Lehighton Area School District is moving forward with a plan to expand its own special education programs while continuing to rely on Behavioral Health Associates, a Lehighton-based licensed private academic school.

Administrators and school board members said during Monday’s workshop that the district spent more than $4 million last year on BHA placements.

“That is almost twice as much as what we spent on cyber charter schools,” Superintendent Jason Moser said.

Board members questioned the heavy use of outside services particularly when it comes to general education services.

“When I think about general education, I think our staff should be able to handle that,” director Duane Dellecker said. “I’d like to know why we’re dealing with this.”

District officials explained that some placements involve students who show significant behaviors but have not been identified for special education. Others are tied to expulsionary periods.

Lehighton recently opened a K-2 emotional support classroom at the elementary center, a step officials said has already avoided costs compared to outsourcing the same service. Plans are underway for a grades 3-5 classroom as well.

“We added a staff member to open that K-2 room,” Moser said. “We’re not going to open these programs without the proper staffing. In the first year, we’re already seeing significant cost avoidance compared to sending students out of the district.”

Resident Ryan Bowman pressed for details on whether reintegrating students from BHA would strain staff.

Moser said additional positions would always be added if new classrooms open, but cautioned against moving too quickly.

“If you move too fast, you’ll have problems with sustainability and the impact on the building,” he said. “You need a plan for how many students are coming back, the right staffing, and a plan for not just this year but three years from now.”

Moser acknowledged that while BHA offers valuable services for students with the most intensive needs, the long-term goal is to build more capacity within the district.

“Even if we spend the same amount to do it ourselves, it’s still a win because students are with their peers as much as possible,” he said.

The district’s challenge, Moser added, is finding the right balance.

“We’ve become quite accustomed to sending students out for placements,” he told the board. “That didn’t happen overnight, and building back a full continuum of services won’t happen overnight either. But we have to work toward that.”

New contract with BHA

The district’s proposed contract with BHA for the 2025-26 school year, which will be up for vote in two weeks, outlines rates for a wide range of programs.

Lehighton will pay $141 per day for each general education student and $206 per day for each special education student. More intensive placements cost more, including $445 per day for the Intensive Self-Management program, $419 for the Dual Diagnosis program, and $492 for the Enhanced Program.

BHA provides general and special education programming, accelerated learning, 30- to 60-day assessment programs, academic and behavioral assessments, social skills training, and psycho-educational group instruction. The contract also requires that each student’s Individualized Education Program be reviewed every 45 school days.

Transportation to and from BHA is provided by the district at its expense. The agreement can be terminated by either party with 30 days’ written notice.

Career and online services

The contract also covers BHA’s Career Employment Program, which places students in supervised job sites. Each student is accompanied by a job coach certified in First Aid, CPR, and crisis prevention. Lehighton will pay $107 per day for each student in the program, with an additional $30 per hour if one-on-one coaching is required.

An online option, eBridge Academy, costs the district $34 per day per student. It offers general and special education instruction, accelerated learning, credit recovery, Advanced Placement classes, and foreign language courses. Students enrolled in eBridge receive a laptop, printer, and headset, with families responsible for replacement costs if equipment is not returned.