Board reviews request for roughly 10 new staff as enrollment and special‑education caseloads rise
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Summary
Administrators presented data showing district enrollment growth and increased special‑education caseloads and restraints; the board was asked to consider a targeted hiring package (about 10 positions) for 2026–27 and requested comparative district ratios and further documentation ahead of a March vote.
Dunlap CUSD 323 administrators on the board’s information agenda presented staffing requests for the 2026–27 school year driven by rising enrollment and growing special‑education service needs.
Doctor Andrews (presenting staffing and enrollment projections) said the district’s six‑day attendance report shows a net increase in students this year and that rising cohorts are migrating into middle and high school, increasing pressure on schedules and elective offerings. He said next year’s enrollment projections make it likely the district will approach or exceed 1,500 students in total.
Doctor Hastings, who oversees special education, described a significant and growing workload: the district reported an increase in restraint and timeout incidents (from 24 to 29 in a recent interval), rising caseloads for elementary counselors, and gaps created when specialized coordinator positions could not be filled. Principal Kyle James described on‑the‑ground impacts, saying staff are required to respond frequently to de‑escalation calls and that paperwork and oversight demands have grown as more students with intensive needs enroll.
Administrators asked the board to consider a package of approximately 10 positions, prioritized toward areas with caseloads above recommended levels and roles needed to avoid compliance risks. Doctor Hastings said the requests are driven principally by workload and best practice, not by a specific new state mandate: "These requests are because of the size of the workloads," she said.
Board members pressed for context: they asked staff to provide comparative ratios from nearby districts (for example, Germantown Hills, Washington, Morton), to show whether Dunlap’s staffing per pupil is materially different. Several board members also asked for more granular timing on retirements and the likely net staffing increase after open positions are considered. The board requested staff return with those comparisons and recommended prioritization information ahead of a planned March vote.
What’s next: administrators will supply comparative district data and a prioritized list of hires before the March meeting so the board can consider approvals in March.