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Board approves PTS occupational‑therapy contract after district says 16 schools lacked services
Summary
The board unanimously approved a face‑to‑face occupational therapy contract with PTS to serve students in schools currently lacking services; administrators said 16 schools had no OT services and 110 students were affected.
The Public Schools of Robeson County Board of Education unanimously approved a contract with PTS to provide face‑to‑face occupational therapy (OT) services and two certified OT assistants.
Dr. Wendy Dorsey Carr said the district attempted to hire an in‑district full‑time OT but the candidate declined the position. She said the district currently contracts for one full‑time face‑to‑face OT, one part‑time OT and one full‑time virtual OT, but that 16 schools had no in‑person services and 110 students currently lacked OT services. The proposed PTS contract would add one full‑time OT and two certified OT assistants to increase campus‑based coverage.
Board members asked about supervision and billing. Dr. Carr said licensed OTs must supervise assistants and sign IEP‑related documentation; PTS would provide oversight, bill for services where applicable, and district staff would review billing and documentation. District staff said the contract is face‑to‑face only and is comparable in cost to other existing contracts.
Dr. Emmanuel moved the contract; Craig Lowry seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Administrators said they contacted hospitals and other therapy providers and that district staff had opened applications broadly but had limited responses. The contract is intended to restore and expand direct services to students who need OT at school.
