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Harrisburg School Board approves River Rock Academy contract for alternative education and therapeutic services
Summary
The Harrisburg School District on April 22 approved a multi-year contract with River Rock Academy to centralize alternative education and therapeutic supports, replacing several existing vendor agreements and 35 contracted seats at Capital Academy.
The Harrisburg School District approved on April 22 a contract with River Rock Academy to provide alternative education and therapeutic services for students the district identifies as needing behavioral or therapeutic supports.
The contract will replace the district's existing arrangements with CESI (formerly Specialized Education Services) and the Laurel Life program and absorb 35 seats previously purchased at Capital Academy, district staff said. District administrators told the board the River Rock model includes therapy and behavioral supports intended to help students return to their home schools.
District administrators said River Rock programs will be located in district-owned facilities. The administration identified space on the third and part of the fourth floor of the referenced building (district materials name Roland/related campus space) for the program and said the move is scheduled for the next school year. The contract period described by staff runs through the 2027' 2028 school year.
Miss Palm, who participated in the vendor discussions, described River Rock as offering "true therapeutic and behavioral supports," and said the program will replace several smaller contracts and consolidate services. Administrators said students placed in therapeutic programs commonly receive placements of approximately 45 days as part of administrative recommendations; those placements are intended to provide targeted behavioral and therapeutic support prior to return to a home school.
Board members asked about grade levels and capacity. Administrators said the existing 35 seats at Capital Academy will be transferred into the River Rock arrangement; staff also noted some grade-level moves next school year, including seventh-grade program shifts to Camp Curtin Academy and that roughly 50 eighth-graders are enrolled at the referenced building in current operations. District staff said overall enrollment caps for the River Rock program were not presented in the meeting documents and were described as "not specified" at the time of the vote.
The board approved the contract by voice vote during the meeting after administration presentation and board discussion. District officials said the change is intended to streamline services, bring therapeutic supports onsite, and reduce the district's reliance on multiple external vendors for similar services.
The board's action was procedural approval of the contract; administrators said further operational details (exact seat caps, daily schedules, and final room assignments) will be worked out as the program is implemented and reported to the board in future updates.
