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Mahwah board hears rising special-education and health-benefits costs; plans in-district autism classroom
Summary
District staff told the Mahwah Board of Education that most special‑education costs are driven by out‑of‑district tuition and that the district will add an in‑district autism program; employee health benefits and utilities also are pushing the budget upward.
At its March 26 meeting, the Mahwah Township Public School District Board of Education heard a budget presentation outlining rising costs for special education, employee benefits and utilities and the district’s plan to expand in‑district services for autistic students.
Doctor Murphy, a district staff member who presented the slides, said the district currently has 449 students enrolled in in‑district special education programs and about 68 special‑education students placed out of district. The district’s total tuition line for public and private out‑of‑district placements is “over $6,000,000,” she said, representing roughly 7.6% of the operating budget; the district expects roughly $600,000 in IDEA (federal) funds to be applied against those costs.
The presentation emphasized that when the…
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