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Board tables proposed shared Achieve special-education support role amid overlap questions
Summary
The board discussed a proposed shared Achieve (AEA) special-education administrative associate for multiple districts at roughly $17,500 per district, raised questions about overlap with the recently hired director of student services and training needs, and voted to table the item for follow-up at the next meeting.
The Atlantic Comm School District board paused action on a proposed shared Achieve (AEA) special-education administrative associate after extended discussion about scope, staffing overlap and training.
Dr. Glass summarized the proposal as a shared position contracted across multiple districts to deliver Achieve-system support, compliance checks, Medicaid assistance and related special-education administrative tasks for an estimated cost of about $17,500 per district. "The position would be shared with I think four other school districts...the post contract on a shared agreement would be $17,500," Dr. Glass said.
Board members pressed for details: how many districts would participate, how frequently the consultant would be onsite, and whether current district staff were trained on Achieve. One member said she was "confused as well why we hired the director of student services to do that, and now we're saying we need to bring in another person from the AEA to do the same thing we hired them for." Members noted some principals and staff have Achieve training, but others — including the recently hired director — may not have had the AEA training and are not fully cross-trained.
Board members asked whether the district could train an in-house employee or reassign existing staff instead of contracting externally. Dr. Glass and others explained the AEA consultant (named in materials as Karen Schwanky) brings specialized Achieve training and compliance experience; the contracted person would be onsite approximately one day per week and provide remote support otherwise. Board members suggested exploring in-house training (sending a staff member to Achieve training) and verifying timing and start dates before committing district funds.
After the discussion, a motion to table the shared-position agreement until the next meeting carried on a voice vote so the board could gather additional information and evaluate whether the service could be provided by district staff or should be contracted.
