Senate hearing spotlights special‑schools budget increases, staffing gaps and transportation needs

Senate Fiscal officials presented the committee with the FY27 executive budget recommendations for the Special Schools & Commissions Department, and leaders of individual schools answered detailed questions about how the money would be spent.

The department’s consolidated FY27 recommended budget is $115.3 million, Senate Fiscal said, with roughly 61% drawn from state general fund dollars and significant increases attributable to acquisitions and major repairs. For the Special School District specifically, the FY27 recommendation is $38.9 million with a net reduction of 10 positions (vacancies cited) and personal services representing about 68% of expenditures.

Superintendent Lewis (introduced during the hearing) and deputy Devaki Opiku told senators they moved about $1.3 million from personnel accounts into other charges to gain flexibility for high transportation costs, emergent purchases, and to position capital requests for roofs and HVAC work. The district explained that transporting students statewide requires specialized vehicles and frequent long‑distance trips, increasing non‑personnel operating costs.

Senators pressed on the 10 positions vacant for more than 12 months and raised concerns about educational impacts, particularly for specialized instructors and residential advisors who are difficult to recruit and whose absence could create service gaps. Opiku said some vacancies were instructional and residential roles, and the district plans to combine resources and pursue capital outlay to mitigate service impacts.

The hearing also reviewed funding requests and planned increases at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts (LSMSA)—which asked for more safety funding to move to 24/7 coverage via resource officers—and at Thrive Academy, which presented data showing strong LEAP gains and argued that its 5‑day boarding model improves graduation likelihood for the class of 2026.

Committee members asked the schools to return with follow‑up information on the educational effects of vacancies, detailed transportation line items, and the specifics of major repair scopes before final budget decisions.