Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education And Facility Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District warns of possible $3M operating swing if it must assume county developmental-disabilities preschool
Summary
Superintendent told the board Marysville currently houses a preschool operated by the county developmental-disabilities (DD) agency; if the county transfers operation to the district, the district could face about $3 million in additional annual operating costs and may need to take full responsibility as soon as school year 2025–26.
Superintendent Dr. Kristen Allen told the board on March 20 that the district currently houses a preschool program (at the Harold Lewis facility) operated by Union County developmental-disabilities services and that the county may require the district to assume operational responsibility for the program. Dr. Allen said Marysville currently serves the majority of the preschool students and that transferring operations to the district could create a roughly $3 million annual increase in operating costs.
"Our preschool is currently housed there. They do not have to, operate our preschool. We are probably about 90% of their preschool. Taking on preschool from DD would cost us around $3,000,000," Dr. Allen said, adding the district is exploring phased approaches and shared-service options to offset the cost but that the likely drop-dead timing means the district could be required to take responsibility as soon as the 2025–26 school year.
Board members asked clarifying questions about ownership, the number of students served and whether the facility would remain a county resource or become a district-operated program. Dr. Allen said the district has about 90% of the students served at the facility and that one district could have only a few students; she said the questions of ownership, fee arrangements and whether the district would operate or pay the county to continue operations are all under discussion.
Dr. Allen said the fiscal impact is not reflected in the district’s five‑year forecast and stressed the issue increases the urgency of the district’s levy work and contingency planning.
Why it matters: A sudden requirement to assume preschool operations for children with developmental disabilities would increase annual operating expenses by millions and would complicate staffing and facility planning for the next school year.
What the district said it will do: Dr. Allen said administrators will continue negotiations with county partners and supply the board with updates; she told the board she hoped to present a more concrete plan in early April while acknowledging the district had more questions than answers at this time.
