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Board keeps Southwest Behavioral Health services in place while members seek contract revisions
Summary
After debate over contract language on district-funded behavioral services, the Chandler Unified School District governing board voted 3–2 to continue the district’s existing intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Southwest Behavioral Health Services while staff and counsel draft revised contract language.
The Chandler Unified School district governing board voted to maintain its existing intergovernmental agreement with Southwest Behavioral Health Services (SBH) and continue current services for students while district staff, legal counsel and SBH work on clarified contract language.
The action came after board members raised concerns that proposed language in item 6.06 did not clearly limit the district’s financial commitment if third‑party funding or grant dollars failed to materialize. Board member Matt Heap had offered a written amendment requiring SBH to submit recommended services and costs for district approval each year and to reassess student eligibility before district funds would be used in a subsequent school year.
“...if the district is required to fund services, SBH must submit a new list of recommended services and their cost to the district’s education specialist for written approval,” Heap told the board when introducing his amendment. He later withdrew that first motion in favor of a proposal to keep the existing IGA in effect while the district and SBH finalize revised language.
After discussion about the practical differences among SBH contracts serving the care center, IEP/specialized-program students and other referral pathways, board member Rohrs moved that the district continue under the current IGA and memorandum of understanding until a new agreement is negotiated and approved. That motion was seconded and passed by a 3–2 roll-call vote.
District staff and administrators said the contracts operate in several distinct ways: (1) care-center services arranged through the Chandler Care Center and funded through external grants; (2) services tied to individualized education programs (IEPs) or specialized programs; and (3) short-term interventions arranged via the care center. Administrators said parents must approve services for students and that some SBH services are already integrated into IEPs and specialized-program schedules.
Board members who supported keeping the existing agreement emphasized continuity of care for students. Those urging more precise contract language said the board and district staff needed time to confirm whether proposed changes could unintentionally alter service delivery or the district’s legal and financial obligations.
The board recorded the vote tally as 3 in favor and 2 opposed; no change to district service delivery was ordered during the interim.
The item will return to a future meeting after legal review and additional interdepartmental coordination so the board can consider any proposed amendments and a replacement IGA. District staff said the current IGA is due to take effect on July 1 and recommended avoiding any lapse in services while a revised contract is drafted.
