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Board approves two portables and an additional Compass teacher as junior high enrollment and specialized needs rise
Summary
Mahomet-Seymour approved leasing two portable classrooms at the junior high and adding a Compass teacher to address an influx of 13 Compass students and ongoing space constraints.
The Mahomet-Seymour Board of Education voted Feb. 18 to lease two portable classrooms for Mahomet-Seymour Junior High and to add an additional Compass teacher to serve students with significant support needs.
Why it matters: administrators said 13 students recently entering the Compass program require additional classroom capacity as those students move up the grade levels; staff told the board two portable classrooms will create the necessary space while the district evaluates longer-term solutions.
What the board approved: the board approved a 36-month lease for a modular classroom unit that will provide two teaching spaces behind the junior high. Heather (district finance staff) indicated the site work and installation costs will be paid from the district’s operations and maintenance fund; technology and other setup costs remain to be finalized. The lease includes a base-cost structure with the option to renew at the end of the term.
Board discussion: trustees and administrators discussed alternatives to portables, including reassigning existing rooms, using “teacher-on-a-cart” schedules for some encore classes, or shifting enrollment across buildings. Several board members urged district leaders to avoid repeatedly adding temporary units and to pursue longer-term facility solutions. Concerns were raised about bathroom access and distance from core building services; staff said building leadership will work through operational details, including fencing, restroom access and staffing.
Compass staffing: the board also approved posting and hiring an additional Compass teacher at the junior high; staff described recent pipeline improvements in special education hiring and noted the district expects qualified applicants through internal “grow-your-own” pathways and external recruitment.
Implementation: district leaders said the portables can be installed quickly to meet fall enrollment needs, and the Compass classroom hire will be posted immediately so an instructor can be on staff as soon as possible.
