Mount Lebanon reviews special education gains, new training and supports
November 11, 2025 | Mt Lebanon SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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Dr. Schumann presented the Mount Lebanon School District's fall update on special education and student services, saying recent enrollment checkpoints (state child-accounting data as of Oct. 1) show notable changes in student needs and program capacity.
"As of 10/01, here is our current student count," Dr. Schumann said, adding that the district has recorded a 45.68% increase in students served by special education since 2015. She said the district is slightly below the state average for the special-education percentage but has seen substantial growth in related categories: 313 students identified as gifted (about 7% of the population), 430 K–12 students in certain gifted placements (about 8%), and 213 English learners (about 4%), with multi-year increases compared with 2015.
Why it matters: Schumann said the changing student population requires adjusted teaching practices and targeted professional development. She described a slate of staff training offered since August — topics included behavior management, de-escalation, IEP goal writing, assistive-technology instruction, epilepsy training, and use of PowerSchool and IEP-writing tools. The district created an onboarding template for paraprofessionals and reported that building teams completed CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) training this fall.
On CPI, Schumann cited vendor research and local outcomes: "CPI does have some stats there, 90% increase in staff retention, 75% reduction in suspensions, and 80% reduction in staff injuries," she said, and described a district rollout that certified dozens of staff in full-day nonviolent crisis intervention and additional staff in verbal intervention modules.
Program updates and supports include a new emotional-support classroom at Lincoln Elementary; upcoming gifted-parent nights for elementary and middle-school families; a stipend-funded school psychologist intern paid via a fee grant; a move toward iPad-based testing and electronic scoring; expanded parent sessions on assistive technology; coach-training sessions providing coaches with PowerSchool access to rosters and student supports; and ongoing partnerships with the Bradley Center for school-based mental-health services. Schumann said about 39 students are currently receiving school-based counseling through partner providers.
Next steps: Schumann said teachers are conducting educational-benefit reviews ahead of the district's cyclical monitoring visit scheduled for March 2026 and that communication products — including a monthly special-ed newsletter archived on the district website — will continue to highlight parent resources and staff appreciation events.
Board members thanked Schumann for the report and asked follow-up questions about implementation details and next steps for family outreach.
"As of 10/01, here is our current student count," Dr. Schumann said, adding that the district has recorded a 45.68% increase in students served by special education since 2015. She said the district is slightly below the state average for the special-education percentage but has seen substantial growth in related categories: 313 students identified as gifted (about 7% of the population), 430 K–12 students in certain gifted placements (about 8%), and 213 English learners (about 4%), with multi-year increases compared with 2015.
Why it matters: Schumann said the changing student population requires adjusted teaching practices and targeted professional development. She described a slate of staff training offered since August — topics included behavior management, de-escalation, IEP goal writing, assistive-technology instruction, epilepsy training, and use of PowerSchool and IEP-writing tools. The district created an onboarding template for paraprofessionals and reported that building teams completed CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) training this fall.
On CPI, Schumann cited vendor research and local outcomes: "CPI does have some stats there, 90% increase in staff retention, 75% reduction in suspensions, and 80% reduction in staff injuries," she said, and described a district rollout that certified dozens of staff in full-day nonviolent crisis intervention and additional staff in verbal intervention modules.
Program updates and supports include a new emotional-support classroom at Lincoln Elementary; upcoming gifted-parent nights for elementary and middle-school families; a stipend-funded school psychologist intern paid via a fee grant; a move toward iPad-based testing and electronic scoring; expanded parent sessions on assistive technology; coach-training sessions providing coaches with PowerSchool access to rosters and student supports; and ongoing partnerships with the Bradley Center for school-based mental-health services. Schumann said about 39 students are currently receiving school-based counseling through partner providers.
Next steps: Schumann said teachers are conducting educational-benefit reviews ahead of the district's cyclical monitoring visit scheduled for March 2026 and that communication products — including a monthly special-ed newsletter archived on the district website — will continue to highlight parent resources and staff appreciation events.
Board members thanked Schumann for the report and asked follow-up questions about implementation details and next steps for family outreach.
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