Board approves special-education facilitator position to add classroom and compliance support

The Bettendorf Community School District board approved a job description for a new special-education facilitator role intended to provide additional support to special-education and general-education staff.

Board members were told the facilitator would focus on compliance, IEP goal writing, behavior intervention-plan implementation and other system-level supports that free instructional coaches to focus on pedagogy. District staff said the plan is to employ facilitators across levels — one or two at the elementary level, one at middle school and one at the high school — and to recruit internal candidates where possible.

The board discussed funding and staffing structure. District staff said the position would be a teacher-level role with additional days similar to instructional coaches, and the district will split funding from special education allocations; the board noted that under state AEA funding the district expects to pass through approximately 90% of special education funding to the Area Education Agency (AEA) next year and retain 10% locally, which could contribute to the position’s funding.

A staff presenter used an analogy to describe the role: the facilitator was compared to a clinical specialist that supports complex cases while instructional coaches provide broader classroom practice support. The board emphasized the intent that the facilitator not serve as the exclusive LEA (local educational agency) representative at every IEP meeting but could attend in complex cases.

Directors who spoke in favor said the role aims to reduce workload and provide a thought partner for staff dealing with increasingly complex student needs; board members said the position may also improve retention in high-need special-education roles.

Vote: motion to approve the special education facilitator job description carried on the board vote recorded at the meeting (roll call recorded in favor by multiple directors).