Administrators explained to the HARRISONVILLE R‑IX Board of Education why the district is adding an initial full‑time special education teacher for the 2025–26 school year, and the board approved the hire.

Staff said the district currently employs two special education teachers at ECC and 1.5 positions for preschool. McEwen Elementary has increased the number of grade levels it serves (from two to three grade levels) and does not yet have an additional special education teacher, prompting the request. Administrators said their goal is to float support between Harrisonville Elementary School and McEwen to meet caseloads and provide coverage for process coordinators, who handle substantial paperwork workloads.

During discussion the board asked about typical caseload numbers. Staff said process coordinators carry paperwork caseloads—one coordinator’s caseload figures were described as 121 (elementary) and 138 (secondary) for administrative paperwork management. The average caseload for special education teachers was described as roughly 14 students at the elementary level and around 15–16 at the secondary level, but staff explained those numbers reflect an aggregate of service minutes: a student with multiple IEP service areas represents many separate service minutes across a day. Special programs such as life skills and emotional‑disability (ED) placements sometimes carry additional students beyond typical loads because staff are sharing coverage.

After that discussion, the board moved, seconded and passed the motion to add the full‑time special education teacher for 2025–26. Administrators will post the position and return with hiring updates.