District 128 to keep pay-as-needed access to Ombudsman alternative-education slots

District 128 administrators told the Program and Personnel Committee on March 10 they will sign an agreement with the Ombudsman alternative-education program to retain the option to pay for individual student days rather than reserving prepaid slots.

Administrators said the district has progressively reduced reserved slots over recent years: prior years reserved three or four spots, last year two slots were reserved at a cost noted as $14,500. The district used the slots but not to their maximum and cited increased in-district supports and regional office resources as reasons to rely less on Ombudsman.

Under the proposed agreement the district would not reserve slots in advance and would instead pay the daily fee when a student needs placement. Staff said that approach is fiscally conservative — it reduces prepaid costs but carries the risk that a slot may not be available when needed.

Committee members asked whether this year’s approach differs from last year; staff confirmed the district reserved two slots last year for $14,500 total. Administrators said they reviewed the change with assistant principals and staff who work with placement decisions and felt comfortable using a pay-as-needed approach while preserving the ability to purchase a slot if necessary.

The agreement will be presented to the full board for approval at the next meeting.