Newton schools end therapeutic classroom program

Keeping the Newton Community School District’s therapeutic classrooms fully staffed this year was a challenge and it was ultimately the reason administrators recommended the school board cancel its agreement with Four Oaks Family and Children’s Services, despite the organization’s progress filling the positions.

During the Jan. 24 board meeting, superintendent Tom Messinger acknowledged staff turnover rates in special education are tough, but he claimed there were some days the district had to cancel its Four Oaks classrooms for a period of time due to staffing shortages. Representatives from Four Oaks confirmed this.

Megan Isenberg, prevention services director of Four Oaks, briefly addressed the school board during open forum. She reminded board members the organization was recruited to meet their social emotional learning (SEL) goals for the district, but there were indeed staffing challenges at the start of the year.

“I just wanted to take an opportunity to share that we are currently fully staffed,” Isenberg said. “We’re making really good progress towards individual goals for students and we have problem-solved a number of solutions to consider from our end of how we can keep on the same trajectory of meeting those SEL goals.”

Prior to the school board’s consideration to cancel the district’s agreement with Four Oaks, Isenberg told elected officials she was available for questions.

Although none of the school board members actually asked Isenberg any follow-up questions, a number of them were concerned with the recommendation. Board member Mark Thayer suggested his trust is now left up to the district administration to make the right call.

“This is one that I really have to trust administration knows what they’re doing with this recommendation because it’s tough,” Thayer said. “But obviously if an organization underperforms, that’s something you have to consider.”

Board president Robyn Friedman was worried for the district taking on the services when it is experiencing its own staffing issues.

“Is this the time to do that? If you say ‘yes’ to me, then it’s you who has to staff it,” Friedman told Messinger, who later noted schools are struggling to fill positions.

If Newton schools cannot find the staff to cover the services provided by Four Oaks’ therapeutic classrooms, Messinger said the district would be forced to return to contracting services. The superintendent worried this would mean having to transport students to different sites away from school.

“Which I don’t like because you’re expecting a kid to get on a suburban or a bus for an hour each way to receive an education that I would like to provide right here,” Messinger said. “But that is in the back of our minds as well. That is part of a service that we need to provide.”

The Newton school board voted 6-1 to cancel the agreement. Josh Cantu, vice-president of the NCSD Board of Education, voted “no.”

Cantu later told Newton News he voted against the cancellation because he still has questions about the district’s ability to hire the needed staff to replace those in the agreement. But he did recognize the struggles the district has had to deal with under the current agreement with Four Oaks.

“Ultimately, staffing shortages in all educational areas puts pressure on districts across the state to fill positions that are needed,” Cantu said. “I trust Tom and our administration to work diligently to fill all positions with highly qualified individuals that will fit the culture we are trying to build.”

NEWTON ENTERED AGREEMENT IN 2020

Newton schools entered into Four Oaks’s therapeutical classrooms program in October 2020. The agreement called for three teachers, six youth counselors and one program coordinator.

Messinger told Newton News that Four Oaks did hire the final teacher before the agreement was canceled, but it was his understanding he/she was not licensed.

Therapeutic classrooms are highly structured and are designed to support children with individual specific needs – including mental and behavioral health issues – to reach academic success. Four Oaks assured the provision of services to the children in each classroom at the Newton school district

Four Oaks employs more than 700 staff across 20 sites. The organization has impacted 26,455 individuals across Iowa this past year.

Debbie Craig, chief advocacy officer of Four Oaks, said in an email to Newton News that the organization works closely with area school districts to ensure the youth in their care receive appropriate services for their needs. Following the 6-1 vote to cancel the contract, she hopes Four Oaks can still benefit Newton.

“We received notice that the Newton Community School District will no longer utilize Four Oaks for therapeutic classroom services; however, we hope to continue to work in partnership with the school district to serve the Newton community with other support services,” Craig said.

Per the agreement, the district was to communicate with Four Oaks staff regarding the needs and concerns of each student referred to the program, provide appropriate educational materials during the course of suspension or expulsion from regular classrooms and arrange three rooms to house programs.

Four Oaks was responsible for employing, training and compensating staff serving the program. The organization was also to supposed to program all services by the program and ensure all 10 staff members abide by state code and special education regulations.

As payment for the services provided by Four Oaks, the district provided a sum of $624,267 in 12 monthly installments during the initial term. The next additional term, the district was to pay $642,995 to Four Oaks. After that, Newton would have to pay $662,285 to the organization.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com