A consulting firm has been hired to review the emotional support programs in the Warren County School District.
Innovative Parenting Solutions has been contracted to conduct the review. Superintendent Brandon Hufnagel told the school board on Monday that the company has been hired "to provide consulting service for our emotional support programs in the district."
Hufnagel said that the goal is "restructuring our program to become more efficient...Because of some things that have been happening we have to take a look at it."
The contract approved by the school board on Monday night stipulates that the consultant "shall provide four days of observation for the Emotional Support and Autistic Support programs (grades K-8) within the Warren County School District. The observation period will supply the information needed to provide the educators and support staff with constructive feedback needed to effectively meet the needs of their students, in order to increase test scores and promote positive interactions among students and staff."
Three of the days will consist of classroom observations and a fourth has been "devoted to meeting with teachers and staff. The meeting day will provide teachers and staff with the ability to express concerns, ask questions and examine their goals in relation to effective classroom management and interactions."
However, instead of just identifying the problems, the consultant will help facilitate implementation of any changes that need to be made.
After the review, Innovative Parenting Solutions will also "create a professional development plan and provide three days of in-service workshops based on the information gathered through the observations and conversations held with the staff of the emotional support programs."
The review will cost the district $3,600. Hufnagel said that the total cost includes the observation as well as the subsequent professional development workshops.