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Morton CUSD 709 board backs plan to post assistant director for Morton Academy amid expanded needs
Summary
District staff told the board that Morton Academy’s growing caseload, increased in-district placements and newly available reimbursements support hiring an on-site assistant director to improve crisis response, family communications and program stability.
The Morton CUSD 709 Board of Education discussed and gave staff direction to post a new assistant director position for Morton Academy, citing increased mental-health needs, rising administrative workload and new state reimbursements tied to public-day placements.
Student support services leader Lindsey Franklin told the board the district has unique responsibilities at Morton Academy — including overseeing a public day program that other nearby districts do not run — and that the program’s administrative needs have grown as the district added Morton community students and expanded services. "We now are, going to be reimbursed, and is going to be retroactive for 2 years," Franklin said, describing a state reimbursement change for public-day tuition.
Franklin framed the assistant-director request as intended to provide on-site administrative consistency and proactive supports: faster crisis response, more embedded professional development for staff, better family communications and help with transitions back to neighborhood schools. She also said recent funding changes — including Preschool for All reimbursements covering two teachers and four assistants and anticipated reimbursements for public-day placements — reduce the net local cost of the position.
Board members pressed for clarification on cost and staffing alternatives. Superintendent (as identified in remarks) and other administrators said the FY26 forecast has been adjusted to absorb the new administrative hire while remaining within projected negotiation and attrition limits. They noted previous alternative staffing approaches (teacher coordinator, split administrator coverage) had not met program needs.
Board members cited safety and liability concerns as additional reasons to staff Morton Academy with a dedicated administrator. One board member pointed out that outplacing students to private day programs can cost roughly the same as an administrator’s salary and that maintaining an in-district program with proper staffing is fiscally and operationally preferable.
Franklin provided specific program details the board requested: the district will receive retroactive reimbursements for public-day tuition (described as roughly 60% of tuition paid for placements) and Preschool for All funding that covers classroom staff previously paid locally. She also described an April 21–May 9 asbestos abatement schedule for the East Gym renovation and noted other district initiatives that increase oversight duties, such as proposed Grundy Elementary changes and Phase 2 high-school projects.
Board members signaled support for posting the position and asked staff to return with specifics on posting timing and hiring. Administrators said they would post the job, pursue candidates with special-education experience and report back on hires and budget effects.
The board did not take a final hiring vote at the meeting; members said they wanted to start the posting process and monitor candidate response and budget impact in follow-up reports.
