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Board approves up to $3.5 million contract with Aya Healthcare to fill special‑education vacancies
Summary
The Santa Maria‑Bonita board approved a contract with Aya Healthcare not to exceed $3.5 million to provide certificated special‑education staff for 2025–26, citing 16 in‑person placements already identified and an option to cover additional vacancies; members pressed staff for cost comparisons with existing vendor Sunburst.
The Santa Maria‑Bonita School District board on a unanimous roll‑call vote approved a contract with Aya Healthcare, Inc. not to exceed $3.5 million to supply certificated special‑education staff for the 2025–26 school year.
District staff told the board the agreement covers 16 in‑person placements already located by Aya — 11 resource/education specialists and five speech‑language pathologists — and provides the district capacity to request additional placements during the school year if further vacancies arise. A district presenter said the contract is intended to ensure students’ individualized education program services are staffed "on day one of school." (District staff asked that Aya be approved "not to exceed $3.5 million.")
Board members asked for specifics on titles, costs and vendor overlap. Staff explained that "education specialist" is the credential title used for resource specialists in the district and that Aya’s hourly rates are modestly higher than the district’s existing contractor, Sunburst, but that Aya has been able to provide in‑person staff where Sunburst had supplied remote staff. A district finance staff member explained the not‑to‑exceed figure covers the current 16 placements and anticipates additional needs so the district can convert remote placements to in‑person instruction without delays.
Members pressed for more detail on how many staff remain on Sunburst contracts and how that vendor is paid; staff said Sunburst is still active under its contract and that Sunburst staff are paid hourly, and promised to return the exact headcount for Sunburst placements. Staff also said the district’s contracts permit the district to release vendor placements with 30 days’ notice when internal hires can replace contracted staff.
Miss Cabell moved to approve the agreement; Mr. Valencia seconded. The motion passed by roll call and the board approved the contract as presented.
What happens next: the contract allows the district to request placements from Aya for the remainder of 2025–26 as needed; staff will provide the board follow‑up information on current Sunburst headcount and more precise cost comparisons.
