Board rejects ECE org-chart as public and psychologists warn cuts will delay special‑education evaluations
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Summary
After hours of public comment and expert testimony warning that proposed reductions to school‑psychologist days and elimination of a lead psychologist risked legal noncompliance and delayed evaluations, the Jefferson County Board voted down the Exceptional Child Education organizational‑chart changes and asked the superintendent to reopen negotiations with stakeholders.
The Jefferson County Board of Education on March 10 rejected proposed organizational changes and calendar reductions for the district’s Exceptional Child Education (ECE) role groups after extensive public comment and board questioning about process, equity and legal risk.
Public commenters — including school psychologists, a pediatric neurologist and state Rep. Lisa Wilner — told the board that reducing contract days for psychologists and eliminating the lead psychologist position could slow multi‑disciplinary evaluations that federal law requires and that those timelines matter for access to services. Rep. Lisa Wilner told the board that “those eligibility determinations account for more than $84,000,000 in exceptional child education funding for JCPS,” and urged the board to reconsider the proposed cuts.
Several practicing and retired school psychologists described heavy workloads, the mentoring and compliance role of a lead psychologist, and the risk that fewer days would mean missed evaluation timelines, audits, corrective actions and loss of federal and Medicaid funding. One psychologist said the proposed 13‑day reduction — from 200 to 187 contract days — would leave “pretty much all our time…spent doing these assessments” and eliminate time for training, consultation and program support.
Superintendent Dr. Yearwood and the district’s ECE chief defended the changes as necessary to address the district’s multi‑year budget gap. The ECE chief told the board the proposal reallocated unused calendar days to direct services and estimated the changes would produce roughly $3 million in savings while shifting staff time into classrooms. The chief summarized the approach as a choice to “choose classrooms over calendars, services over seat time, and students over old habits.”
Board members split over whether to accept the recommendation. After debate the board took a roll‑call‑style voice vote on consent item C‑3 (ECE organizational charts and job descriptions). The motion to approve the charts failed: Ayes — Bass, Duncan, Scholl; Noes — Everett, Lister, Strange, Craig.
Following the failed vote, Board member Craig moved that the superintendent return to the bargaining table and meet with all affected stakeholder groups (union and nonunion alike) to craft a revised recommendation that could earn full‑board support. The motion passed with one dissenting vote (Miss Duncan). The board’s direction asks administration to negotiate with the affected groups and bring back a revised plan.
During the public comment period, medical and professional witnesses stressed timing and access: pediatric neurologist Dr. Darren Farber said medically induced delays in evaluations can leave families waiting 12 months or longer for private assessments, and that “school‑based assessments are often the most timely pathway” for services. Several speakers urged the board to delay final action until the new ECE executive leader could review the proposal.
The board’s vote leaves the current ECE organizational chart and days unresolved; until the superintendent returns with a renegotiated plan the board has not adopted the proposed changes. Board members asked for additional detail on legal compliance, supervision, and the expected operational impact if cuts proceed, and directed administration to engage stakeholders and return with options.
