Committee restores and adds special-education supports: motions to return floater paraprofessionals and add inclusion teachers pass

The Fall River School Committee on Thursday approved several personnel changes aimed at supporting substantially separate and inclusion programs in the district.

Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Miss Obenchain and school leaders told the committee that needs are growing in programs that serve students with autism spectrum disorder and other intensive special-education needs. Officials described several pressures: high caseloads for inclusion teachers, substantially separate classrooms with medically fragile students, and the practical necessity that paraprofessionals sometimes fill in as the district cannot recruit certified classroom teachers quickly.

The committee voted to restore two float paraprofessional positions at Spencer Borden, which the special-education director said hosts a large number of substantially separate classrooms and medically fragile students who require consistent adult support. The motion to return the two paras was moved and seconded and passed on roll call.

Committee members then voted to transfer two floater paraprofessionals (originally in Doran) into a district- level pool under the assistant superintendent for special education so those paras could be deployed where urgent needs arise. That motion was approved on a roll call vote.

Separately, the committee approved adding two inclusion-teacher positions at Henry Lord — one elementary and one middle-school-level special-education teacher — after the school explained that growing partial-inclusion work and rising enrollment have stretched current staff. The motion to add those positions drew discussion about whether schools and the district should prioritize inclusion or maintain separate settings, but the special-education director said the district’s legal obligation and best practice are to maximize least-restrictive environments when possible.

Votes “at a glance” within this topic (see Actions): the board approved returning/adding paraprofessionals at Spencer Borden, reallocating two Dorn floaters to district special-education deployment, and adding two inclusion teachers at Henry Lord. Supporters said the moves will reduce caseload pressure and avoid moving students out of inclusion into more restrictive settings; some members asked for continued monitoring of staffing and finances.

Ending

Special-education leaders and principals said they will report back to the committee about staffing deployment and inclusion outcomes; the committee directed the assistant superintendent to use the restored/added positions where need is greatest and to update the committee on impacts.