Wayzata Public Schools details expansion of support services, inclusion programs

Wayzata Public Schools Director of Student Support Services Ginny Nias told the school board on Aug. 11 that the district has expanded staff and programs to meet rising student needs, emphasizing inclusion, co‑teaching and partnerships with community mental‑health providers.

Nias said the department supports learners “birth through graduation” and that its work aligns with the district mission “to ensure a world class education that prepares each and every student to thrive today, excel tomorrow.” The presentation highlighted growth in special education and English‑learner services, new and expanding unified activities that pair general‑education students with special‑education peers, and school‑based mental‑health partnerships.

Officials gave several concrete measures of change. Multilingual coordinator Becca Devolis told the board the district served 713 English‑learner students in 2025, an increase of 81 students over three years, and that 132 students demonstrated proficiency on their annual test last year, resulting in about 18% of EL students exiting EL services in the last school year. Jean Parsons, health services supervisor, said the district’s 15 health offices recorded more than 80,000 student visits in the prior year. The district also supports about 440 students with active Section 504 plans, roughly 3.4% of the student population, staff said.

The presentation stressed inclusive models already in place. Special education staff described co‑teaching in ELA and math as a “cornerstone” of middle‑school redesign and said unified activities — including unified track, theater and a middle‑school winter festival — began about a decade ago and have grown each year. Special education supervisor Amy Van Dunck said West Middle School has about 200 student volunteers participating across unified activities; Ben Weekley, an upcoming senior and a unified‑club board member, said of the unified classes, “I can't say that I ever had a bad day in the unified class.”

Speakers described school‑based partnerships to increase mental‑health access. Nias and staff said the district co‑locates community providers inside buildings to reduce barriers such as cost and transportation; named partners include Relate Counseling Center (Minnetonka) and Growing Through Grief (funded by the Park Nicollet Foundation). Funding for co‑located services comes from a mix of grants, Medicaid and insurance billing, the presentation said. Staff also described five Wayzata Education Fund grants totaling just over $30,000 used last year for adaptive equipment, assistive technology, playground communication boards and other supports.

Staff gave examples of student independence and family partnership. Parents Ryan and Jessica Wyke described their son Everett’s experience in Wayzata programs: Jessica said Everett uses an augmentative and alternative communication device that connects to a Chromebook and that she once received an email from Everett that began, “hi, mom.” The family described student job sites run by transition‑program students, including a Trojan Care Closet that provides clothing, diapers and formula to families and is staffed by Wayzata Transition students.

Board members praised the scope of services and the presentation’s examples. Superintendent Chase Anderson and multiple board members thanked staff and families for the work described, and several trustees singled out the unified program as an example of how the district builds inclusion.

The presentation was informational; no formal board action was taken on program changes. Staff signaled ongoing priorities: sustaining co‑teaching, expanding unified activities and continuing data use to target academic growth for students receiving special education or EL services.