District proposes full‑day alternative school and certified coordinator to meet policy 43 36

Presenter (Speaker 3) urged the board to consider a shift to a full‑day alternative school model to meet the requirements of policy 43 36 and to reduce long‑term intervention costs. "We're not currently meeting policy 43 36," the presenter said, and proposed posting a 200‑day teacher/coordinator who would either hold a resource certification on hire or obtain it within the first year under an out‑of‑field permit.

Presenter said the district currently relies on contracted interventionists — many of them retired staff — to meet students' resource needs, and that hiring a certified coordinator could reduce that reliance. The presenter offered estimates of savings: "estimated savings of $30,000 or more once a teacher is hired" and suggested longer‑term savings could be larger; those figures were presented as approximate. Committee member (Speaker 6) noted that maintaining contracted interventions represented an additional expense, roughly $40,000 for the caseloads described, and said a certified in‑house coordinator could lower that ongoing cost.

Board members asked about the configuration of the alternative program, how the coordinator would split teaching and supervision duties, and whether existing staff could assume some responsibilities in the interim. Staff said a substitute is currently filling the coordinator role and reiterated the requirement that the posted candidate either hold resource certification or obtain it within a year. Staff also said some mentor positions are funded through SIP or IDEA rather than the general fund.

Presenter asked the board to consider moving forward with the new full‑day approach; no formal vote or hiring decision was recorded during the meeting. Staff will continue recruitment and return with candidates and potential schedules for board consideration.