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Board adopts SFUSD special‑education annual budget and service plan after discussion on administrative costs
Summary
The Board adopted the annual special‑education budget and service plan required under AB 602 after staff described coding changes and added positions; commissioners requested a written comparative analysis of administrative cost increases raised by the Special Education CAC.
The Board of Education adopted the San Francisco Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) annual budget and service plan required under Assembly Bill 602 and Education Code reporting rules after a public hearing and discussion.
Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, assistant superintendent for special education services, presented the plan and budget that will be filed with the California Department of Education. She said staff had reviewed the documents with the district’s CAC (Community Advisory Committee) and noted work to correct coding and to reassign expenses to appropriate goal codes as part of a redesign of special education services.
Katie Franklin, a CAC member, urged continuity of leadership—saying the SELPA had five different directors in five years—and raised a question about administrative costs that she said had increased by roughly 200% over two years. Dr. Blanco and budget staff answered that coding changes and additions of a small number of administrative positions as part of a redesign accounted for much of the shift and that some line items (substitutes, content specialists) had moved between fiscal years.
Board members pressed staff for follow-up. Commissioner (unnamed) asked for a written, comparable analysis showing what had been added to the current budget versus prior years and where costs had been charged previously; staff agreed to provide that analysis and to identify positions added during the redesign. Commissioner Jordan asked about compliance; district staff said the annual service plan is about documenting use of funds rather than attesting to compliance, and that separate compliance efforts with CDE were ongoing.
On a roll-call vote the board adopted the annual budget and service plan (6 ayes recorded in the roll call announced at the meeting). Board members said they wanted additional documentation on the administrative cost changes to review prior to future budget decisions.
Next steps included filing the plan with the state by the posted deadline and staff providing the requested written comparisons and position listings to the Board.
