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Board members ask for special education update; raise concerns about Franklin Learning Center tuition increase
Summary
Board members asked for a presentation on the district’s special education program, including staffing, vacancies and trends, and discussed a reported 25% tuition increase at the Franklin Learning Center and whether a phased approach would ease budgeting impacts.
Several board members requested a focused presentation on the district’s special education operations, citing rising costs, ongoing vacancies for intervention and special-education staff, and the program’s strong influence on annual budgeting.
Board members said special education has been a persistent and growing budget pressure and asked for an informational session to review the department’s current status, staffing challenges and potential board-level actions to control costs while preserving services. One board member specifically requested context on how the Franklin Learning Center has evolved since the 1970s and how tuition or placement practices have changed. Another board member noted that the district had been informed of a proposed 25% tuition increase at the Franklin Learning Center and suggested the center consider an incremental annual increase instead of one large jump that could complicate district budgeting.
Staff agreed to schedule a special-education update that would cover department staffing levels, historical trends, and possible strategies the district and board could implement to address costly placements and high-demand services.
Ending: The board asked staff to present the special-education overview at a future informational session and to report back on the Franklin Learning Center tuition change and any options for phased increases or budget mitigation.
