Plainfield 202 outlines growth in special‑education needs, expands student health supports

Plainfield SD 202 administrators updated the Board of Education committee on May 14 about the district’s student services caseloads, health supports and funding, saying the district saw a small drop in students served through the McKinney‑Vento program even as special‑education and 504 plan enrollments continue to grow.

The presentation, led by Dr. Paula Sorelius of district administration, detailed supports the district provides to students who are homeless, medically homebound or hospitalized, and to students with special education needs. “For the past three years, we did see a growth in the number of students that are eligible. But you could see this year, we saw a decrease of approximately 61 students,” Dr. Sorelius said about McKinney‑Vento enrollment changes.

That decline reflects two main outcomes, she said: about 44 families obtained housing within or outside the district and another roughly 44 students moved during the summer with unknown destinations. The district noted that many of the families it lost contact with were refugees.

Administrators also reported ongoing health‑service activity: registered nurses are assigned to each building, and more than 1,500 students have a medical care plan on file. Nurse visits average about 798 across the district each school day and staff administer about 319 medications daily, the presentation said. The district’s undesignated albuterol inhalers were used 73 times this school year and EpiPens six times; district staff said those supplies are donated through partnerships with local physicians and pharmaceutical programs and cost the district nothing.

Homebound and hospital services remain in steady demand. The district reported roughly 45 students on homebound services on average; about 300 students qualify for hospital‑based services for extended stays or treatment programs. The district provides mostly in‑person services and, for long‑term cases, virtual options such as the “Edge” remote tutoring model for students out of school a full semester.

On special education and 504 plans, the district said it now serves more than 4,000 students through Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and reported rising 504 plan enrollment (staff cited continued growth in 504 eligibility). Disability category trends presented by staff showed declines in specific learning disability and speech percentages and increases in developmental delay and autism percentages compared with historical figures.

Funding updates included an IDEA grant this fiscal year of roughly $4.9 million, which staff said primarily pays salaries, benefits, professional development and assistive technology. Administrators also said Medicaid billing has expanded to include services provided to some students with 504 plans as well as IEPs, which increased Medicaid reimbursement, and that the district’s DHS Step reimbursement (a work‑experience grant) rose from about $87,000 to $241,000 since 2023 as the district increased billable work‑based activities.

District staff also reported a recent state approval recognizing Plainfield Academy as a separate public day school; that designation will allow the district to receive reimbursement for students at Plainfield Academy and P‑Step beginning in fiscal year 2025, though staff said the exact percentage of reimbursement was not yet specified.

Administrators highlighted several non‑instructional supports and community partnerships that they said improve access to services: a “care closet” providing clothing and essentials, the Miles for Smiles mobile dental program that recently provided free dental care, a cardiac emergency response plan that will register buildings as heart‑safe under Project ADAM, and partnerships with local counseling and family resources providers.

Staff said they will continue outreach events such as a large provider fair on Aug. 2 at Plainfield Central High School to connect families with more than 200 regional agencies and on‑site services, including immunizations, dental services and free school supplies. District staff asked board committee members to help connect additional vendor contacts for the fair.

The student services presentation was informational; no formal board action was taken during the committee meeting. Staff said they will return with additional program projections and with follow‑up material requested by board members, including historical and projected counts for specialized programs over the next three to five years.