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Board approves amended Alpha Interpreting contract as community urges in-house hires
Summary
Trustees approved an amended contract for Alpha Interpreting to provide Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing interpreting services after public comment highlighted the contract’s growth to about $2.075M; parents and staff urged the district to develop long-term recruitment, retention and in‑house alternatives.
Nicole Jarecki, BTA vice president and a longtime district teacher, pressed the board on item 13m and the growth of the district’s interpreting contract. Jarecki traced the contract’s expansion — originally capped near $700,000, later increased by $500,000 — to the current amended not-to-exceed level discussed at the meeting of $2,075,000 and asked, "What can we do to bring these interpreting services in house?"
Trustees and staff acknowledged the concern. Interim Superintendent Oscar Macias said staff is tracking compliance and is examining options to attract and retain in-district interpreters. He referenced outreach to training programs and partnerships. Staff and trustees also emphasized that the district participates in a SELPA structure where costs and services are shared with neighboring districts, and that invoicing and cost allocations are governed by SELPA agreements.
During public discussion board members and staff urged a short-term and long-term strategy: a comparative pay and stipend review to make district positions more competitive, internship pathways with local programs such as California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and potential retention incentives. Trustees asked staff to return with comparative salary data, proposed recruitment strategies, and a clear accounting of SELPA cost-sharing and projected annual run-rate for agency hires.
The board approved the amended professional services agreement for Alpha Interpreting Agency; the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. Staff said they would include more detailed invoicing and projection information in follow-up materials and work with SELPA on allocations.
