'Awkward': Lyons Township High Tossing Psychologist System

LA GRANGE, IL – Lyons Township High School officials want to directly hire four psychologists next year rather than go through another organization.

By doing so, they hope to reduce turnover.

For years, the school has obtained its psychologists through an area special education cooperative known as LADSE.

But the constant turnover has prevented the school from gaining traction with the psychologists, said Leslie Owens, the student services director, who spoke to the school board Monday.

She also said it's been hard to fill the fourth position.

According to Owens' memo to the board, the current arrangement is an "awkward and unwieldy setting of having a full-district assignment while being employed by another entity."

Another issue is salaries. High schools tend to pay psychologists more than elementary school districts and cooperatives.

"I'm sure that's a factor for many," Owens said.

Under the proposal, the high school would spend $458,000 next year on four psychologists, an $83,000 increase.

The other parts of the high school's arrangement with LADSE would remain, Owens said.

"There is not bad blood there," she said. "It's simply that the turnover is really impacting the services that are provided. It's a burden on LADSE to go through the hiring and on-boarding."

Board members expressed support for the idea. They are set to vote on the issue later this month.