Board approves MOU to change special-education supervisor post from 260 to 210 days

The Keystone Central School District board voted to approve an MOU that changes a supervisory special education position from a 260-day role to a 210-day role, with the intent to lower salary and benefits costs while retaining supervisory coverage during the school year.

Administrators said the existing supervisor recently retired and that the MOU authorizes conversion of the position's work-year parameters so a successor can be hired under the new schedule. Board members asked whether the district would lose capacity for compliance and Individualized Education Program (IEP) oversight; administration and other directors said the heavy workload for special education occurs during the school year and that the shortened-year position still provides critical support to the supervisor of special education.

Several directors said they lacked background materials from personnel committee deliberations and requested clearer organizational charts (flowcharts) and staffing maps so the board could evaluate how responsibilities would be reassigned when a current employee moves into the role. Supporters of the MOU said the district analyzed summer workloads with the special education supervisor, who indicated the bulk of the work occurs during the school year and that the proposed 210-day model would preserve in-year coverage while producing savings.

The motion to approve the MOU for the Act 93 supervisor position passed in roll call; the transcript records one no vote (Mister Scapp) and a majority of yes votes from other directors. The board discussion noted the district currently supports roughly 800 students with IEPs (as reported in the meeting) and that inadequate staffing in special education can increase legal and settlement risk if IEP compliance is not met.

No appointee to the redefined position was named at the meeting; administration indicated candidate selection and any appointment would follow at a future meeting.