Special education staffing and behavior supports highlighted as district priority amid budget tightening

Special education and behavior supports were a major focus in the work session, with Special Services staff summarizing cost centers, recent staffing changes and areas that remain under pressure.

“Speech is 1 of those areas that we see a significant growth across the district,” Denise Kennedy said while reviewing special education cost centers and service levels. Kennedy said the district combined several cost centers (elementary, middle, high school special education) and maintained most classroom‑based special education staffing at “level 3” (status quo) while identifying targeted adjustments in supplies and some specialty services.

Kennedy told the board the district recently added one BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) and two behavior facilitators in response to committee feedback and operational need. The presentation also described recent increases in related services (speech and occupational therapy), an 18–21 transition program, and maintenance of summer ESY (Extended School Year) programming. Kennedy said many special education costs are driven by increasing service intensity since COVID and noted Medicaid has covered a substantial share of assistive technology costs, which reduced the district’s immediate outlay for these items.

Board members pressed administrators about out‑of‑district placements and statewide capacity. Kennedy and other administrators said statewide capacity can be constrained and some programs will not accept students with the highest behavioral needs. Administration noted ongoing efforts to bolster in‑district capacity (for example, at Axtell Park/Abstel Park programs and structured teaching options) and said that recent adjustments were intended to reduce pressure on classroom teachers and paraprofessionals.

Administration and the board agreed to provide a summary report on behavior programming and special education staffing at a future work session (administrators suggested July or August for a summary update). The board emphasized that maintaining services for students with disabilities is an ongoing priority while the district works to adjust general fund spending.