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Dothan board approves KidsFirst contract to fill special-education vacancies as district recruits permanent staff
Summary
The board approved a partnership with KidsFirst to provide certified special-education teachers for Dothan Preparatory Academy after district vacancies left IEP completion and compliance at risk; members debated cost, hiring challenges, and retention incentives.
The Dothan City Board of Education on March 17 approved a customized partnership with KidsFirst to supply certified, experienced special-education teachers to support students at Dothan Preparatory Academy.
Board member Ms. Ashley Davis asked why the district was filling positions through a contractor rather than hiring district staff. Mr. James Williams said the district has been without special-education teachers since December and initially received no applicants; additional applicants that have since emerged could not be hired and onboarded quickly enough to meet immediate needs. Mr. Williams said the KidsFirst contract would allow experienced, retired special-education teachers to begin work immediately and free current staff to complete Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to maintain compliance.
Mr. Patrick Mallory added that prorated salaries for late-year hires make district jobs less financially attractive mid-year, and Mrs. Stephanie Walker explained payroll and state funding constraints that govern how yearly pay is distributed across contract days. Walker said changing that structure would affect roughly 1,200 employees and would require broad contract adjustments.
Mrs. Aurie Jenkins raised concerns that contracted personnel could receive significantly higher daily pay than current district employees doing similar work and suggested exploring more sustainable in‑house solutions. Mrs. Alyssa Dyer and others said the contract uses funds already allocated for the vacant positions and noted the vendor is responsible for compensating its employees; the district has used KidsFirst previously.
The board approved the contract by recorded vote. District staff said they are also developing retention and hiring incentives for special-education teachers to reduce reliance on contracted services.
Next steps: KidsFirst will provide staff immediately as district recruitment continues; board members requested further work on compensation and retention strategies.
