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Board approves 17 unauthorized special‑education contracts totaling $670,705; trustees seek stronger process controls
Summary
The board approved 17 unauthorized contracts for late 2024–25 special education services and summer extended‑school‑year services totaling $670,705. Staff said contracts were needed because student needs, labor collaboration and business process were not aligned during 24–25 and outlined steps to reduce future UACs.
District staff presented 17 unauthorized contracts (UACs) worth $670,705 to cover mandated special education and summer services provided when the district lacked in‑house staff. The special education director explained that when student needs, labor agreements and business processes are out of sync, the district is legally required to provide services and must sometimes contract externally to meet mandated timelines.
Staff categorized the UACs by service — behavior, occupational and physical therapy, classroom aides, speech, deaf and hard‑of‑hearing services, and nonpublic school placements — and said funding would come from vacancy savings and cost‑center reallocations. The presenter said the department has put measures in place (MOUs with HR and labor partners, service agreements and internal process improvements) to reduce reliance on UACs for 2025–26.
Trustees pressed for details. Member Rhodes said she opposed approving the contracts that night and asked for clearer evidence that the district was not increasing its net spending; Member Callata and others pressed staff to identify whether the UACs were offset by vacancy savings and to confirm the district did not expect more invoices beyond the list presented. Staff said they believed the listed contracts represented the complete outstanding set but acknowledged occasional late vendor invoices might appear.
On a roll‑call vote the board approved the contracts; Member Rhodes voted no. Several trustees emphasized the need for vendors to submit invoices on time and for staff to continue improving contracting and billing processes.
