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Special education administrators cite staffing shortfalls in speech, nursing and unique‑need aides
Summary
Special education leaders told the board growing special‑education caseloads require more speech‑language pathologists, nursing coverage and unique‑needs instructional assistants; where internal hires are unavailable the division depends on costlier contractors.
Department leaders described a district‑wide increase in students eligible for special education and said the division is relying on contracted providers where it cannot hire internally.
Summer Manos, speaking for the Department of Special Education on Feb. 4, presented data showing an increase in students with disabilities and several staffing gaps. She said allocated positions for speech‑language pathologists and nurses have remained static but the number of students requiring services has risen; where district positions are unfilled the division must purchase contractor services at higher cost. Manos also explained the district’s “unique need” instructional assistants — department‑level aides assigned when a student requires constant adult supervision for behavioral or medical reasons — and said demand for those roles has increased, with 323 requests for unique‑need positions in 2024.
Manos listed program expansions and openings tied to special education needs, including additional ADP and IDP classrooms, adaptive arts support at secondary schools (a planned 0.5 FTE increase to 1.0 FTE for curriculum and on‑site support) and multiple early‑childhood special education classrooms slated for CEQA, Ettrick, AM Davis and one additional site to be determined.
The presenters emphasized that services such as speech therapy and nursing are legally required by students’ individual education programs (IEPs) and that using contractors fills needs but at a higher cost than hiring internal staff. Board members asked for clarification that one‑to‑one nursing positions are for students who need continuous nursing services throughout the school day; staff confirmed that was the case.
No formal vote was taken; staff framed these as budget items the board should consider during FY26 deliberations.
