Board approves submission of McGuffey's 2024'27 special education plan; proposes autism and emotional-support classrooms
April 18, 2024 | McGuffey SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The McGuffey School District board authorized administration on April 18 to submit the district's updated 2024'27 special education plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education after a detailed presentation by the supervisor of special education.
Dan Cybak (introduced by district administration as supervisor of special education) summarized the plan's priorities: expanded program options at the elementary level including co-teaching, a life-skills classroom, a proposed autism support classroom, and an emotional-support classroom; continuation of gifted services organized K'12 rather than by building; and a greater emphasis on supervision, professional development and centralized resources. Cybak said the district will centralize department materials in a Google site for easier staff access and will pursue free state training and coaching tied to implementation of a new autism support classroom.
Cybak told the board that expanding in-district options could reduce out-of-district placements that can cost districts between $30,000 and $60,000 per student. He also emphasized that the plan as presented does not request additional staff beyond positions already budgeted for the coming year; the proposal largely redistributes existing special-services positions to create a broader continuum of supports.
Board members asked for clarity on how redistributed staff would be communicated to families and whether the district plans to add emotional-support services at the high-school level; the administration said elementary staffing was the initial focus and middle- and high-school adjustments would follow as the plan is implemented.
The board voted to authorize submission of the updated special education plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education; the motion passed on voice vote.
Next steps: administration will submit the plan to PDE and begin implementation steps including staff communication, state-provided coaching for a new autism classroom, and ongoing monitoring in the 2024'25 school year.
Dan Cybak (introduced by district administration as supervisor of special education) summarized the plan's priorities: expanded program options at the elementary level including co-teaching, a life-skills classroom, a proposed autism support classroom, and an emotional-support classroom; continuation of gifted services organized K'12 rather than by building; and a greater emphasis on supervision, professional development and centralized resources. Cybak said the district will centralize department materials in a Google site for easier staff access and will pursue free state training and coaching tied to implementation of a new autism support classroom.
Cybak told the board that expanding in-district options could reduce out-of-district placements that can cost districts between $30,000 and $60,000 per student. He also emphasized that the plan as presented does not request additional staff beyond positions already budgeted for the coming year; the proposal largely redistributes existing special-services positions to create a broader continuum of supports.
Board members asked for clarity on how redistributed staff would be communicated to families and whether the district plans to add emotional-support services at the high-school level; the administration said elementary staffing was the initial focus and middle- and high-school adjustments would follow as the plan is implemented.
The board voted to authorize submission of the updated special education plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education; the motion passed on voice vote.
Next steps: administration will submit the plan to PDE and begin implementation steps including staff communication, state-provided coaching for a new autism classroom, and ongoing monitoring in the 2024'25 school year.
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