Millington special-education director reports 394 students, new BCBA hire and plans for second preschool classroom

Melinda Godwin, director of Exceptional Children and Health Services for Millington Municipal Schools, told the board that the district currently serves 393 students in special education and that the number rose to 394 when a new student was enrolled the first week of January. "Currently, we are serving 393 students in special ed in the Millington school system alone," Godwin said, and she later confirmed the count would be 394 with the newly enrolled student.

Godwin provided a detailed breakdown of eligibility categories and staffing levels, saying the district’s caseload includes 58 students identified with autism; 31 with developmental delays; 8 emotionally disturbed; 15 intellectually disabled; 46 speech impaired; 32 language impaired; 108 with specific learning disabilities; 49 other health impaired; 6 functionally delayed; 5 hearing impaired; 1 visually impaired; 1 with traumatic brain injury; and 44 listed under other categories. Godwin said the district also serves 17 students at Tipton Rosemark (16 of whom are speech and language students) and one homeschooled student on the district caseload.

On staffing and services, Godwin reported district personnel include special-education teachers and paraprofessionals across buildings, two school psychologists, one part-time teacher consultant for work-based learning and multiple related-service contracts. "We are actually, fortunate enough to have a part time teacher consultant, work based learning," she said. She said the district currently contracts with three speech pathologists, one occupational therapist, one physical therapist and an audiologist; the district also contracts with a vendor called True Colors on two students with whom the vendor has existing rapport.

Godwin said the district had recently filled or planned hires to reduce reliance on contracts: it has hired a full-time Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who will start Jan. 27. She said that hire should reduce the need for some contracted services but that the district will continue contracting where continuity of care matters.

Godwin described expansion of early childhood services: the district is planning to add a second special-education preschool classroom to enable a true 50/50 inclusive model. "We are in works right now adding a second preschool classroom for special ed so that we're not so full in 1 classroom," she said. Godwin said teachers for the 50/50 classroom will need dual certification and that the district may consider stipends or incentives to support staff obtaining that certification.

Board members asked for further breakdowns by school and age; Godwin said she could provide eligibility- and building-level numbers on request. Board member Amanda Compton (board) and other board members asked whether federal and state funding covered some categories; Godwin said federally funded categories do not include certain groups such as functionally delayed or intellectually gifted students, and those groups are not eligible for federal IDEA formula funding.

The report included operational notes about coordination with Alliance Healthcare (a mental-health MOU) and grants/coordination within the district; Godwin asked if there were any other questions and received none.

The board did not take formal action on the special-education report during the meeting; the item was presented for information and departmental planning.