After parent outcry, district will maintain K–5 inclusion co-teaching model for 2025–26

Following weeks of town-hall feedback and a series of public comments at the Feb. 27 meeting, Superintendent Jason Bing told the board the district will maintain the current K–5 co-teaching/inclusion model for the 2025–26 school year.

"We will be keeping our model in place for the next school year," Jason Bing said in response to parents’ concerns about proposed changes to special-education services.

Parents and advocates pressed the board in public comment to preserve co-teaching supports and to ensure that any future policy updates do not weaken protections for students with disabilities. Jamie Ramsberg, a former elementary teacher and parent, told the board she feared losses of individualized support if the district eliminated its current model. "Make no mistake, students will lose support," she said.

Daniel Kaplan, another parent, praised improved communication from the superintendent but urged the board to retain the existing model because of the achievement gap and the unique needs of the district’s student population. Nadira Najeeb and Jessica Sharma, who represent families of neurodivergent students, thanked the superintendent and board for listening and asked that the district continue robust engagement beyond the coming school year.

Policy committee members acknowledged related policy work: a revision to the corporal-punishment policy (policy 4217) was before the board for second reading while some members and commenters urged that it be cross-referenced with policy 5561 on restraint and seclusion to ensure alignment and staff training.

Next steps: the board said it would pause operational changes to the K–5 co-teaching model for 2025–26, continue stakeholder engagement, and return to any proposed structural changes only after additional data and committee review.