FARMINGTON — RSU 9 directors voted unanimously Tuesday to support hiring a special education teacher and financing it through the MaineCare program and state Department of Education.

It will allow the district to expand its day treatment program at Mt. Blue High School in Farmington to include 11 students in grades seven through 12.

The district does not have a therapeutic program at Mt. Blue Middle School, and therefore, cannot provide an adequate program for them there, Paula Leavitt, the district’s special services director, told the board Aug. 13.

The district faced paying about $100,000 to place the middle school students outside of the district for services, including transportation costs.

A teacher’s salary and benefits will cost $46,500 for the district program, Leavitt said Tuesday. The revenue generated through reimbursement will be $63,902, she said.

The 11 students have mental health needs that require small group instruction for academics and social skills in a therapeutic environment.

Advertisement

There are day-treatment programs for students in grades kindergarten through six at the Mallett and Cascade Brook schools in Farmington.

Prior to reimbursement from MaineCare, the district will need to foot the bill for the additional teacher. The reimbursement is normally done within the same year, Leavitt said.

But look at the hospitals that still haven’t been paid for services rendered prior to 2012, she said. The state is in the process of getting the money to pay millions of dollars in outstanding debt to them.

The day treatment program will have two teachers and three program educational technicians. It is usually a 6-1 ratio of students to teachers, Leavitt said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

FARMINGTON — RSU 9 school directors voted unanimously Tuesday to support hiring a special education teacher and financing it through the MaineCare program and state Department of Education.

Advertisement

This will allow the district to expand its day treatment program at Mt. Blue High School and encompass 11 students in grades seven through 12. The expanded program allows two middle school students to be served at the high school level.

Currently the Mt. Blue High School Day Treatment Program serves students in grades nine through 12.

The district currently does not have a therapeutic program at the middle school, and therefore, cannot provide an adequate program for them there, Paula Leavitt, the district’s special services director, told the board on Aug. 13.

The district faced paying about $100,000 to place the middle school students outside of the district for services and transportation costs.

A teacher’s salary and benefits will cost $46,500 for the district program, Leavitt said Tuesday.

The revenue generated through the program through reimbursement will be $63,902, she said.

Advertisement

The 11 students have mental health needs that require small group instruction for academics and social skills in a therapeutic environment.

There are day-treatment programs for students in grades kindergarten through six at the Mallett and Cascade Brook schools in Farmington.

Prior to reimbursement from MaineCare, the district will need to foot the bill for the additional teacher. The reimbursement is normally done within the same year, Leavitt said.

But look at the hospitals that still haven’t paid for services rendered prior to 2012, she said. The state is in the process of getting the money to pay millions of dollars in outstanding debt to them.

The day treatment program will have two teachers and three program educational technicians.

It is usually a six to one ratio of students to teacher, Leavitt said.

dperry@sunjournal.com


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.