Parent seeks attendance exception and busing for autistic student; board explains timing and resource constraints

Jack Bailey, a Warminster parent, asked the Centennial School District Board on June 10 to grant an attendance exception so his autistic son, who has attended Davis Elementary in an autistic-support program for five years, could attend Klinger Middle School (where many of his Davis classmates will matriculate) and receive district transportation.

Bailey said his son has made "tremendous progress" at Davis and that moving him to his home boundary school could disrupt friendships and trigger anxiety. He requested both the attendance exception and that the district add bussing from their neighborhood to Klinger, noting the same bus currently serves his area.

Mr. Gabriel (district administration) explained the district changed its practice to collect exception requests and review them together near the start of school to avoid unplanned over-enrollment and costly mid-summer staffing changes. "Those are exception to policy as you're speaking to the board, so we don't grant them, once we get them," Gabriel said, explaining that individual, rolling approvals had previously caused enrollment and staffing problems.

District staff told Bailey that attendance-exception decisions are board votes and that, under current practice, the board typically reviews exceptions ahead of the August start to ensure staffing and classroom capacity are not adversely affected. Gabriel also noted that exceptions normally do not include district-provided transportation.

Board members offered to review Bailey’s submitted paperwork, to monitor summer enrollment changes, and to attempt to provide an earlier determination if capacity and staffing projections allow. Mr. Hartline asked Bailey to remain in contact with administration; Bailey said he already had submitted paperwork and requested expedited consideration to avoid a summer of anxiety for his son.

Why it matters: attendance exceptions for special-education students can materially affect the student's continuity of services, social support and transportation. They also can require the district to hire additional staff if approved after enrollment counts are set.

Next steps: district administration will track enrollment over the summer, review the paperwork, and attempt to provide Bailey with an earlier update if numbers allow; otherwise, the exception will be considered at the August board meeting when final staffing decisions are made.