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Batavia special education team outlines goals as board adopts 2025–28 district plan
Summary
The Batavia City School District presented a special education update outlining rising classification rates, new professional learning goals and community work‑study placements; the board approved the district'wide special education plan for 2025–28.
Kelly Marciano gave the Batavia City School District's special education update, reporting a slight rise in classified students and describing district efforts to strengthen Individualized Education Program (IEP) writing, professional learning communities and community work‑study connections.
Marciano told the board the district's classification rate is “hovering around that 14%,” up from 13% last year; the special education count rose from 283 to 287 students this year and Marciano said she expects additional classifications before year end. She and staff attributed part of the increase to mental‑health needs and pandemic‑era academic gaps and said the district is seeing more students needing self‑contained supports.
The presentation described a set of district goals: forming a “People Support Network” of special education and related‑services leaders across buildings; standardizing IEP writing through professional development with BOCES consultant Stephanie Burns; and establishing essential, grade‑spanning skills for 12:1:1 life‑skills and 6:1:1 behavior classes so instruction aligns across grade levels and buildings. Marciano said related‑service teams (speech, occupational, physical therapy) developed essential skills and are providing tier‑1 classroom supports and consultation to general education teachers.
Marciano highlighted expansion of the district's preschool program (about 40 students), work‑study placements for transition‑age students (including partnerships with TOPS and the ARC), and the district's first Special Olympics event planned for May 22, coordinated with the New York State School for the Blind. She said about half or fewer of preschool participants are expected to need continued support in kindergarten, which she described as evidence of growth.
Board members asked clarifying questions about who is counted in the district's special education figures and what an IEP contains. Marciano explained that the district's counts refer to students with IEPs and described IEPs as documents that list present levels of performance, identified needs, annual goals and accommodations; she noted an IEP is reviewed annually and can be declassified when appropriate.
On the consent/approval agenda later in the meeting, the board approved the Batavia City School District special education district plan for 2025–28. The motion was moved and seconded during the consent/old‑business portion of the meeting and the board voted in favor.
The update emphasized ongoing work for the coming year: continuing monthly People Support Network meetings; targeted professional development on goal writing and the science of reading; further PLC work for multiage academic teams; and clearer criteria for program placements to support students in district when appropriate.
Marciano and board members framed the work as a mix of curriculum alignment, staff training and stronger community partnerships to support transitions to adulthood for students with disabilities.
