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Mankato Public Schools honors student-support staff who manage special-education services
Summary
The school board recognized MAPS student support staff for roles in handling special-education operations, including third-party billing that increased medical-assistance revenue and daily logistics for about 1,700 students served from birth to age 22.
The Mankato Public School District on June 16 recognized members of its MAPS (student support services) team for work that supports students receiving special education services.
Director of student support services Scott Hare told the school board the department provides “essential behind the scenes assistance” that lets teachers focus on students. “Their efforts are invaluable in ensuring that approximately 1,700 students from birth to age 22 receive the comprehensive support they need,” Hare said.
The board called up the department’s honorees, and Hare and Assistant Director of Special Education Jessica Waddertree described each staff member’s contribution. Killeen (last name not specified in the record) was noted for 20 years of service in early learning; Rachel (last name not specified) was described as the department’s administrative assistant who handles special-education data and finance inputs; Teresa Roem was described as a state-recognized expert in third-party billing whose work the department said “nearly doubled in the amount of medical-assistance funding we receive” over the past eight years.
Hare emphasized the practical impact of Roem’s billing work: “Her meticulous work is crucial to our department’s ability to maximize revenue, directly enabling us to hire more staff, acquire curriculum, and invest in technology to support students receiving special education services.” The district noted it “just completed its highest year ever in receiving medical assistance.”
Other recognized staff included Dawn Miller, a student-support-services secretary praised for attention to detail, and Tom Warbrunn, transportation assistant for the department. Board member Miss Roberts, speaking as a parent of a student who receives special-education services, thanked the team: “I just can’t thank this team enough … he wouldn’t be where he is without the support from special education.”
The board took no formal action tied specifically to the recognition; the spotlight was presented as part of the meeting’s information items.
Board members and district staff posed no substantive policy or funding changes during the remarks. The presentation highlighted operational roles (billing, scheduling, transportation coordination) that support classroom services and noted the scale of students served and the role of third-party payments in funding those supports.
