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Board hears proposal for special-education review after parents and teachers urge audit
Summary
A board member proposed a data-informed special-education review to examine staffing, compliance, and service delivery after parents and teachers described gaps; staff and special-education leadership recommended scoped options and cost estimates, and the board asked cabinet to return with options before committing to outside audits.
A Lodi Unified board member on Monday asked the superintendent and cabinet to scope a formal report or audit of special-education services after parents, special-education teachers and trustees raised persistent concerns about staffing, compliance and service delivery.
Board member Miss Lenderman presented a multi-part proposal asking the district to document the current state of special-education programs, staffing levels, compliance issues and parent communication. “This is a chance for us to redesign and reset expectations as well as improve our policy language, improve our procedures and processes so that there's better communication,” Lenderman said during the meeting.
Parents and teachers who spoke at the meeting described classroom staffing shortages, teachers working beyond contracted hours to complete legally required reports, damaged or missing classroom infrastructure and a sense that families were not being adequately informed. One parent said the special-education changes directly affected her child and family; a number of teachers said they support a focused review and volunteered to participate in any stakeholder round-table.
Special-education director Paul Warren and other district staff gave perspective on compliance and staffing. Warren said the district’s special-education population has grown substantially over the last two decades and that Lodi Unified’s identification rate—reported in the meeting at about 18 percent—exceeds Stockton Unified and statewide averages. “If you were to look at that number of students … that’s about 20 teachers,” Warren said in explaining staffing gaps.
Board discussion focused on options: trustees proposed a range of approaches from a locally convened “think tank” of teachers and parents to a contracted outside audit with a precisely scoped statement of work and associated costs. Several trustees cautioned against a broad, expensive study without clear scope and asked the superintendent to return with cost estimates and a recommended scope, including options for a smaller, targeted review or phased approach.
What’s next: The board asked Superintendent Young and cabinet to collect board input and return with scope-of-work options, estimated costs and a recommended timeline for the board to consider in public session before any contract is awarded or funding is committed.
Source: Public comments, staff presentations and board discussion during the meeting (proposal and extensive discussion beginning SEG 2143 through SEG 2869).
