School for the deaf and blind seeks staff, facility expansion as outreach caseloads grow

Summary

Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind told lawmakers it is serving more students statewide — about 122 resident students on campus and roughly 2,600 through outreach — and that growth, staffing shortages and housing limitations for campus students are driving requests for additional positions and new campus cottages.

BOISE — Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind (IESDB) presented its budget and program needs to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 4, reporting growing outreach caseloads, staffing challenges and plans to expand campus housing.

Jared Tetrault of the Legislative Services Office summarized IESDB’s five-year appropriations and enrollment trends: the campus population rose from about 77 students in 2010 to roughly 122 residents in the current year, and the outreach program expanded from roughly 1,100 students to about 2,600. That growth has increased staff caseloads and prompted a request for additional positions.

Why it matters: IESDB provides specialized services across Idaho, from birth through age 21, and its outreach model sends specialists into districts statewide. Increased caseloads and recruitment challenges could affect service delivery unless the agency fills requested positions…

School for the deaf and blind seeks staff, facility expansion as outreach caseloads grow

Summary

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