Superintendent outlines agreements for summer services and specialized placements

Dr. Straka said the district will use vendor agreements to place some students with specialized needs off site for extended-school-year services and for individualized placements.

The superintendent told the board the district has an agreement with MHY Family Services, known to some families as Longmore Academy, to provide summer services for students who the IEP team determines require that setting "instead of here within the district." She said most students will remain in-district and that "it depends what the IEP team has decided for each one of the kids," stressing individualized decision-making.

Dr. Straka also described a renewal or update to an education agreement with St. Vincent's College, which the district has used previously for placements and programming. She noted an addendum from the Bradley Center that adjusts tuition by about $10 per the materials before the board.

A new agreement was presented for one student to attend River Academy of Excellence in the Fox Chapel area. Dr. Straka described the River Academy as a "private academic" program for students with more intensive needs, including autism spectrum disorder, speech and language challenges, and physical disabilities, and she said the IEP team had vetted the placement.

Board members asked whether staff had visited or evaluated River Academy; Dr. Straka said the program had been checked out and vetted by the IEP team and district staff.

The superintendent framed these as operational contract and placement decisions to be finalized through the usual approval processes and IEP team determinations. The board did not take formal votes on these items during this meeting; the items were placed on the agenda for the next meeting for formal action or further review.

Next steps: the contracts and agreements discussed were listed on next week's agenda for formal consideration and approval.