The Special Education Department asked the Waterbury Board of Education on Oct. 2 to approve amendment 1 to an existing agreement with Apex Educational Services LLC to provide board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) and provide physical and psychological management training (PMT) to district staff.

Wendy Johns (Special Education) told the board the amendment would provide BCBA support districtwide and meet the district’s restraint-training requirements, adding up to 1,073 hours per contract year under the amended agreement. Johns said the original three-year agreement had been executed on June 29, 2023, and that amendment 1 would add compensation and additional days/hours to support training and BCBA coverage.

Secretary Serrano Adorno asked how many BCBAs the district currently has; Johns said Apex was providing two BCBAs under the existing contract for support at one school and that other BCBAs serve district needs under separate contracts. Commissioner O'Brien asked whether the restraint training met Connecticut guidelines; Johns said it did and described the training as a nationally recognized program that "meets with the Connecticut statutes." Commissioner Lopez asked how often restraints occur; Johns said the district collects restraint incidents in CT SEDs and can provide the data to the board.

Dr. Schwartz told commissioners the item was time-sensitive and that the board would consider it at a special meeting later that evening to avoid loss of services. At the special meeting, Commissioner Latoya Arling moved to approve amendment 1 to the professional services agreement with Apex Educational Services LLC; a second was recorded but no roll-call vote appears in the provided transcript.

Board members and staff discussed scope, documentation and oversight for restraints, including how out-of-district placements report restraint incidents and the role of the state in overseeing state-approved programs. Johns said the amendment covers training for new staff and annual refresher training for previously trained staff.

The transcript does not record a final vote on the amendment in the excerpt provided; the district indicated the item would be addressed at the special meeting and that prompt action was needed to maintain continuity of services.