Salem proposes autism program staffing expansion, stops short of adding a classroom for 202627
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Summary
The district proposed hiring a BCBA, behavior technicians and a speech-language pathologist to expand autism supports in FY 202627 while not adding a new classroom next year.
The Salem School District presented a targeted expansion of supports for students on the autism spectrum during its budget meeting, proposing additional staff rather than a new classroom for 202627. Superintendent Mara Palmer told the board: "We are not suggesting an additional classroom for next year, but we are proposing additional staffing for that population of students."
District staff listed the proposed positions as a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), additional behavior technicians to work under BCBA oversight, and a speech-language pathologist to support individual student assessment and services. Assistant Superintendent Angela Markley said the positions could be contracted or hired in-district depending on the availability of qualified candidates: "These would be contracted folks unless we were able to hire some directly in district."
Markley said the district is projecting increased needs across grade levels and explained a phased high-school plan: two students moving to the high school next year would necessitate beginning an ABC-3 level program in that building, and the budget request for 2627 includes materials and transportation supports for a high-school program component. She said that at the elementary level the district currently serves more than 100 students in the autism program and that added staff will allow supports to extend both inside and outside the ABC classroom.
Board members pressed for specifics on staff-to-student ratios and reminded the administration the conversation about adding a classroom is ongoing; officials said staffing additions are an interim step that preserves flexibility. The administration said it will provide additional program cost detail and staffing models in follow-up materials available before the final budget vote.
The proposal emphasizes serving students in the least restrictive environment practicable and keeping services in-district when possible, officials said. Several board members and administrators noted that hiring behavior technicians is challenging and that contracting for certified technicians has been the district27s typical approach to meet certification requirements.