Agenda Item
b. Memorandum of Agreement between DeKalb County School District and Laurel Heights Hospital (Not to exceed $493,097)
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 contractual agreement between the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) and Laurel Heights Hospital (LHH) in an amount not to exceed $493,097.
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: Pursuant to the agreement between The DeKalb County School District and Laurel Heights Hospital, the District ensures that all students with disabilities receiving educational services within Laurel Heights Hospital receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education. The District extends opportunities for Laurel Heights teachers and staff to participate in district staff development and provides technical assistance/oversight through a district Lead Teacher for Special Education (LTSE) to ensure completion of eligibility determinations, triennial reviews, IEP development, and IEP implementation. Additionally, the District provides access to state assessments for eligible students and assessment training for the identified Laurel Heights Test Coordinator.
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 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 12 years, and how LHH intends to use the funds for this fiscal year.
Funds are expended based on direct costs incurred for activities directly associated with the education of eligible children such as, salaries, wages and benefits for teachers and paraprofessionals; costs for instructional materials and supplies; costs associated with classroom-related activities and equipment; and any other appropriate instructional expenses. Indirect costs such as cost incurred for administration, plant operations and maintenance, food services, transportation, instructional support including media centers, teacher training, and student support such as nurses and guidance counselors.
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 Services, 678.676.1809
Effective: July 7, 2025 - July 6, 2026
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
Laurel Heights Hospital Chronology
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 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 following table outlines
how funds have been expended for the last 12 years, and how LHH intends
to use the funds for this fiscal year.
Funds are expended based on direct costs incurred for activities directly
associated with the education of eligible children such as, salaries, wages
and benefits for teachers and paraprofessionals; costs for instructional
materials and supplies; costs associated with classroom-related activities
and equipment; and any other appropriate instructional expenses. Indirect
costs such as cost incurred for administration, plant operations and
maintenance, food services, transportation, instructional support including
media centers, teacher training, and student support such as nurses and
guidance counselors.
Summary:
School Total Summary of Expenditures
Year Grant
Amount
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
2024-2025 $493,097 Salaries, benefits, instructional supplies