Parents and providers urge Randolph County schools to adopt MOU for in-class ABA services; resident raises safety concern near elementary

At the public-comment period of the Randolph County Board of Education meeting, two speakers asked the board to consider formalizing access for applied behavior analysis (ABA) providers and another resident raised a neighborhood safety concern near a school.

Ben Harden, joined by Kristen Harden, said their practice provides one-on-one ABA services to children with autism and submitted a sample memorandum of understanding the district could adopt. "ABA is just like any other health care provider," the presenter said, and noted that a mock MOU in use by other local districts (the presenters cited Ashford City Schools, Davidson County Schools and Chatham County Schools) could be adapted for Randolph County. The presenters said providers would pass background checks and complete required training.

The presentation included three documents: an informational sheet on ABA, a community flyer, and a mock Randolph County MOU patterned after documents used elsewhere. Board members asked clarifying questions but no policy change was adopted at the meeting.

In a separate public comment, Tracy Smith showed photographs and urged the board to consult school principals and staff about a nearby house she described as a "drug house" across from an elementary school. "If you go by there at school hours... you can throw a baseball and hit where the kids get in line to school," she said, and asked the district to coordinate with local authorities. There was no record of immediate action taken by the board during the meeting.

What happens next: The board did not adopt any MOU during the meeting; the presenters asked the district to consider a formal process and provided sample materials the board or staff could review in follow-up.