[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6622997,"mediaKeyId","2777655-2c86c50ddccaf2185d6ae3e2593c71ab","parentId",2777655,"title","External review: Missoula special‑education costs rising; consultant urges director, billing overhaul","audioSeconds",2988,"startMs",7211000,"endMs",10199000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777655-2c86c50ddccaf2185d6ae3e2593c71ab&start=7211&end=10199","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777655-2c86c50ddccaf2185d6ae3e2593c71ab/thumbnail_7211000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622997/Montana/External-review-Missoula-specialeducation-costs-rising-consultant-urges-director-billing-overhaul","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622997-b0c819a8f6f35f9cacccce73014830df/orig.mp4?Expires=1775763490&Signature=mYTUJkdQfHH7YSUcE2XsrMcGEMyPsOkFfa1rxhzHYe5s0OFNWSi97b5GaIYScny2TY6h4jZEPvu5txza3uEZSxliMPTGX9h-LsGhSBBywDDgat~VH7H9Ajge4cbphSAbkiwSyKI6n6m2WSaDWSZmVQ8sy8m4n1zkcsrc~z5s0zIohThhheONdNXoJ2caZGWnTjG3STccIbXD9LeSa4KSChhlyCp322cDV4N4P9QN6y2xv0g4FJyAp2FYeJR86lRCAytb8h2aqU-eBqW6VxBbCOC~EkQmjNhwVwhJ4LzkgMIyGLZK71j~bP~TL5gHUGJzopvjcLy-rc85Rt~S7yaD1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Missoula Elem","date","2025-03-26T15:36:29.357Z","article","An outside consultant presenting at the Missoula County Public Schools work session on March 11 concluded the district’s special‑education program faces rising costs and structural weaknesses that exacerbate budget pressure.

Consultant Vern (no last name provided in the presentation) summarized an analysis of district and state data showing that federal IDEA Part B and state funding have not kept pace with local spending increases. Vern said local taxpayers have covered the bulk of recent growth: federal IDEA funding rose by roughly $325,000 and state special‑education funding grew by about $63,000 in the period reviewed, while local special‑education spending rose by roughly $2.4 million.

Key findings and numerical context
- Preschool costs: the consultant said the district’s preschool program represents roughly $1.3 million in local cost; federal preschool IDEA funding is comparatively small and the state provides no dedicated preschool funding, leaving local taxpayers to underwrite the program.
- Tuition/excess special‑education costs: the tuition fund outlays increased from about $64,000 a decade ago to roughly $1.9 million most recently, the presentation said; staff told the board the tuition fund may be capped in coming years and cannot be relied on to absorb future growth.
- Caseload and identification: the district’s special‑education share of students is about 17.5% overall (higher in some buildings), with roughly 319 additional special‑education identifications over a recent four‑year span — a pattern the consultant said warrants review for potential over‑identification and inconsistent tiered‑intervention practices across schools.
- Maintenance of effort (MOE): Vern reiterated that once the district increases special‑education spending, federal MOE rules require it to maintain that level in subsequent years or risk federal penalties or repayment obligations.

Recommendations presented to the board
- Create or designate a district‑level Special Education Director responsible for program oversight, fiscal monitoring, Medicaid billing and ensuring consistent identification practices district‑wide.
- Strengthen Medicaid billing and administrative claiming. The consultant said the district is under‑claiming for services that are billable (direct therapy billing, activities‑of‑daily‑living time, and administrative claiming) and recommended assigning clear responsibility and training to maximize reimbursements.
- Standardize tiered interventions and 504 practice across schools and provide principal/teacher training to reduce unnecessary escalation into IDEA services.
- Review the preschool model and transportation practices to evaluate program efficiency and the cost of centralized preschool placements, including bus and staffing expenses tied to providing preschool at a single site.

Vern told trustees, \"You have a staff that loves children. One of the reasons you're in the difficult position you're in is because... we provide far more than is required by the law.\"

District reaction and next steps
Superintendent Hill and finance staff framed the report as operational guidance the board can use while the district works through its budget committee. Pat McHugh and other staff confirmed there are near‑term opportunities to improve Medicaid billing and administrative processes and recommended moving quickly to assign responsibility and implement training before next fiscal year.

The board did not take an immediate vote on the report’s recommendations but directed staff to incorporate the findings into ongoing budget work and to return with implementation proposals, cost estimates and timelines.

— Vern (consultant): \"When you have transportation costs go up by over a million dollars for special‑education children, that's what you have to spend next year as well, and the year after, and the year after that.\"

