Volusia School Board approves $1.8 million contract for speech‑language pathology assistants after split vote

The Volusia County School Board voted 3‑2 on Dec. 9 to approve a two‑year piggyback contract to secure speech‑language pathology assistants, a move district staff said uses funds already authorized in a prior therapy contract and is intended to fill immediate service gaps.

District speech‑language pathologists urged the board to reject the item, arguing the district should instead invest in higher pay and retention for master‑level SLPs. “Instead of continually investing into contract companies, it's time to invest in the clinicians who have committed the years, the financial burden, and the graduate level training to serve students in Volusia County Schools,” said Alyssa Sherkow, a district speech‑language pathologist, during public comment.

Speakers representing practicing SLPs described a pay and recruitment gap between district salaries and contractor rates. Joanne Strickland, a district SLP, cited external contractor billing rates of $58 to $78.90 per hour and listed district employee hourly rates (for example, $40.65 for an SLP with nine years’ experience), arguing the district is spending more with contractors than it would to raise stipends for its own clinicians.

Supervising staff told the board the agenda item does not request new funding. “This agenda item is not asking for new money,” said procurement staff (Miss Copeland), explaining the district is piggybacking off another county’s contract and reallocating the therapy services contract that board approved in June to include SLPAs. Staff said Volusia currently employs eight SLPAs and 97 certified SLPs districtwide.

Board members split over urgency and long‑term strategy. Opponents said the board lacked sufficient guardrails and noncompete protections with the piggyback contract and wanted a fuller picture of total compensation (supplements, retirement contributions and benefits) before approving. Supporters argued the contract was necessary to ensure students receive legally required services now. “We need these folks,” Chair Ruben Colon said in explaining the practical need to fill student service gaps.

Ms. Haynes moved to approve the item; the motion carried 3‑2. The board then recessed for a 10‑minute break and resumed later business. The contract is a piggyback of another county’s bid; staff said terms and vendor rates were set in that underlying solicitation and that the district could initiate its own procurement later if it wanted to seek different rates or terms.

Board members and staff signaled willingness to continue bargaining and policy work on compensation for SLPs and other specialists in future meetings. The debate flagged the trade‑offs facing districts nationwide: higher contractor costs versus the difficulty of recruiting and retaining credentialed clinicians who can perform evaluations, IEPs and Medicaid billing.