Contract nonpayment causes CCS, ESU rift

■ Editor’s note: More on the ESU contract issue and other school board action, including hiring of additional music and art teachers, will be in next week’s issue.    

With approval of a North Platte firm to provide much of Chase County Schools’ contracted special education services in 2021-22, the school’s annual contract with Educational Service Unit 15 next year will be greatly reduced.
    Action on an ESU school year contract normally takes place in March, and it was the last item on Tuesday night’s school board meeting.
    CCS’s 2020-21 ESU contract totaled $532,900. The ‘21-22 contract dropped considerably to $131,250.
    A March 5 letter from ESU Administrator Paul Calvert was sent to parents of CCS special services students.
    In it, Calvert wrote CCS is delinquent in payment of its 2020-21 contract.
    “Additionally, I have received a letter from KSB Law Firm (the school’s attorney) stating that Chase County Schools does not intend to honor this contract nor pay for services received by ESU 15 providers.”
    He added, “When one part of the team does not fulfill their obligations, it affects all other schools.”
    With CCS, ESU 15 serves a total of nine schools in the region.
    After Tuesday’s board meeting, CCS Supt. Adam Lambert said the school is asking for an itemized billing for ESU services.
    “Once they do that, we will pay the bill,” he said.
    Lambert said CCS has made two of the eight payments to the ESU, or 25% of the contract.
    After Lambert learned of Calvert’s letter, which board president Karl Meeske said was sent without the school’s knowledge, the superintendent sent one of his own to parents/guardians of all CCS students.
    He wrote it was true CCS is in a “dispute” with ESU 15 over their billing practices.
    He said the itemization they are seeking “is necessary to ensure the district is not being overcharged and that your children are receiving all of the service minutes to which they are entitled.”
    CCS teacher Sonya Schilke spoke at Tuesday’s meeting. She said the ESU speech pathologist was in her classroom that day and told them she wouldn’t be back.
    Lambert said the ESU has refused to provide the itemized information they are seeking.
    The 2020-21 contract, still available on the school’s website, lists an estimated figure for each service contracted. Nothing in the two-page contract indicates an itemized breakdown would be included.
    Board member Jeff Olsen motioned to pay up current on the 2020-21 contract, and continue to pay monthly bills until the end of the year.
    The motion did get a second from Cindy Arterburn, but board president Meeske stopped discussion, saying it wasn’t on the agenda and would have to be moved to the next meeting.
    Carrie Terryberry asked when students using ESU personnel show up Monday, “do they have services?”
    Lambert answered, “I hope so. It’s too early to know.”
    After the meeting, when pressed about who would provide the services if ESU does not, Lambert said, “that’s our job.”
    Lambert said personnel with the North Platte firm hired for next year will clock in when working at the school.
    The board approved next year’s ESU 15 contract on an 8-0-1 vote, with Olsen abstaining. The majority of the contract ($95,500) is for speech pathology services.
    The hiring of McConnell Psychological Solutions of North Platte for $134,076 to “serve special education needs” for 2021-22 was approved on a 6-2-1 vote.
    Voting yes were Willy O’Neil, Josh Fries, Terryberry, Dan Reeves, Steve Wallin and Meeske.
    Laura Maddox and Arterburn voted no, while Olsen abstained.