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Franklin Area SD considers service agreements for evaluations and counseling, and handles personnel matters
Summary
The board reviewed a contract with Elite Educational and Therapeutic Support Services for independent educational evaluations and a no-cost counseling agreement with Positive Paths to Healing and Recovery, and approved multiple retroactive personnel and supplemental-contract items including a recommended hire for head football coach.
The Franklin Area School District considered a set of service agreements and personnel actions at its Jan. 20 meeting.
On services, the board reviewed an agreement with Elite Educational and Therapeutic Support Services LLC to provide school-based psychological and speech/language evaluations to support independent educational evaluations (IEEs) requested by parents. A board member asked whether the district already has staff to perform these evaluations; Dr. Thomas said IEEs arise when parents request independent testing and the district must negotiate and afford an independent evaluator in those cases.
Separately, the board reviewed an agreement with Positive Paths to Healing and Recovery (Lisa Douglas, DBA) to provide school-based counseling from Jan. 13, 2026, through June 30, 2027, at no cost to the district; the superintendent said the office will ensure counselors have required clearances.
On personnel, the board recommended retroactive approvals for a district driver and a food service worker and discussed why some actions are presented as approvals rather than ratifications when they are already in effect. The hiring committee recommended Austin Ion as head football coach for 2026–27; Ion stood and thanked the committee, introduced his wife and said he is "fired up, ready to roll." The board also presented substitute lists and supplemental-contract recommendations for coaches and activity sponsors.
Why it matters: Contracts for special-education evaluations and counseling affect services available to students and determine whether the district must cover or negotiate costs associated with independent evaluations. Personnel and supplemental-contract approvals affect classroom services, transportation and extracurricular programs.
