Board briefed on surge in special-education enrollments; administration seeks short-term hires to avoid out-of-district tuition

Special-education leaders told the Eastern York School Board they are facing an unanticipated midyear influx of students with intensive needs that has filled primary support classrooms and created waitlists for autistic-support placements.

"Last year we ended with 470 students; as of Jan. 8 we had 507," said a member of the special-education team. Staff reported 34 special-education move-ins year-to-date and an unusually high number of students requiring specialized placement; several placements are unavailable statewide, increasing the risk the district will need to pay expensive out-of-district tuition.

To manage immediate need while trying to avoid costly tuition, administrators proposed two short-term steps: authorize a part-time paraprofessional for the high school (six hours/day) and create a teacher-on-special-assignment (part-time or half-day model) to provide district-level coverage, help with compliance and support teachers during crises. The board indicated it would be willing to approve hiring and asked administration to refine costs and bring a motion to Thursday's agenda.

Administrators said they were monitoring space (square-foot requirements for certain autistic-support classrooms) and staffing turnover; they noted budget offsets from recent reductions in cyber-charter costs but said midyear additions would likely be reconciled in the spring budget process. One board member observed that adding staff now could reduce legal and tuition costs later.

Administration said it would prepare a motion and cost details for the next meeting and that some retroactive pay (for a paraprofessional already started) will be on the Thursday agenda.

Next steps: board signaled support for short-term hires pending a final motion and cost reconciliation; administration will return with a budget reconciliation and clearer cost/benefit analysis.