Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Contracts Education Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves two vendor contracts for speech services and school psychologists; vice chair recuses on Sentara contract
Summary
The board approved a Sentara-associated contract for in-person speech-pathology services (5 yes, 1 recusal by Vice Chair Perez) and a Coastal Evaluation & Stepping Stones contract for school psychologists (unanimous yes). Both actions were moved, seconded and recorded at the Sept. 23 meeting.
Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools' board approved two vendor contracts at its Sept. 23 meeting: a contract to secure in-person speech-pathology services associated with Sentara/Centerra and a contract with Coastal Evaluation & Stepping Stones to provide school psychologist evaluations and student support.
Kelly McPherson, introduced as the district's EC director, summarized the need for in-person speech pathologists and the district's intent to use contracted psychologists not only for evaluations but also to provide student-centered supports such as social-skills work and coping strategies.
Rodney Walton moved to approve the Sentara speech contract; Tommy Old seconded the motion. The chair asked for a show-of-hands vote; the record reflected five yes votes and one recusal from Vice Chair Perez. The recusal was noted aloud during the vote.
Walton also moved to approve the Coastal Evaluation & Stepping Stones psychologist contract; the motion was seconded and the board recorded a unanimous yes vote for that contract.
Board members asked whether one-on-one services would be explicit in contract language; Kelly McPherson said the district is considering individual and group interventions and would address contracting language accordingly.
Meeting minutes recorded the motions and the vote tallies; district staff said the contracts are intended to expand access to in-person speech services and to obtain evaluations and mental-health support for students who need them.
Next steps for the contracts include finalizing contract language and implementing provider schedules; the board did not direct additional immediate actions beyond approval.
