District outlines nearly $1 million school‑based mental‑health spending and contracts for speech/nursing services

Dr. Traquilla Nelson, director of counseling and social work services for the Muscogee County School District, explained to the board that the district is seeking an increase in professional‑services funding for counseling consultants through a contract with This Works, stating that the increase is driven by a grant carryover after a federal freeze on grants in January.

“Back in January, January 28, to be exact, the federal government froze all, grants,” Nelson said, explaining that money could not be allocated then and that carryover allowed the district to reassign funds to student services. The agenda listed the counseling consultants request as not to exceed $537,745; Nelson said the total figure in the board materials, including amounts spent last year, could approach $983,465.

Nelson told trustees the funds will support telehealth services, individual counseling, small groups and home visits and that the district had hired 10 of 11 planned school‑based mental health social workers; she said staff would provide a detailed breakdown of hours and students served.

The finance committee also presented several professional‑services and renewal requests: a maintenance renewal for grounds work with Outdoor Solutions (documented as roughly $1,332,705 in the agenda text), language that a Soliant Healthcare Services addition would raise that vendor’s total to $2,525,000, and an increase to a supplemental health‑care purchase order to cover speech‑language pathologist services. Board members asked for attachments and breakdowns to clarify the numbers and scope of services.

Board members asked for a more detailed line‑item breakdown and utilization metrics; Nelson agreed to provide the requested reporting on students served and allocation of funds. The work session transcript records the requests and explanations; it does not contain a recorded final vote on the listed contract increases.