Board approves in-district speech services, mentoring and mental-health MOUs

The Auburndale School District board approved three personnel and partnership items: a contract for speech and language services with Aubrey Dupul, a memorandum of understanding with Big Brothers Big Sisters for mentoring, and a memorandum with Advocate Psychotherapy Services LLC to provide in-district mental-health services.

Superintendent Steve told the board staff had recruited a speech-language pathologist and that the district would move from virtual speech services to an in-person provider. "We were able to get another speech language pathologist which is so awesome for our district and for our students," the superintendent said. The board moved and carried the contract approval.

The board also approved a renewal of the Big Brothers Big Sisters partnership, which pairs high school mentors with younger students, and an MOU to host Amanda Robertson from Advocate Psychotherapy Services for school-based counseling. Each motion was made, seconded and carried during the action-items portion of the meeting.

Next steps include executing the contracts, arranging on-site schedules for the speech provider and mental-health clinician, and continuing coordination with Big Brothers Big Sisters to match high school mentors with younger students.