Special education director outlines reconfiguration, calls for targeted teacher training

Nate Edson, the district's director of special education, told the board May 21 that his department's real‑time caseloads (updated about a week earlier) show substantial increases in elementary special‑education placements and smaller numbers in middle schools. "Overall we're pushing up there in the 90s…we're at 2,133 students total right now," Edson said, adding that the elementary ratio worked out to about 13 students per teacher.

Edson said the department will reorganize into two arms — an instructional arm focused on teacher coaching, in‑class supports and coaching cycles, and a compliance arm focused on required paperwork and regulatory duties. "Compliance is important, but what we see the most impact on is instructional output," he said, explaining that shifting compliance tasks away from coaching staff should improve classroom instruction.

Board members and staff discussed options for delivering more teacher training without disrupting instruction. Edson said district leaders are weighing three‑day and five‑day professional development options and estimated the cost of a pilot program at roughly $300–$500 (per what he described as an unspecified unit) and suggested tying timing to pre‑service days so teachers are not repeatedly pulled from classrooms.

The director also described a pilot hybrid model for middle‑school special classes (a halftime teacher combined with an ACCC class) as a lower‑cost option than full self‑contained classrooms at all schools. Board members asked for specific cost estimates and said they would consider tying such proposals to the upcoming budget update.

Edson reported district efforts to return students to boundary schools when appropriate and noted recent improvements in staff retention in special education: the district reported roughly half as many special‑education teacher resignations this year compared with last. He recommended the board let administration return with specific budget numbers and a proposal for a limited pilot before final decisions.

Next steps: administration will present cost estimates and a proposed timeline to the board, and Edson offered to bring more precise budget and staffing figures at the next meeting.