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Lakeland School plans speech‑language hire and ties 2026 budget to tuition slots
Summary
Walworth County Disability Education Board heard that Lakeland School has accepted an offer for a speech‑language pathologist and will include that position in the 2026 budget but hold hiring until tuition‑based contracts secure funding; finance updates and reimbursement amounts were also presented.
The Walworth County Disability Education Board on June 18 heard that Lakeland School has accepted an offer for a reclassified special‑education position now titled speech‑language pathologist and will propose that position in its 2026 budget, with hiring deferred until additional tuition‑based contracts are secured.
Board chair Bridal Holt was joined by staff presenting the budget update, who said the district received two applicants and an accepted offer for the speech‑language pathologist post. The presenter said the 2026 budget work will use a weighted enrollment count based on full‑time‑equivalent enrollment, include payroll for all teaching and support staff by age group, and factor in non‑IDEA costs such as small equipment, depreciation and software.
The memo presented to the board notes that the speech‑language pathologist position would be beyond the three tuition slots the school predicts it will open after the next space‑utilization study. The presenter said the district intends to place an administrative hold on filling the position until it can demonstrate additional tuition‑based contracts to offset the position’s costs; any additional paraprofessionals would follow a similar review process.
On finances, staff said there were no April expenses over budget but revenues were below projections for general CDAB aid, high‑cost aid and the Medicaid cost settlement. The memo reports a $102,000 IDEA reimbursement and about $155,000 in interest revenue received in April. Staff said the Medicaid cost settlement pays in two parts with final reconciliation later in the year and that some staffing accounts may require adjustment because of higher‑than‑anticipated salaries and benefits; formal budget revisions are anticipated in September.
Board members asked questions and were told the priority is to ensure tuition slots are filled before proceeding with added positions. No formal motion to adopt new budget lines for the speech‑language pathologist was made; the item will return for future action when contract revenue is clearer.
