Board debates proposed Three Rivers Learning Center to return outplaced special‑education students

Trustees spent a lengthy portion of the Feb. 10 meeting discussing a proposal to create a Three Rivers Learning Center intended to return students who currently attend outplacement programs to district-run services.

A presenter outlined two main benefits: improved student outcomes by keeping students in the home district and substantial cost savings by replacing costly outplacements. The presenter said the district currently has roughly 10 students in outplacements whose combined cost "is over $915,000" in the cited example and argued that bringing many of those students back would return funds to the district budget for staffing and building upgrades.

Board members and staff discussed a layered continuum of services the center would offer: special-education units for multi-handicap students, behavioral units, an alternative-to-suspension space, and a "Pathways Academy" for credit-deficient older students. The proposal includes renovating existing spaces — moving the weight room and altering the wrestling building for accessible, self-contained classrooms — plus upgrades to parking-lot lighting and restrooms to meet accessibility needs.

Financing options were debated. Staff suggested the district could use general-fund borrowing (certificates of participation or a direct bank loan) and gave an example payment on a five-year term; trustees emphasized caution about long-term borrowing given uncertain future savings. One trustee recommended not exceeding five years because projected savings might not persist over two decades; another trustee suggested a shorter debt window to avoid burdening future boards.

Trustees requested more precise cost estimates before making any borrowing decisions. Suggestions included obtaining vendor pricing for immediate needs, phasing work to address the most urgent items this summer, and ultimately commissioning a master facilities plan or architect when the program is better defined. Board members also discussed the possibility of partnering with neighboring districts to improve program sustainability by combining placements.

No final vote was taken. The board asked staff to refine cost estimates for improvements (wrestling-building conversion, weight-room relocation and accessibility upgrades), provide clearer ranges for required borrowing, and present options for a conservative debt term so the board can evaluate actual payback against projected savings.

Next steps: staff to obtain specific price quotes and to return to the board with a phased plan and firm estimates; municipal advisor or architect may be invited to a work session once the plan is more developed.