Agenda Item
a. Memorandum of Agreement between DeKalb County School District and Laurel Heights Hospital (Not to exceed $414,103)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) and Laurel Heights Hospital (LHH) in an amount not to exceed $414,103.
Why: DCSD has served as the fiscal agent for Laurel Heights Hospital (LHH) since 2007. LHH is an educational program for students placed in its care by the Georgia Department of Human Resources “DHR,” The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities “DBHDD” and the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice “DJJ.” Based on a revised law that went into effect on July 1, 2018 (HB 853), public school students who are admitted under a physician’s order into a licensed psychiatric residential treatment center would be exempt from paying tuition or fees to the local school system. This law allows these students to continue their education and stay on track academically while receiving long-term medical and psychological treatment. This Agreement ensures that the educational requirements for students are met while the students are receiving educational services at LHH. These students are unable to leave the facility to attend school in the School District and are legally eligible to receive services from the School District.
Details: As the fiscal agent for Laurel Heights Hospital (LHH), the District is responsible for oversight of all grant budgets, amendments, and reimbursement requests. There is no cost incurred by the DCSD. The District collaborates with LHH to develop an appropriate budget in accordance with the Local Unit of Administration (LUA) Chart of Accounts for submission to the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). The District is responsible for submission of the budget for approval by the GaDOE through the GaDOE’s Consolidated Application. The Superintendent must sign off on assurances through the Consolidated Application ensuring that they have collaborated with the residential facility in developing the budget. The District is responsible for approving and submitting reimbursement requests through the Grants Accounting Online (GAORS). The following table outlines how funds have been expended for the last nine years, and how LHH intends to use the funds for this fiscal year.
School Year
Total Grant Amount
Summary of Expenditures
2013-2014
$119,992
Salaries, assessment materials, equipment, and textbooks
2014-2015
$257,654
Salaries, benefits, contracted behavioral services, instructional supplies, equipment, and textbooks
2015-2016
$235,729
Salaries, benefits, contracted behavioral services, instructional supplies, equipment, software for instruction, and textbooks
2016-2017
$292,870
Salaries, benefits, contracted behavioral services, instructional supplies, equipment, software for instruction, technology supplies, computer hardware, and textbooks
2017-2018
$213,578
Salaries, benefits, contracted behavioral services, and instructional supplies
2018-2019
$411,969
Salaries, benefits, contracted behavioral and tutorial services, instructional supplies, equipment, software for instruction, and computer hardware
2019-2020
$382,762
Salaries, benefits, contracted behavioral and tutorial services, instructional supplies, equipment, software for instruction, and computer hardware
2020-2021
$348,111
Salaries, benefits, tutorial services, instructional supplies
2021-2022
$330,513
Salaries, benefits, tutorial services, instructional supplies
2022-2023
$227,092
Salaries, benefits, tutorial services, instructional supplies
2023-2024
$414,103
Salaries, benefits, tutorial services, instructional supplies
The amount of the grant is determined annually by the state and is based upon information submitted by LHH regarding number of students served per day. The anticipated base grant for FY25 will be $414,103.
Financial impact: There is no financial impact to the District.
Contact: Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, Chief of Student Services, Division of Student Services, 678-676-1079
Mrs. Kiana King, Executive Director of Exceptional Education, Division of Student Support Services, 678-676-1809
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Reviewed and Approved by General Counsel