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Board approves submission of McGuffey's 2024'27 special education plan; proposes autism and emotional-support classrooms
Summary
After a 92-page review, the board authorized submission of McGuffey's 2024'27 special education plan, which proposes expanded elementary options (autism support, emotional support, learning-support variations), a K'12 gifted position, and increased professional development and coaching; the administration said no new staff hires beyond budgeted positions are requested at this time.
The McGuffey School District board authorized administration on April 18 to submit the district's updated 2024'27 special education plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education after a detailed presentation by the supervisor of special education.
Dan Cybak (introduced by district administration as supervisor of special education) summarized the plan's priorities: expanded program options at the elementary level including co-teaching, a life-skills classroom, a proposed autism support classroom, and an emotional-support classroom; continuation of gifted services organized K'12 rather than by building; and a greater emphasis on supervision, professional development and centralized resources. Cybak said the district will centralize department materials in a Google site for easier staff access and will pursue free state training and coaching tied to implementation of a new autism support classroom.
Cybak told the board that expanding in-district options could reduce out-of-district placements that can cost districts between $30,000 and $60,000 per student. He also emphasized that the plan as presented does not request additional staff beyond positions already budgeted for the coming year; the proposal largely redistributes existing special-services positions to create a broader continuum of supports.
Board members asked for clarity on how redistributed staff would be communicated to families and whether the district plans to add emotional-support services at the high-school level; the administration said elementary staffing was the initial focus and middle- and high-school adjustments would follow as the plan is implemented.
The board voted to authorize submission of the updated special education plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education; the motion passed on voice vote.
Next steps: administration will submit the plan to PDE and begin implementation steps including staff communication, state-provided coaching for a new autism classroom, and ongoing monitoring in the 2024'25 school year.
