack of knowledge; staff will emphasize that consent does not change a family's Medicaid coverage and does not affect service eligibility, and will follow up at IEP meetings and registration.
