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After staff loss, Holmen plans virtual speech services and contracted in-person evaluations; contract approved on consent
Summary
Following the death of a Sand Lake Elementary speech-language pathologist, the district contracted with a virtual provider (Presence) to deliver therapy with in-person staff escort and retained Dana Gulickstrud for in-person evaluations; staff will keep recruiting for an on-site hire. The contract was on and approved via the consent agenda.
The Holmen School District will contract for speech and language services after the midyear death of a Sand Lake Elementary staff speech-language pathologist, district officials said.
Jill Mason, executive director of student services, told the board the district tried to hire an in-person replacement but has been unable to recruit a candidate midyear. To maintain services, the district will contract with Presence, a virtual speech and language provider. Mason said a staff member will escort students to the virtual sessions, remain with the student during the session and return the student to class.
For in-person evaluations — which Mason said are difficult to conduct remotely — the district will contract with Dana Gulickstrud, who has worked with the district previously, to perform evaluations and provide data to support individual plans.
Mason said the district has reposted the vacancy for fall and will continue to try to hire a permanent, in-person provider. On sustainability, Mason said the district prefers an in-person provider but described the Presence arrangement as “sustainable” if required over the short term. The speech and language contract and the contracted evaluator were placed on the meeting’s consent agenda and were approved as part of the consent motion.
Board members discussed reposting the position and staffing challenges for midyear replacement and retired contractors; staff confirmed the position is posted for fall and that the district will continue to pursue an on-site hire.
