Central Unified trustees approve revised special-education structure, require fall update after staff consultation

The Central Unified School District Board of Trustees voted 5–2 on Feb. 11 to approve a revised reorganization of the district’s special-education department that raises the number of program supervisors from three to four and requires administration to consult the district Special Education Task Force and return an update in October 2025.

The change comes after extended public comment and debate among trustees about turnover in special education, recruitment challenges and how best to provide coaching and compliance support for staff. The board earlier unanimously amended the assistant director job description to require two years of administrative experience before deciding on the final reorganization measure.

The reorganization plan presented by Dr. Anne Lopez, who led the district’s reorganization briefing, proposed a framework with a director, an assistant director, program supervisors and teacher-on-assignment (TOSA) coaching support. Dr. Lopez said administrators had adjusted credential and licensure language to include a California teaching credential or a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential in school…