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Board weighs continuing True North contract vs. building in-house special-education services
Summary
Board heard two options for special-education services: extend the True North partnership under a new two-year commitment or develop an in-house team for speech, PT, assistive technology and vision services; administration set a Feb. 1 decision deadline and said services would not lapse during transition.
The Lake Bluff ESD 65 Board on Jan. 20 considered two paths for delivering special-education services for 2026–27: continue the district’s contract with True North under newly required two-year terms or build an in-house team to provide Speech & AAC, Physical Therapy, Assistive Technology and Vision services.
Superintendent Dr. Lisa Leali and True North representative Tracy Roehrick presented the options and trade-offs. Leali said administration remains “committed to utilizing True North’s expertise regardless of the chosen path” but noted the vendor now requires a two-year service commitment. Roehrick described the staffing and service model changes and estimated costs are still pending.
Administration recommended Option 2 — developing internal capacity — citing opportunities to grow staff expertise and provide tailored professional development. Under the staff-driven model, the district would leverage current special-education teachers to cover adaptive physical education and enter an intergovernmental agreement with District 115 and District 67 to share a physical therapist.
Leali told the board a final commitment to True North for the 2026–27 school year is required by Feb. 1 and assured there would be no lapse in student services during any transition. "We must navigate new requirements, including a two-year service commitment rather than the previous one-year term," she said.
The board did not take a final vote on the service option at the meeting; administration will return with cost details and a recommendation before the Feb. 1 deadline.
