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Bullhead City School District says demand for special‑education preschool is rising; board approves additional positions
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Summary
District staff outlined Child Find obligations under IDEA, described a surge in preschool special‑education referrals and screenings, and the board approved adding a preschool special‑education teacher and paraprofessional to open a fifth classroom.
Bullhead City School District staff told the school board Tuesday that federal and state rules require the district to find and evaluate children with disabilities across the district and that an increase in early‑childhood referrals is creating an immediate need for extra preschool special‑education capacity.
Kate Hall, a district special‑education staff member, told the board that “Child Find ... requires that we locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities from birth to 21 located within our boundaries” and described how the district works with Arizona Early Intervention (AzEIP) and with local private and charter preschools to identify children who may need services.
Hall said the district conducts multiple screening activities — 45‑day screeners for newly enrolled students, teacher‑assistance team interventions, monthly preschool screening days and summer screening — and that “we did almost 200 evaluations last year and probably 50 of them were rollovers. So at least a 150.” She told the board the largest growth is in preschool referrals, especially children with severe speech delays who require intensive supports.
The presentation explained the district’s obligations differ from charter schools’ obligations for preschool, and noted AzEIP refers children to the district near their third birthday so they can begin preschool services on time. Hall said the district aims to place referred children in a preschool seat by their third birthday to comply with Arizona Department of Education expectations.
Board members pressed staff about capacity and logistics. Hall said current preschool classrooms operate with one teacher and one paraprofessional and that class sizes of about 13 students are already challenging given the level of care many children require. She said the district already knows enrollment expected from AzEIP for upcoming months and that late referrals require quick evaluation and placement to meet the three‑year cutoff.
On a motion before the board, trustees voted unanimously to add an additional preschool special‑education teacher and a paraprofessional so the district can open a fifth special‑education preschool classroom and place students as they are evaluated. The motion was seconded and approved with board members Melinda Sobrowski, Charlene Diaz, Fred Rushton and Barb Serzicki voting yes.
Hall and district staff told the board the district has a room, furniture and supplies available and needs only staff to expand capacity. Board members requested ongoing updates on enrollment and staffing as the program expands.
The board’s action authorizes the additional positions; the district will proceed with hiring and scheduling to seat students as evaluations are completed.