— On billing and staffing: the consultant recommended designating a responsible administrator to ensure consistent activity‑of‑daily‑living and Medicaid billing so classroom staff can focus on instruction while billing is handled reliably and with training.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MCPS Board of Trustees Mar 25 2025","oneSentenceSummary","An external review presented at the district work session says Missoula’s special‑education program faces rising costs and inconsistent identification and billing practices that are straining the budget.","taxTitle","Missoula Elem, School Districts, Montana","taxId",38287,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623003,"Missoula school board approves permissive levy estimates, puts $1 million high‑school safety levy on ballot",2629,2120000,4749000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777655-2c86c50ddccaf2185d6ae3e2593c71ab&start=2120&end=4749","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777655-2c86c50ddccaf2185d6ae3e2593c71ab/thumbnail_2120000.jpg","/articles/6623003/Montana/Missoula-school-board-approves-permissive-levy-estimates-puts-1-million-highschool-safety-levy-on-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623003-8802cc73f13588dfee0f69f4b59fb7ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1775763490&Signature=UGcDkgq5uLDNPnuUctJlf4qYqEpZq0jfn9nLgMNjFbD-74Zy4MeGPGq0RUJ4ZeIDLbAq1gvvsy5qtjWLD8zdAISPB6suDuBdO1jJcHrNUk7SlPp1zXn8GvlwFxPA0HfD~KbR2AeTourp4X3JSh-vR4TbeLJmswePIZd2j80JCG-Ldk1EDhzA64ThtYjZpoX~Dqq4eHYoCTRh1LFyynq9rv25Eq94ZZuFDFrW-xgPLDLGxSVOCERmglnHlF21h8SJXIUclybAo6TMxwdCPjbMdtQHgGJTBxRGVom9hlGEGA4mc~26N3bXhEpBSha5mHz5d4Hiceq17Onyp7tbdjRdSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees on March 11 approved estimates of permissive levies for elementary and high‑school budgeted funds and voted to place a $1 million high‑school safety levy on the ballot.

The board set the elementary overbase levy at $384,947 and the high‑school overbase levy at $1,642,315, figures staff said are aimed at getting each district to ‘‘max budget’’ under current state formulas. Trustees also approved permissive‑levy increases tied to transportation and tuition funds, and voted 6–1 to place a $1 million high‑school safety and security levy on the ballot after debate about taxpayer impact and timing.

Trustees and district finance staff said the levies respond to cost increases in several narrow budget areas. Pat McHugh, district staff who presented the levy estimates, said transportation costs rose in part because of a 7% increase negotiated with Beach Transportation and because the district plans to assume additional routes that will require new vans and drivers. McHugh said the tuition fund estimate includes an increase to cover excess special‑education costs (about $550,000 in the district’s estimate) and an additional $250,000 estimated liability related to students who attend schools outside their district of residence.

Why it matters: the permissive levies fund narrow, legally specified budget items — transportation, tuition/excess special education, adult education and other non‑general‑fund costs — and cannot be repurposed for general operations. School leaders warned that rising special‑education and transportation spending is placing increasing pressure on the general fund and on local taxpayers.

What trustees voted
- Elementary permissive levy estimates (board set elementary overbase levy at $384,947): motion moved by Trustee Walsh, seconded by Vice Chair of Garris; unanimous among elementary trustees present.
- High‑school permissive levy estimates (board set high‑school overbase levy at $1,642,315): motion moved by Trustee Gamel, seconded by Trustee Davy; unanimous among trustees present.
- High‑school safety levy (place $1,000,000 levy on the ballot): motion moved by Trustee Davy, seconded by Trustee Wake; passed with all trustees voting yes except Trustee Witcher who voted no (motion passed).
- Authorization for superintendent to advocate for levies: full board motion moved by Trustee Davy, seconded by Vice Chair of Garris; unanimous approval.
- Out‑of‑country travel request (Sentinel High School students to India): motion moved by Trustee Hayes, second by Vice Chair Ferris; unanimous approval.

Public comment and trustee concerns: dozens of speakers during public comment urged the board to preserve Family Resource Coordinators (FRCs), FIT coordinators and English‑language learner (ELL) positions as the board considers budget reductions. Multiple FRCs and teachers described daily work that helps students attend and succeed in class — from food and clothing assistance to arranging transportation and crisis support — and said regionalizing or cutting those roles would harm vulnerable students. Trustees acknowledged the public appeals and said the budget and levy committee would continue to refine options before final budget adoption in August.

Board discussion and next steps: trustees and staff framed the levies as part of a broader budget picture that includes uncertain federal and state funding (Superintendent Hill said the district is watching a recently issued executive order restructuring the U.S. Department of Education) and the state’s proposed STARS Act funding. Staff said passing the permissive levies would help cover discrete costs (transportation, excess special‑education, depreciation for new vans, adult‑education facility work and other non‑general‑fund items) while the district continues monthly budget and levy committee work. Final budgets will be adopted in August.

— Pat McHugh (district staff) summarized the primary drivers: ‘‘The transportation fund … involves a 7% increase in the rates that are part of Schedule 1 to that contract. And we are looking at taking over routes. Part of assuming those routes is an investment in people that will make next year an investment in equipment in the form of vans.’’

— Superintendent Hill framed uncertainty around federal policy and state funding: ‘‘We’re still trying to assess what the full implications are of that order… We look at our state superintendent who openly supported the action, while we have others who have openly opposed it, and then we have others who are taking a wait‑and‑see approach.’’

The board recorded the levy estimates and directed staff to continue monthly budget‑and‑levy committee work, to refine projections and to return with updated analysis as state and federal funding signals become clearer.","The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees on March 11 approved estimates of permissive levies for elementary and high‑school budgeted funds and voted to place a $1 million high‑school safety levy on the ballot.","actionData","errors"]

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External review: Missoula special‑education costs rising; consultant urges director, billing overhaul

Missoula school board approves permissive levy estimates, puts $1 million high‑school safety levy on ballot