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Board approves Cartwheel counseling agreement and one-year $10,000 stipend pending staffing decisions
Summary
The board approved a contract with Cartwheel for virtual counseling referrals and a $10,000 one‑year stipend for a staff member handling added duties; the stipend was structured as a bonus to end if a new counselor is hired.
The Siren School District board approved a counseling services agreement with Cartwheel and authorized a one-year $10,000 stipend for an existing staff member who has taken on additional counseling duties.
Board members discussed the scope and cost of the Cartwheel arrangement. The contract figures discussed in the meeting included an approximate three‑year total near $9,000 with a first-year cost described as "under $5,000" and the service covering roughly 10–15 student referrals in a 12‑month term. Members emphasized the virtual referrals are intended to supplement limited in‑person counseling capacity and buy time if the district hires a new counselor.
Separately, the board approved a $10,000 stipend for the staff member (referred to in the meeting as 'Montana') to compensate additional duties. The board structured that payment as a bonus split into two payments during the year and stated it would terminate the bonus if the district later hired a half- or full-time counselor.
Board members noted the stipend and contract are cost‑management decisions intended to maintain counseling access while the district evaluates longer-term staffing. The motion to approve the contract and stipend passed by voice vote.
What happens next: the district will implement the Cartwheel referral process, make the first stipend payment at the start of the year, and continue seeking grant funding and longer-term counselor hires.
