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Superintendent seeks special-education audit as costs climb to more than $26 million
Summary
Superintendent Hardesty asked the board to approve a contract with Education System Solutions to review special-education practices and costs after the district’s special-education expenditures rose from roughly $15 million in 2021 to an expected more-than-$26 million this year.
Superintendent Hardesty told the board on Jan. 14 that the district is proposing to hire Education System Solutions to conduct a district-wide review of special-education practices, costs and compliance after several years of sharply rising expenditures.
Hardesty estimated special-education costs of about $15 million in 2021 (with roughly $3 million reimbursed through federal funding) and said the district expects special-education expenses to exceed $26 million in the current year while federal reimbursement remains around $3 million. The proposed review would include classroom visits, Individualized Education Program checks (IEPs), staffing assignments and service-delivery verification to ensure the district is using funds appropriately and assigning staff correctly.
Hardesty said the district asked the vendor to provide findings quickly so the district could act on recommendations; he and administration indicated the review team could start work quickly if the board approved the contract that evening. The contract was included on the consent agenda and approved as presented.
