Various agencies will provide qualified, licensed speech and language pathologists when qualified direct hires are not available, as required by both federal and state special education laws and regulations, for students identified, or in the process of being identified, as special education students who require speech and language therapy services.  There is an ongoing national and Florida shortage of qualified, speech and language pathologists.

Providing Speech Language Therapy Services to our students with disabilities will help them meet their Individual Educational Plan goals and overcome barriers.  This is consistent with our strategic objective of goal setting.

Clinical Providers:

EBS Healthcare

Community Rehab Associates, Inc.

Progressus Therapy, LLC.

Invo Healthcare Associates, Inc.

Sunbelt Staffing Solutions, Inc.

Giraffic Park Therapy Center

Melanie Blaustein-Pullman

The Superintendent recommends approval to renew contracts for professional services between the School Board of Manatee County and various agencies, for Speech and Language Pathology Services for the 2010-2011 school year.

The Superintendent recommends approval to renew contracts for professional services between the School Board of Manatee County and various agencies, for Speech and Language Pathology Services for the 2010-2011 school year.

These services are funded by General Fund staff allocation units and supplemented with American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds.   Schools transfer teacher units in the amount of the average teacher salary, $63,090.00 for each full time speech and language pathologist, to the Exceptional Student Education department contracted services budget. The estimated cost of these contracted speech and language pathologists to the district will be $2,413,140.00.

Exceptional Student Education Department

Jeffrey R. Schneiderman/rc

07/26/10