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Board approves special‑education contracts and new mental‑health supervisor position
Summary
The board approved a set of special‑education contracting and staffing items: a speech‑therapy services agreement, a STAR California applied‑behavior contract for one‑on‑one RBT support paid from Medi‑Cal funds, and established a full‑time mental‑health supervisor position funded by a mental‑health grant.
The Santa Paula Unified School District board on Aug. 27 approved multiple staffing and contracted services intended to sustain special‑education and mental‑health supports as the school year begins.
Dr. Lawrence explained a contract with STAR California provides one‑on‑one applied behavior analysis (registered behavioral technician) services for approximately eight students. The district uses Medi‑Cal reimbursements to support such contracts while building internal capacity — district staff said bringing board‑certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) in‑house has already saved the district more than $200,000 this year and the district plans to train instructional assistants as RBTs to reduce reliance on outside vendors.
The board also approved a services agreement with APA Speech Therapy to fill a speech and language pathology assistant role to meet IEP obligations; staff emphasized that contracted assistants deliver services when District cannot timely fill positions and that speech pathologists provide case management and assessments.
Separately, the board approved the establishment of a new full‑time (8‑hour) classified mental‑health supervisor position funded through a multi‑year mental‑health grant. Human‑resources staff presented an estimated cost for the position (roughly $127,000 base salary and approximately $173,000 with benefits) and said the new role is intended to bring supervision of associate therapists and interns in‑house instead of contracting that work.
Trustees approved the items on the consent calendar and the human resources action by recorded votes (multiple items approved by roll calls recorded as 4‑0, 1 absent). District staff said they will continue recruitment efforts and that contracts are used where legally required services cannot otherwise be provided in‑house.
