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Board ratifies high‑cost special‑education placements and transportation contracts amid concern
Summary
The board ratified contracts for out‑of‑district special‑education placements, student transportation and nursing services that together total over $2.3 million in potential contracts; members expressed concern about per‑student costs and recorded several abstentions.
Several ratifications on the agenda drew explicit concern from board members about the per‑student cost of special‑education placements and transportation.
Board members approved a joint powers agreement with East Valley Schools Transportation Agency to provide transportation for students placed outside the district; one board member described the total as "an elaborate amount of money for 40 students" and abstained from that vote. Superintendent Cruz explained the services are required under students' IEPs and that some nonpublic school placements are distant, which necessitates contracted transportation. "These are students that are placed outside our school district... Our transportation department is not authorized to travel outside of our school boundaries," the superintendent said.
The board also ratified a contract with Rising Star Sped Academy for one student listed at $188,670.80 and approved a nursing services contract with RO Health LLC not to exceed $673,200 for seven students (a ceiling that district staff said may be lower in practice). Several board members abstained from one or more of these votes and staff reiterated that federal and state special‑education funds do not fully cover the cost, so general‑fund pressure results when students require nonpublic placements or intensive health services. The board approved the listed contracts by recorded voice votes with abstentions noted.
