FPS education board to talk medical reimbursements

Fulton High School (file photo)
Fulton High School (file photo)

The Fulton Public Schools Board of Education will conduct regular year-end business at Wednesday's meeting.

Members of the public are welcome to attend Board of Education meetings, which take place on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in Fulton High School's library.

Board members will vote on whether to adopt a new Department of Social Services program that will change how the district receives reimbursements for medical services.

Currently, the district's school nurses and therapists provide certain services to disabled students enrolled in the Medicaid Individualized Education Plan.

"Our district is currently participating in Direct Services claiming, which allows us to submit claims to MHD for a variety of medical services that we provide to students with disabilities so that they can attend school," Superintendent Jacque Cowherd explained in the board packet. "In the past we have received a low, flat-rate reimbursement for those services."

This new program, titled the School-Based IEP Direct Services Cost Settlement through the MO HealthNet Program, would reimburse based on the district's actual costs in providing those services.

"We anticipate that through Cost Settlement the district could receive significantly more revenue for the medical related services we are providing to students with IEPs," Cowherd added. "Cost Settlement requires no additional time and effort on the part of therapists and others who provide these services to our students."

Under the program, Fulton Public Schools would be enrolled as a Medicaid direct services provider for eligible children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Other business

In an attempt to attract more student teachers from the University of Missouri, district administration is recommending offering a gas stipend to student teachers in the FPS system.

"To date, FPS has not secured student teachers from MU due to non-participation in the gas card stipend program," the board packet states.

MU student teachers who successfully complete their first semester of student teaching would receive a $250 gas card.

Board members will consider whether to establish a Board Finance Committee to advise the superintendent and board in financial matters.

Board members are also slated to vote on matters including appointing a non-discrimination compliance coordinator for Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504. School administration has recommended Assistant Superintendent Ty Crain for the position.

The administration has put forward Special Services Director Karrie Millard to serve as the district homeless coordinator, migrant and English-language learner coordinator and foster care liaison.

To see the complete agenda and meeting materials, visit bit.ly/FPSBOEagendas.

There will be no July meeting. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Aug. 21.