School board approves $9.6 million in special-education contracts; director warns district covers $29 million shortfall
May 12, 2026 | Marion, School Districts, Florida
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Marion County School Board on May 12 approved a set of independent-contractor agreements covering speech, physical and occupational therapy, hearing-impaired services and other related supports, a package the district said totals about $9.6 million.
Anna Williams Jones, the director of exceptional student education, told the board the contracts include a range of providers and agencies the district uses to meet Individualized Education Program needs. She listed itemized totals including $163,432.50 for a group of speech-and-language contractors, about $954,200 for physical-therapy contracts and $1,172,687.75 for occupational-therapy agreements. The Citrus Hearing Impaired contract was identified as roughly $1.995 million.
“We currently have over 9,000 students who are receiving some type of service,” Williams Jones said during the discussion, noting the mix of sole-proprietor contractors, agency providers and a small number of district-employed specialists.
Board members asked whether the district has shifted toward community providers because of recruitment pressures. Williams Jones said the district directly employs seven speech-and-language staff but relies on community-contracted providers for other specialties.
Dr. Allison Campbell and others pressed the district on the fiscal consequences. Williams Jones said the district is supplementing state and federal funding from its own resources. “So we spend $29 million more than what is um what we receive in ESSE funding to make sure that our students are receiving their necessary supports each and every day across the district,” she said.
Superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer and board members framed the approvals as necessary to deliver legally required services while acknowledging the funding gap. The motions to approve the individual contracts (listed on the agenda as items D24.1–D24.7) were made and carried by voice vote by the whole board.
What happens next: The contracts will move forward for the 2026–27 year under the funding mix described by staff — federal grants, ESSER allocations and internal funds — while the board said it will continue legislative advocacy to address chronic underfunding of IDEA and related supports.
Votes and actions: The board approved the D24 series of independent-contractor agreements by voice votes (motions recorded on the agenda as D24.1–D24.7).
Anna Williams Jones, the director of exceptional student education, told the board the contracts include a range of providers and agencies the district uses to meet Individualized Education Program needs. She listed itemized totals including $163,432.50 for a group of speech-and-language contractors, about $954,200 for physical-therapy contracts and $1,172,687.75 for occupational-therapy agreements. The Citrus Hearing Impaired contract was identified as roughly $1.995 million.
“We currently have over 9,000 students who are receiving some type of service,” Williams Jones said during the discussion, noting the mix of sole-proprietor contractors, agency providers and a small number of district-employed specialists.
Board members asked whether the district has shifted toward community providers because of recruitment pressures. Williams Jones said the district directly employs seven speech-and-language staff but relies on community-contracted providers for other specialties.
Dr. Allison Campbell and others pressed the district on the fiscal consequences. Williams Jones said the district is supplementing state and federal funding from its own resources. “So we spend $29 million more than what is um what we receive in ESSE funding to make sure that our students are receiving their necessary supports each and every day across the district,” she said.
Superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer and board members framed the approvals as necessary to deliver legally required services while acknowledging the funding gap. The motions to approve the individual contracts (listed on the agenda as items D24.1–D24.7) were made and carried by voice vote by the whole board.
What happens next: The contracts will move forward for the 2026–27 year under the funding mix described by staff — federal grants, ESSER allocations and internal funds — while the board said it will continue legislative advocacy to address chronic underfunding of IDEA and related supports.
Votes and actions: The board approved the D24 series of independent-contractor agreements by voice votes (motions recorded on the agenda as D24.1–D24.7).
Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!
Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.
✓
Get instant access to full meeting videos
✓
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
✓
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
✓
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
30-day money-back guarantee
