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Board hears update on special education staffing and MSU teaching-fellows program
Summary
The board received an update on special education staffing levels, required training for special education support staff, and the district's first year with a teaching-fellows partnership intended to recruit STEM teachers.
Tahlequah Public Schools presented a report on special education staffing, certification requirements for paraprofessionals, and a first-year teaching-fellows program intended to recruit candidates with STEM backgrounds.
District presenters said there are 34 special education teachers, 37 special-care paraprofessionals, seven speech teachers and five nurses within the district. Staff described tiered requirements for paraprofessionals: Tier 1 paraprofessionals work in everyday classrooms and must meet minimum education or training thresholds; Tier 2 'special care' paraprofessionals must meet additional requirements such as CPR and bloodborne-pathogen training.
Melissa Dodson was identified in the meeting as the special-ed coordinator; Nikki Belois was identified as the director over special education and the person who manages related training and compliance. The meeting noted that nurses undertake vision-screening, diabetes, seizure and cardiac-arrest training each year.
The board also heard about the district's agreement with a university partner for an alternative-teacher support program (identified in the transcript as an MSU partnership/Northeastern State University involvement). The district said it had three fellows this year, two of whom remained in placement; the fellows are paid more than support staff and receive benefits through the university partner. The district said it plans to expand the program with seven more fellowship spots next year and will advertise those openings.
No board action was required; the presentation was informational.
