Gary board OKs special ed services

GARY — With some reluctance, the School Board approved the outsourcing of two special education services totaling $198,000.

Soliant Health will receive $100,000 to provide psychologists, and Professional Interpreters will receive $98,000 for services for deaf children.

The contracts passed by a 5-1 vote Tuesday with Marion Williams voting no.

“The continuation of outsourcing to other school districts and agencies is a concern,” Williams said. “As positions continue to dwindle in the Gary Community School Corp., we need to support our local psychologists in this district and not outsource.”

Board member Nellie Moore agreed with Williams, but said the Indiana Department of Education has ordered the district to improve its services for special education students or risk losing funding.

“There was a mandate by the state that we seek additional services, that’s why we moved into this direction,” she said.” We were being penalized for not having adequate services in those two areas.”

The board delayed action on a third contract to TradeWinds, a not-for-profit agency that provides occupational therapy services.