Waxahachie ISD board approves $127,632 contract with Blazin Works for separate‑settings special education teacher

The Waxahachie ISD board approved a contract estimated at $127,632 with Blazin Works to provide a separate‑settings special education teacher, board members said during a meeting.

District staff told the board the contract replaces a previously approved special education contract that “did not work out” and is needed so the district can continue providing services for students who require separate settings.

“It's gonna be about 127,000 for the year. I know that a teacher would cost roughly 80,000 for the year, but I don't know specifically what Laser Works pays their teachers or their contractors that they send us and how much of that's overhead for the company,” said Mr. Caulding, a district staff member presenting the item. Earlier in the agenda the contract was identified as being with Blazin Works; the transcript later refers to the company as "Laser Works." (The record contains both spellings.)

A board member who questioned the contract's cost said, “It just kinda makes me sick,” and urged the district to do more to hire special education teachers directly rather than rely on contracting firms. Mr. Caulding said the district and other area districts have had difficulty hiring special education staff.

Mrs. Timmerman moved to approve the contract; Mr. Pitts seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

The staff presentation noted this contract is a replacement for one of several special education contracts the board approved in August; one of those prior contracts “did not work out,” staff said. The district did not provide in the meeting a breakdown of how the $127,632 would be divided between teacher pay and contractor overhead.

After the vote the board moved on and later adjourned the meeting.