Agenda Item
a. Approval of Agreement with Easterseals North Georgia (ESNG)
Summary: Presented by: Ms. Stacy Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the agreement between EasterSeals North Georgia and the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) in the amount of $696,874.
Why: This contract agreement defines the respective responsibilities and understandings of the Easterseals North Georgia (ESNG- Head Start) and the DeKalb County School District (collectively referred to as the “Cooperating Agencies”) concerning certain children residing in the school district and served by the ESNG. The Cooperating Agencies are jointly responsible for the provision of appropriate services to children with disabilities beginning at age three, as mandated by Public Law 99-457 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In compliance with the federal guidelines of the funding agency known as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Cooperating Agencies shall provide age-appropriate services to these children through a collaborative effort as specified in the contract agreement.
Details: DCSD has maintained a cooperative agreement with Head Start for fifteen (15) years. The District currently provides eight (8) fully certified special education teachers to Head Start to serve up to forty-two (42) students with disabilities in preschool, co-taught classrooms with typical peers. Students are placed in these settings based on their Individualized Education Program (IEP) needs. They are placed as close to their home school as possible. DCSD is currently seeking to enter into an agreement with ESNG to continue inclusive services until June 30, 2023.
Financial impact: The total cost of teachers’ salaries and benefits for this agreement for the 2022-2023 school year is $696,874. This total is allocated through Preschool Disability Services State Grant in the following charge code:
201.38.06.00.126201.734.2620.
Contact: Ms. Stacy Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Curriculum & Instruction, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, 678.676.0731
Ms. Michele Summerlin, Executive Director, Exceptional Education Department, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, 678.676.2163
Effective: Upon Board approval
Status: Reviewed by General Counsel
From: Sonya Sallis <ssallis@gdcrlaw.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 9, 2022 10:52 PM
To: Stacy Stepney (Curriculum & Instruction) <stacy_e_stepney@dekalbschoolsga.org>
Cc: Jordan Dailey <jdailey@gdcrlaw.com>; Michele Summerlin (EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION DEPT)
<michele_r_summerlin@dekalbschoolsga.org>; Jackie Marshall (Curriculum & Instruction)
<jackie_marshall@dekalbschoolsga.org>; Carlos Palacio <cpalacio@gdcrlaw.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL]RE: Request for Legal Assistance for Board Agenda Item - Easterseals North
Georgia, Inc.
Good evening,
Legal sufficiency is approved, subject to one additional change. I advise renaming section 6 (Ex. A at
page 6) to “Effect” and striking section 6.1.
The intent of the Agreement is to outline specific terms between the parties. It is counter-intuitive to
include a statement that it is not binding.
I hope that this is helpful. Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can provide further input.
Best,
Sonya E. Sallis | Member
49 Atlanta Street | Marietta, GA 30060
678.784.3550 direct | 770.422.1776 office | 770.426.6155 facsimile
ssallis@gdcrlaw.com | www.gdcrlaw.com