Parents and educators urge district to address special education placements and staffing in public comments
Summary
Multiple public commenters—including a parent of a student recently discharged from an out-of-state program and BEA leaders—asked the board to prioritize local special-education capacity, more paraprofessionals and counselors, and clearer district responses to staff survey feedback.
Parents, educators and students used the board's public comment period to press the Bellevue School District to do more for students with significant special education needs and to address staffing shortages and burnout.
A parent who identified herself as Nicole described an extended family struggle to secure appropriate placements for her son with intensive needs. She said the district previously placed the student in out-of-state residential programs (Wichita, Kansas, and later Cleveland, Ohio) at substantial cost to the district and that the student was recently discharged and returned home without a placement.
"Our son is now home with no placement," Nicole told the board, and asked the district to build local capacity so families and students can remain in the community.
Educators amplified concerns about staffing and wellbeing. Reagan Lorden, BEA vice president, described high classroom demands and the Panorama survey results showing staff burnout, urging the district to provide "paras, counselors, staffing, and trust" to support schools.
"Give us paras, give us counselors, staffing, and trust to make these great schools more than manage or bust," Lorden said.
Sarah Clark, BEA treasurer, asked district leaders to take the Panorama survey feedback seriously, identify system-level failures, and communicate candidly when issues cannot be immediately resolved.
Student Thomas Dickey asked the board to create meaningful student engagement and volunteer opportunities so students can contribute to their schools and communities.
Board members acknowledged the public comments during subsequent discussion and reiterated that levy-funded programs help sustain many services. No formal actions were taken at the meeting; directors encouraged continued dialogue and noted outreach options and upcoming events.
