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Board approves multiple contracts to secure therapists, nurses and behavior support for 2026–27
Summary
Facing local staffing shortages, the board approved renewals and amendments for several contracts to provide occupational therapists, speech‑language pathologists, resource specialists, registered behavior technicians and nurses, with combined service contracts totaling multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Gilroy Unified School District board approved a package of staffing contracts and amendments on Thursday to ensure coverage for specialized student services for the 2026–27 school year and extended‑year programs.
Key approvals included a renewal amendment with National Staffing Solutions to provide two occupational therapists and one speech‑language pathologist (not to exceed $537,501), a contract with 360 Degree Customer Inc for two resource specialists (not to exceed $301,365), and an agreement with Roe Health Inc for nurses, registered behavior technicians and paraeducators to cover the school year and extended‑year program (not to exceed $1,472,222).
The board also approved a renewal with Soliant Health to provide a behavior specialist and registered behavior technicians (not to exceed $382,900) and an amendment to a Sonia Biggs Educational Services contract to expand materials and services for students with visual impairments (increasing the total to not to exceed $500,025.31). A separate amendment for an additional speech‑language pathologist raised that contract total to $363,924.
District staff and trustees explained that the contracts reflect persistent local staffing shortages and the practical need to secure contracted specialists so students receive required services under IEPs and related plans. Staff described how behavior specialists, registered behavior technicians (RBTs) and school psychologists interact: school psychologists often make initial observations and referrals; behavior specialists perform assessments and develop behavior plans; RBTs implement plans under a specialist’s supervision.
Trustees questioned timelines for referrals, site assignments, how quickly teachers can expect support and whether contracted positions represent a long‑term solution or a stopgap while the district recruits permanent staff. Staff said referrals start at the site level and that behavior specialists and RBTs are assigned across TK–12, with an emphasis at elementary sites; they also described efforts to build staff capacity via professional development and release days for special education teams.
Financial note: the contracts cited in board materials carry not‑to‑exceed amounts in the mid six‑figure to low seven‑figure ranges; the board approved the motions during the meeting.
What’s next: Staff will implement the contracted services for the coming year and provide trustees with follow‑up reporting on staffing deployments and outcomes.
Quote: "We have to ensure that our students are receiving the required services," a district presenter said, describing the rationale for contracting specialized staff.
