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Ohio County Board of Education Talks About Homebound Policy

Photo by Lisa Summers The Ohio County Board of Education discusses Monday updating its homebound instruction policy. Pictured, from left, are board President Zach Abraham, Superintendent Kim Miller and Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones.

Ohio County officials discussed Monday updating the homebound instruction policy to get students back into the classroom.

Superintendent Kim Miller invited Student Services Director Raquel Welch McLeod, who oversees the homebound program, to address the school board during its regular meeting.

“Our children on homebound need a better plan to integrate them back into the classroom setting,” said McLeod.

On average, Ohio County Schools has 35 students receiving homebound services, and it costs Ohio County Schools approximately $14,000 per month for 10 months, or $140,000 every year, said McLeod.

“If a student is going to be off for more than three consecutive weeks, most likely due to surgery or a life threatening illness, they they qualify for homebound instruction,” said McLeod.

McLeod also said there has been an increase lately in students using other medical reasons to qualify for homebound instruction.

“Recently, I have seen a huge increase in depression and anxiety claims, without a plan in place to get them back into the classroom,” said McLeod.

McLeod proposed changes to the current policy to include having students list a specific reason for not being able to attend school and update a treatment plan with physicians listing steps on how they are going to get students back into to the classroom.

“If a student lists ‘mental health,’ then they need to provide documentation that they have seen a counselor at least twice in the month,” said McLeod.

McLeod said she would make calls to local doctors to verify student’s plans and that doctors could be called in to testify about truancy issues.

“Being in the classroom provides more of an experience for them,” she said.

The policy will add in student responsibilities, as well as parent responsibilities, said McLeod.

“Treatment plans will need to be updated every 90 days, for the best needs of the child,” she said.

Board President Zachary Abraham asked McLeod why she is pursuing the policy change.

“What prompted this, outside of financial costs?” he asked.

McLeod replied, “poor performance of students.

“Some children haven’t been in school in two years,” she said.

Current homebound policy is open to “a student who, due to injury, illness as certified in writing by a licensed physician who specializes in the health condition, that may temporarily confine the student to home or hospital with the expectation they will return to the regular classroom.”

McLeod said homebound students are entitled to four hours of weekly, direct instruction.

“Homebound receives direct instruction from certified teachers within the school system,” she said.

Ohio County Schools pays certified teachers $25 an hour, based on need, McLeod said.

Board member David Croft applauded McLeod for bringing it to the Board of Education’s attention.

“We will be compliant with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) policy,” said Abraham.

No action was taken at this meeting. McLeod is going to add a few changes to the policy and they will vote at the next Board of Education meeting.

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