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Methuen approves new special‑education hires as district warns of staffing "crisis"
Summary
Facing critical shortages of BCBAs, program assistants and special‑education staff, the Methuen School Committee approved several hires — including a full‑time early‑childhood BCBA and preschool program assistants — while acknowledging recruitment challenges and exploring structural fixes.
The Methuen School Committee on Nov. 10 approved multiple hires intended to shore up special‑education services as administrators warned the district is operating amid an acute staffing shortage.
Superintendent Dr. Quang and assistant special‑education staff told the committee that licensed behavior analysts (BCBAs), registered behavioral technicians (RBTs) and special‑education teachers are in short supply across vendors and agencies. "We are probably at ... a crisis level of staffing," Dr. Quang said, adding that some outside agencies have "no applicants" and the district is adjusting job titles and recruitment strategies to try to attract candidates.
The committee voted to approve a 1‑to‑1 program assistant at CGS, two program assistants for preschool and one full‑time BCBA/early‑childhood support specialist. Administration said the BCBA posting was tailored to emphasize early‑childhood experience and that some positions may be filled by converting or reassigning existing contracted staff as they recruit full‑time hires.
Members pressed staff on alternatives to licensed hires, including whether licensed clinical social workers could perform some work. Assistant administrators replied that certain tasks — such as functional behavioral assessments performed by BCBAs — require specific credentials and could not be legally or effectively delegated to other licenses without changing program compliance.
Several members urged structural changes: rethinking classroom staffing ratios, limiting reassignment practices, and exploring whether in‑district alternative placements could reduce out‑of‑district reliance. The administration said it is convening a safety committee with union and school staff, pursuing word‑of‑mouth recruiting and coordinating with agencies such as Constellations to identify candidates. "We have to train our own, but we don't have enough," an administrator said.
The vote approving the hires passed without recorded opposition. Administrators cautioned that despite approvals, actual staffing gains depend on finding qualified applicants and that the district may need to rely on short‑term contractors while pursuing longer‑term solutions.
The committee asked for ongoing updates and for administrators to bring specific proposals for restructuring classroom staffing if recruitment does not improve.
