Board hears renewal of alternative-placement agreements and continuation of two registered behavior technicians
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Summary
Staff presented three renewed alternative-placement agreements for students at Step Up Academy, the Comprehensive Learning Center and Springtime School that include extended school-year services, and a renewal with the Chester County Intermediate Unit to provide two registered behavior technicians (a reduction of two RBTs from last year).
The Lower Moreland Township School District presented three agreements renewing placements for students in alternative programs and a continuation of contracted behavior-therapy staff, the board heard on Aug. 25.
Director of Student Services Mr. Giordano (name as in transcript) described three agenda items that renew placements under students’ individualized education programs (IEPs): continued placement for a student at Step Up Academy (item A), a renewal with the Comprehensive Learning Center for student number 5633 including extended school year services (item B), and a renewal with Springtime School for student number 5631 including extended school year services (item C). Giordano said the district is including extended-school-year (ESY) services with these renewals to avoid separate approvals later in the year.
Giordano told the board the district selects outside placements based on the student’s needs as written in the IEP, the provider’s ability to meet those needs, and practical considerations such as travel distance. He said the district prefers to have multiple placement options available rather than rely on a single program when possible.
Item D requested approval to continue an agreement with the Chester County Intermediate Unit to provide two registered behavior technicians for the school year. Giordano said the district has used the intermediate unit for this service for several years; he said the district has reduced the need for registered behavior technicians by two positions compared with last year.
Why it matters: These renewals affect individual students’ placements and the district’s special-education service mix for the coming school year. The inclusion of ESY services in the initial approvals was noted as an administrative change to streamline approvals.
The transcript captures the presentation and board questions about how placements are selected; it does not record a formal roll-call vote on these items during the Aug. 25 meeting.
Ending: Staff described the selection process and said the district will continue to contract with outside providers as determined by students’ IEPs; no final approvals or contract amounts are recorded in the available transcript.