Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Southeast Polk board approves additional allowable growth for special education after district cites rising personnel and contracted-service costs
Summary
The Southeast Polk board voted Sept. 18 to approve modified allowable growth for special education. District staff said revenues rose modestly but expenditures increased notably—driven by personnel, contracted services (including KidZoom transportation) and added aides—prompting the request.
Southeast Polk Community School District directors voted Sept. 18 to approve modified allowable growth for special education after district staff described a recent jump in costs.
A district staff member told the board, “We had an increase of about 2% in revenues, about $500,000, but expenditures went up by about 7%.” The staff member said personnel costs were the primary driver and that the district had added aides. “Contracted services went up about 70%. A big chunk of that is our services with KidZoom,” the staff member said.
The board asked several clarifying questions about the composition of the increase. The staff member said wages and benefits rose and that tuition-out costs also increased, though the district remains net positive on tuition-in versus tuition-out. The staff member also said Medicaid reimbursements were down approximately 14% relative to the prior year.
Board members pressed for additional detail on how many aides were added and how transportation contributed to the deficit. The staff member said some transportation costs rose because specialized routes require individual transports or smaller group runs when students are placed at unique locations.
After discussion, the board approved the resolution to modify allowable growth for special education. The motion and second were recorded in the meeting minutes; the roll-call recorded all voting members present as voting yes (Bridal; Chad; Brett; Laurie). No abstentions or no votes were recorded.
Board members said they would follow up for more specific counts and requested a breakdown of changes in staffing and contracted services at a later date. The action does not itself change staffing; it adjusts the district’s allowable growth calculation to recognize higher special education costs so the district can balance the special education program budget.
Ending: District staff said they will provide further details by email or at a future meeting to show year-over-year changes in staff counts and contracted-service usage.
