VACAVILLE — Trustees of the Vacaville School District have approved a contract to assist a student who is hard of hearing – even though the necessary personnel are not yet available.
The contract with Interpreting and Consulting Services Inc. is not to exceed $203,000 for the 2021-22 school year.
The contract, which was approved Thursday, will provide American Sign Language interpretation for a student in the school district who is hard of hearing.
But this doesn’t come without some complications, according to Assistant Superintendent Sasha Begell, because at this time the company does not have the two certified interpreters to be in the classrooms for the school day.
Children with delayed skills or other disabilities are able to be eligible for special services that provide individualized education programs in public schools, free of charge to families, due to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Parents can work with educators to develop a plan called the Individualized Education Program to help children succeed in school.
This student does not have an IEP in place for this particular service.
The Solano County Board of Education contracts out for IEPs because it is such a rare and unique service, school officials report. If a student doesn’t have an IEP, then the school can’t use that service provided through the Board of Education because it is not funded by special education dollars.
“The Solano County Board of Education has been great, but were not able to find the services themselves,” Begell said.
Approving the contract places the school district first in line to get the services once the appropriate personnel are located.
“It will be a holding spot in line so we get first pick at that services,” Begell said.
“This is the second agency that told us they could provide a person,” Begell said. “But push came to shove and they said they did not have a person.”
No money will be spent until the staffing is provided for this service.
“I believe that it is a staff issue. It is a difficult position to fill,” Begell said.
The district will continue to search for a company that can fulfill this position even with the approval for the contract, Begell said.
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