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Board approves CESA contract for specialized placements as special‑education costs rise
Summary
Deputy Superintendent Guennerman told the board the district will purchase two additional CESA seats and pay higher per‑seat rates, a change that contributes to a projected increase above last year’s roughly $765,000 total for out‑of‑district special‑education services; the board approved the contract 9‑0.
Deputy Superintendent Guennerman presented a recommended contract renewal with Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA 1) for specialized student placements for the 2024–25 school year.
Guennerman described multiple CESA programs the district contracts for when in‑district placements cannot meet student needs, including Turning Point (elementary emotional/behavior supports), Distinguished Scholars Academy (autism‑spectrum services), New Connections (middle/high school emotional/behavior supports), Project SUCCESS (high‑school credit recovery tied to special‑education goals), and New Pathways (alternative pathway/GED options). She said these partner placements are used after district evaluation and IEP team planning.
The district paid about $765,000 last year for these placements and expects the amount to be higher this year for two reasons: (1) the district is buying two additional seats (one in Project SUCCESS and one in Distinguished Scholars Academy), and (2) per‑seat rates charged by CESA have increased. On board questioning, staff said success metrics are individualized (IEP goals, credit recovery, return to district placements) and that high‑cost reimbursement from state sources applies only after statutory thresholds are met.
Board members discussed how the district measures outcomes and whether reimbursements offset costs; staff said reimbursements apply at a high‑cost threshold and are not guaranteed dollar‑for‑dollar. The board voted to approve the CESA contract in a recorded roll call; the motion passed 9–0.
The contract approval authorizes purchases of additional seats in outside special‑education programs to meet student needs; staff will continue to monitor placements and seek to return students to district programs when appropriate.
