Cabell County projects roughly $7.9 million special-education shortfall; superintendent urges state funding change
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Summary
Superintendent Drew Hardesty told the Cabell County Board of Education the district projects more than $27 million in special-education expenditures this year, with an estimated local share above $21 million and a projected unfunded gap of about $7.9 million, and urged revisions to the state funding formula.
Cabell County Superintendent Drew Hardesty told the Board of Education on Jan. 20 that the district is projecting total special-education expenditures of just over $27 million this fiscal year, with local spending expected to exceed $21 million and an estimated unfunded special-education shortfall of roughly $7.9 million.
Hardesty said the shortfall persists even after accounting for federal IDEA grants and state special-education grants. "This is just a great example of why the funding formula we currently have does not work," he said, arguing that the current state formula leaves the district with recurring deficits unless money is cut elsewhere.
Hardesty explained the district’s breakdown of funding streams and student counts, saying the special-education child count was about 2,593 students and that available funding, including federal IDEA and state special-education grants, leaves a multimillion-dollar gap when compared with projected salaries, benefits, services and supplies. He added that English-language-learner (ELL) services show a projected net loss (an earlier slide cited approximately $413,000), and that combined ELL and special-education shortfalls amount to about $8.3 million.
Board members and Hardesty discussed remedies and legislative advocacy. Hardesty said he has presented options to lawmakers, including increasing the number of funded positions per 1,000 students; he told the board an illustrative proposal of adding three positions per 1,000 students statewide would cost about $96 million but would significantly reduce Cabell County’s deficit. He also said the RAND Group’s recommendations have highlighted special-education funding as a priority for the legislature.
Hardesty asked the board for direction but did not bring a formal motion. He said the district would prepare packets for legislators and pursue available external funding streams — including applying for opioid-settlement funds to support student services — while cautioning the board that continued reliance on fund balance is not a sustainable long-term strategy. The board did not take a vote on changes at the Jan. 20 meeting.