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Board pauses decision on school‑based counseling MOU, asks administration to clarify who pays
Summary
The board asked administration to pause consideration of a counseling agreement with Mercy and Grace Counseling until staff return with explicit cost language; administration said services are typically billed to families' insurance and that there is no district cost under similar MOUs, but several board members requested the detail be spelled out in writing.
Administration presented a proposed counseling and mental‑health services agreement to make clinicians available at schools that lack full provider coverage. The MOU would add Mercy and Grace Counseling as another provider option to reach more schools.
Board members repeatedly asked about cost and billing. One board member said, "I don't see a cost on here, a price," and asked whether families, the district, or insurers would pay. Administration replied that, under similar agreements with providers such as Access Health and New River Health, families can submit insurance and the district typically does not pay; presenters said staffing is provided by the contractor and that they would confirm billing practices and include cost language in the MOU.
Because the community requested clearer language on financial responsibility before the start of school, administration recommended pausing the item and returning with explicit cost and billing terms before the Aug. 26 school start. The board agreed to delay the vote and asked staff to include details for all proposed providers on the next agenda.
No vote approving the MOU was recorded on July 28; the meeting record shows the MOU will return for board consideration after staff provide the requested cost clarifications.
