Votes at a glance: board approves consent agenda items and awards OT/PT services contract to First Choice Therapy

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Feb. 20 approved a multi-item consent agenda and separately authorized a contract award to First Choice Therapy to provide occupational and physical therapy services to district students with disabilities.

Consent agenda

Board Member Carla Powell Lewis moved to approve the consent agenda; Board Member Nathan Russ seconded. The board approved the consent agenda items listed under “G” by a single motion. The items approved on the consent agenda included:

- External agreement (G2) — Amendment to the external agreement with Louisiana State University, not to exceed $115,919, to extend the agreement for one year to provide up to nine externs (funding source: general fund). - Grant (G3) — Acceptance of the Real Time Early Access to Literacy grant (REAL) and related budget in the amount of $192,750 to provide literacy tutoring and training. - Grant (G4) — Academic Distinction Fund (ADF) grant of $15,000 to build a playhouse at South Downs Pre-K Center. - Professional services contract (G5) — K12 Insight contract in the amount of $190,000 for a cloud-based platform to enhance customer service. - Professional services contract (G6) — Bailey Education Group LLC, $107,800 for professional development and coaching for special education teachers and administrators (funding source: REDesign). - Professional services contract (G7) — Amplify Education Inc., $288,400 for coaching on science resources in CIR and UIR schools (funding source: REDesign). - RFP (G8) — E-rate services selection: authorization to negotiate and execute a contract with Lockstep Group d/b/a TransformX for e-rate qualified services and equipment. - Demolition authorization (G9) — Authorization to advertise, accept bids and award contract for demolition of Banks Elementary School under applicable public bid law. - Litigation matter (G10) — Approval of general counsel’s recommendation in the matter of Nina Dillon v. EBR Parish School Board and Vincent Woodard, docket listed in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court.

The public transcript records that board members asked whether any items should be pulled; none were, and the motion carried.

RFP selection: occupational and physical therapy services

In new business the board considered an RFP to provide occupational and physical therapy services for students with disabilities. Director Dr. Harris reported the RFP process had evaluated two vendors and recommended First Choice Therapy. Emily Green, owner of First Choice Therapy, told the board the firm currently provides occupational therapy for 79 students and physical therapy for 237 students, visits more than 100 sites and supports more than 1,300 students districtwide (figures stated by the vendor during the presentation).

A parent submitted online public comment in support of First Choice Therapy, praising therapists as “exceptional” and describing a positive experience when a therapist recognized a child on his first day at a new school.

Board Member Patrick Martin moved to accept the RFP recommendation and authorize the superintendent and staff to negotiate and execute the contract; Board Member Paul Lewis seconded. The motion carried.

Accountability and reimbursement questions

Board members asked for accountability measures to be included in contracts. During discussion Board Member Nathan Russ requested a clear metric for contract success and asked that the district include accountability language in the contract. Dr. Harris said success would be measured against IEP minute requirements and the services listed in each student’s IEP (number of students served, minutes provided, and service goals). Board members also discussed Medicaid reimbursement rates; staff reported last year’s reimbursement percentage was 82.95% and said the district actively monitors reimbursement changes through the Louisiana Department of Health.

Actions and outcomes

- Motion: Approve consent agenda items G2–G10 as published. Mover: Carla Powell Lewis. Second: Nathan Russ. Outcome: Approved (voice vote; motion carries). - Motion: Accept RFP committee recommendation and authorize superintendent to negotiate and execute contract with First Choice Therapy for occupational and physical therapy services. Mover: Patrick Martin. Second: Paul Lewis. Outcome: Approved (motion carries).

Provenance

Topic introduced: consent agenda read and moved (transcript time ~6418.6). RFP selection introduced at new business item H1 (transcript time ~6822.1) and the contract vote recorded later (transcript time ~7365.2).