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Board approves special‑education contracts with capped amounts as administration warns of high contracted‑services costs
Summary
The Nashua School District Board approved several special‑education contracts (not‑to‑exceed amounts listed) to ensure services are available while administration and the board seek better forecasting and transparency on contracted services that have risen sharply in recent years.
The Nashua School District Board voted on Sept. 8 to approve a set of special‑education service contracts with contract caps intended to ensure students’ services are not interrupted while the district recruits permanent staff.
Dr. Andre and district finance staff presented details and explained why the contracts were brought forward now rather than waiting for the next finance and operations (F&O) committee meeting. Administration said they feared delays would "jeopardize having educators in front of our students for the next three weeks." The contracts presented in the board memo were described as "not to exceed" figures; the board approved them by voice vote.
Contracts and not‑to‑exceed amounts listed at the meeting included:
- Constellations (staffing/programming services at McCarthy Middle School): not to exceed $455,406. - White Birch Educational Services (paraprofessional and programmatic services): $300,960. - Reach to the Top (tutoring for students with IEPs): $85,000. - Stepping Stones Group (staffing services and ASL interpreters): $367,500. - Easterseals (transitional/vocational services for students 18–22): $317,359.50 (renewal). - Interim nursing services (health/nursing services): $112,320.
Board members sought clarity about whether the district would be obliged to pay for services not delivered. Administration said new contract language requires payment only for actual services delivered (if a student or contracted staff member is absent, the district will not pay for that time). Several members also confirmed that many contracts include termination or notice clauses (30–60 days) so the district can bring positions in‑house when staff are hired.
Members asked whether contracting at these rates would actually save money. Administration said the goal is transparency and better forecasting: by encumbering an up‑to amount early in the fiscal year, the district can see potential exposure and transfer funds earlier if needed, rather than wait until the end of the school year. Dr. Andre and Mr. Gray (business office) provided a three‑to‑five‑year historical look at contracted‑services spending, noting that contract services had grown substantially and that last year transfers into contract lines pushed total spending above initial budgeted amounts.
What comes next: Finance and operations will present a more detailed analysis the next night, including past transfers and month‑by‑month contract spending; board members were encouraged to attend that session. Administration said they will continue to negotiate bill rates, include service‑delivered language in contracts, and bring monthly data to F&O so the board can monitor encumbrances and projected transfers.
