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Ventura Unified board approves contracts over $25,000, including not-to-exceed $500,000 ASL services agreement
Summary
The Ventura Unified School District board unanimously approved contracts exceeding $25,000, including a not-to-exceed $500,000 contract with LinguaBee for sign-language interpretation and staffing agreements to backfill occupational therapy positions; trustees asked staff to continue efforts to recruit in-house ASL interpreters.
The Ventura Unified School District board unanimously approved a slate of contracts that exceed $25,000 at its regular meeting, including a not-to-exceed $500,000 agreement with LinguaBee to provide sign-language interpretation across the district.
Board members reviewed a vendor list and asked staff for clarification about three items tied to special-education services. A trustee asked whether a listed “nonpublic agency” service was connected to a single student placed in a nonpublic setting; staff replied that one item was specific to a student and that the nonpublic setting would provide the service. The same trustee sought details about the LinguaBee agreement and Pioneer Health Services contracts for occupational-therapy staffing.
"The board has a list in front of them just to entertain any questions," said Dr. Mirza, who answered trustees' operational questions on the item. Superintendent Doctor Antonio Castro said the LinguaBee contract is a not-to-exceed amount intended to cover districtwide sign-language interpretation for events and student needs and that the OT staffing agreements are temporary backfill while employees are on leave. Castro added, "We will continue to explore ways to recruit and retain ASL interpreters because... private industry can make a lot more money than they do in public settings." The trustee who raised questions said, "I mean, because we don't need them, like, all day, every day, typically," urging staff to consider in-house or alternate staffing models.
Board members approved the contracts by voice vote. The motion to approve the contracts carried unanimously (5-0). The clerk recorded votes by Trustee Calvin Peterson, Trustee Doctor Jerry Danenberg, Trustee Sabrina Rodriguez, Vice President Shannon Fredericks and President James Forsyth as "yes." No abstentions or dissenting votes were recorded.
The district staff said they will continue recruiting efforts for in-house ASL interpreters and will rely on vendor agreements to ensure interpretation and related services are available while recruitment and staffing transitions continue. The contracts approved at the meeting will be brought back to staff files and executed per district procurement processes.
