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Board committee renews contract for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing services with Rebecca Allam (not to exceed $115,000)
Summary
Cumberland County Schools approved a professional services agreement renewal with Rebecca Allam to provide services for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing students for 2025–26; staff said shortages of qualified direct‑hire teachers require use of contract providers.
The student support services committee approved a professional services agreement on Oct. 7 with Rebecca Allam to provide services for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing students for the 2025–26 school year, with a contract not to exceed $115,000.
Regina Eason, the district’s deaf and hard‑of‑hearing program specialist, told the committee that contracted providers are necessary because certified teachers in this specialty are scarce. “Deaf and hard of hearing teachers ... are not plentiful,” she said, noting that the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is one of the few institutions that produces teachers with this certification. Eason said the district has 22 students served across 17 schools by a contract provider and that Rebecca Allam has worked with the district previously and is “highly qualified.”
The committee moved and seconded the contract renewal and approved it in committee. Staff said the agreement will provide services districtwide based on students’ IEP needs and will continue the district’s pattern of contracting for specialized staff when direct hires are unavailable.
The contract amount was described as not to exceed $115,000 for the year. The student support services committee registered the approval by motion and second.
