School district says it was overcharged by autism consultant who may have misrepresented her background

From the Stamford, Conn., Advocate:

NORWALK, Conn. -- At the Board of Education meeting Feb. 10, an attorney told the school board that an autism consultant who claimed to have certification and a
degree overcharged the district for some services.

Marsha Moses, a lawyer the district retained to investigate Spectrum Kids of Carmel, N.Y., and its owner, Stacy Lore, confirmed Lore was not certified as a behavior analyst and did not have a doctoral degree as she claimed verbally and on invoices she sent to the district.

Parents of children with autism who hired Spectrum Kids raised concerns about Lore early last year. They said Lore charged the district for several therapy sessions with their children that never took place.

Lore and several therapists she employed worked with eight Norwalk students in school and at home through August 2008. The district paid the company nearly $170,000.

Margaret Bustell, whose son worked with Spectrum Kids, told the school board the district didn't listen to parents when they sounded the alarm about Lore. When she asked that a center provide services to her son instead, district representatives visited the center and requested resumes, though it did not thoroughly vet Lore.

"The disturbing theme tonight is that parents need to have a say in the needs of their children," Bustell said to applause.

Lore did not return a message seeking comment Tuesday night.

Moses recommended the district draw up contracts with all consultants and service providers, collect their credentials and conduct background checks. The district should develop ways to evaluate service providers to ensure quality and devise a written procedure to make certain services are delivered consistently.

"You need to have checks and balances to ensure financial integrity," Moses said.

She said the district should look into a criminal investigation of Lore.

Superintendent Salvatore Corda said the district was putting some of the recommendations in place.

"It is embarrassing," Corda said. "It is certainly not something we are proud of."