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District requests 1.2 speech FTE, special-education teacher and additional orchestra teacher; 2 K-6 FTE reduced via retirements
Summary
Administrators proposed adding a full-time special-education teacher at the elementary level, 1.2 FTE in speech services, and an additional orchestra teacher at William Street while absorbing a net two FTE reductions in grades 4—6 through retirements.
Administrators presented a set of staffing requests incorporated into the draft instructional budget, totaling an estimated $110,265 for salary and benefits.
John Armstrong said the district is requesting a full-time special-education teacher for the elementary K–3 level because the incoming kindergarten cohort includes a number of students with high needs and because adding in-district capacity can reduce out-of-district placements. Armstrong said the district prefers to serve students within Lancaster when it can provide required services.
On speech services, administrators said the elementary program currently includes about six speech staff covering four buildings, two of whom travel between buildings, plus a 0.8 FTE position. The budget request would add 1.2 full-time equivalent speech positions (one new full-time position plus increasing the 0.8 to full time) to reduce wait lists and restore earlier intervention levels that administrators said had been strained by caseloads.
Andy Krasman presented changes at the K–6 level: the draft shows a net reduction of 2.0 FTEs in grades 4–6, which administrators said will come from confirmed retirements and is not a layoff. Krasman also recommended adding an instrumental orchestra teacher at William Street to address participation growth; the existing orchestra teacher at William Street was reported to be serving about 240 students across grades 4–6, and administrators said another teacher is needed to lower individual teacher loads.
The Schedule D and E committee recommended adding stipends for new club advisers and adjusting levels for some extracurricular positions. Administrators said the committee recommended placing new clubs (for example, e-sports, robotics, GSA and a First Amendment/First Vote club) at the lowest stipend level and recommended stipend changes for some modified sports and supervisory roles. Some stipend requests (modified boys basketball, modified girls flag football) came from the athletic director and were processed through the budget.
Administrators emphasized these are proposed additions and adjustments included in the draft budget; final hiring and stipend approvals would follow the board's budgeting and personnel processes.
