McGuffey officials propose using Medicaid access reimbursements to fund Claysville learning-support teacher

Dr. Oberg and special-services lead Dan Cybak told the McGuffey School District committee that recent program additions and a backlog of reimbursements give the district an opportunity to fill a long-vacant learning-support position at Claysville Elementary.

Cybak, who presented the special-education update, said the district has newly opened programs — an autism support classroom at Claswell Elementary and an emotional-support classroom — and is preparing a life-skills cafe9 and other services. "We have about 6 students receiving services" through the autism classroom, he said, and "10 students receiving services" in the elementary emotional-support classroom.

Cybak described "access funding" as federal Medicaid-related reimbursements for health-related student services. He told the board the state notified the district that roughly $595,000 had accumulated in the account, prompting an immediate reimbursement request of about $104,000; that leaves a balance the administration reported as "about 500,000." Cybak proposed using the funds to hire a learning-support teacher at Claysville, noting the district currently has about 17 students under evaluation there and a further 17 in early-intervention meetings who could become eligible for services next year.

Board members pressed for details about sustainability. One member asked whether the the reimbursement averages would continue; administration described the $100,000 figure as a historical annual average but cautioned that yearly totals vary with billed services. Ms. DeDylan (business office) explained that reimbursements are drawn after the district submits reporting; she said the last draw recorded in district files was October 2021 and the administration has since researched and submitted required paperwork to recover past amounts.

Administrators emphasized this would not increase the general fund budget: Cybak said the access funds reimburse actual expenditures — salary, benefits and related costs for an assigned position would be submitted for reimbursement — and that, based on current projections, the access funding could support the position for multiple years without additional local budget authority.

The committee did not take formal action at the meeting; administrators said they will proceed with implementation planning and follow up with the board on timeline and reporting requirements.