Board hears apology for special-education gaps, reviews pay-study work for classified staff

Board members and administrators addressed service gaps in the district's special-education program and ongoing work to study classified-staff pay increases.

Superintendent told the board the district experienced leadership turnover that complicated special-education delivery and apologized to affected families for missed timelines and communication failures. He described the program's fiscal pressure as "running at $4.04 to $5,000,000 deficit on on a pretty significant level," language used in the meeting transcript, and said administrators have reached out to impacted families and partner schools to work through those issues.

Assistant Superintendent Downes and staff are conducting a classified-staff salary study: HR director Abby Bowen is collecting comparative data from neighboring districts and local employers, reviewing job titles and benefits arrangements, and evaluating sustainable funding sources. Board discussion included the tradeoffs of raises versus available revenue: one board member presented district math showing a $1/hour raise across classified staff would be roughly $750,000 annually and a $2/hour raise about $1.5 million. Downes noted part-time staffing, insurance contributions and uncertain state reimbursement percentages complicate options.

Board members said lobbying state legislators for special-education funding is essential. "If we truly want to pay people for our district... the $4,000,000 or $5,000,000 that we are lacking every year from the state that they are obligated under statute to provide would make a huge difference," a board member said, urging outreach.

No formal vote on salary changes or special-education budget adjustments occurred at the meeting; staff will return with study results during the budget season in spring.