Adelanto board approves $1.5 million EPIC contract to maintain special‑education services
Summary
Trustees approved a ratification agreement with EPIC adding $1,500,000 to support special‑education services through June 30; district staff said the funds respond to rising costs and support speech services for hundreds of students.
The Adelanto Elementary School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Dec. 12 to ratify an EPIC special education services agreement that adds $1,500,000 in funding for the period beginning Dec. 10 through June 30.
During the consent‑agenda discussion, Trustee Krause and others asked for a clear explanation of what the additional funds would buy. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Mr. Shiflett told the board the money is intended to cover rising costs and to support services for more than 600 students who need speech services; he said the district currently has 14 speech‑language pathologists and several assistants and that the contract supplements district capacity amid staffing shortages.
Trustees expressed concern about the scale of the expenditure and asked staff to clarify staffing deliverables and how the funds will be allocated; the public and trustees emphasized that special‑education compliance is not optional and that timely service delivery is urgent. After responses from district staff, the board approved the ratification motion by a 5–0 vote.
The board did not provide a detailed line‑item breakdown of the $1.5 million in open session; trustees asked staff for additional clarification on scope and staffing during follow‑up comments.
