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Round Lake schools approve EPIC contract to fill John T. McGee social worker vacancy
Summary
The Round Lake Area School District Board of Education on Feb. 24 approved a contract with EPIC Special Education Staffing to provide a social worker at John T. McGee Middle School, a move the district said will keep services for special education students intact while recruitment continues.
The Round Lake Area School District Board of Education on Feb. 24 approved a contract with EPIC Special Education Staffing to provide a social worker to fill a vacant position at John T. McGee Middle School. The board was told the arrangement will be cost neutral for the year and budgeted at $42,000 to district funds.
The contract request was presented by Dr. Stephen Apgar, who told the board the district has tried to fill the social worker vacancy since December 2024 but had been unable to secure a permanent hire. "I am respectfully requesting the Board of Education to support a contract with EPIC Special Education Staffing to fill a vacant social worker position at John T. McGee Middle School," Apgar said during the meeting.
Apgar and board members described the hiring market for school-based social workers as constrained. Board members asked whether this was a local or broader trend; Apgar said the shortage of school social workers, school psychologists and similar special-education professionals is not unique to the district and that private-sector competition and bargaining-unit rules make third-party contracting a common interim solution.
Board members emphasized the district’s legal obligation to provide students the minutes of service to which they are entitled; the contract was presented as a way to ensure those minutes are delivered while recruitment continues. The motion to approve the contract was made by Board Member Robert Jewett and seconded by Board Member Melissa Klingler. A roll-call vote passed with all present board members voting yes.
The EPIC contract was described as budgeted to district funds and cost neutral for the current year; the district noted the interim staffing is needed immediately to resume or maintain required special-education services. The district plans to continue recruitment for a permanent employee while EPIC provides services under the contract.
The board approved the contract by roll call; Dr. Apgar thanked members for their support and said the district will continue pursuing permanent staffing.
