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Board approves preapproval to contract up to $140,000 for in-person student mental-health services
Summary
Superintendent recommended and the board placed on consent preapproval to contract with three local mental-health providers to deliver in-person counseling to underinsured middle- and high-school students using FY26 state funds; total spending will not exceed $140,000.
Doctor Bowen presented a recommendation (prepared by Dr. Lowe) to enter contracts with three mental-health providers selected from ten proposals: Pathways Transition Programs, Counseling Hearts and the RGW Institute. The contracts are intended to provide in-person, evidence-based mental and behavioral health services to middle- and high-school students, targeting students who are insured but underinsured and have difficulty with copays or deductibles.
The RFP was issued on Sept. 22 and ten proposals were received; selection criteria included qualifications, school coverage, cost effectiveness, references and experience. Bowen noted that depending on usage one or more providers could exceed a $75,000 threshold in board policy DJED, so the board was asked to preapprove the three providers now because final spending per vendor is not yet known.
Bowen said the total for the three contracts will not exceed $140,000 and the funding is provided through FY26 state budget allocations signed by the governor. Services will be delivered in person rather than via telehealth. The superintendent recommended placing the item on the Nov. 4 consent agenda for formal approval; the Oct. 28 meeting placed the recommendation on consent for the upcoming meeting.
No detailed vote tally was recorded on the transcript for the consent action at Oct. 28; the presentation was entered to be included on the Nov. 4 consent agenda.
