Board approves temporary grade-span change to house intensive therapeutic program for state reporting

The board approved item 4.11 to change the reported grade span for a district building to fourth through thirteenth grade to accommodate an intensive therapeutic program after a licensed teacher resigned days before school started. Staff said the change is for state Department of Education reporting and is necessary because the specific program requires a licensed teacher; the report to the state is due by Aug. 30. A staff member explained some elementary students were temporarily moved into the middle-school program to keep them with a familiar teacher and that the district intends to hire an intensive therapeutic teacher for the coming year. The transcript records questions from board members about whether the grade-span filing could be limited to special education; staff and a board advisor (Joe) said the state requires a grade-span designation, not a program-specific label. Staff also emphasized that students moved for now would not be forced to return to a prior site without parental request and that supervision would continue for students with behavioral needs. The board moved and seconded the item and recorded "Motion carries," indicating approval. The district indicated it will hold an additional public meeting before the next regular meeting to finalize required minutes for the state filing.