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Suffield Board hears special education update; considers contracting with ESS and exploring in-district program
Summary
Director of Special Services Diana Kelley told the board on Oct. 20 that the district plans to pursue behavioral supports from Effective School Solutions (ESS) to reduce outplacements, and discussed parent training, ongoing EastCONN partnerships and a possible in-district special education school to keep students closer to home.
At the Oct. 20, 2025 meeting of the Suffield Board of Education, Director of Special Services Diana Kelley, Ed.D., presented an update on the district's special education program, outlining recent accomplishments, departmental goals and budget drivers.
Kelley described a plan to contract with Effective School Solutions (ESS) to provide behavioral supports intended to reduce or prevent outplacements of students to out-of-district programs. Board members discussed the proposed scope and cost of ESS services in Suffield and whether those supports could lower the number of students placed outside the district.
Board members also discussed parent-led special education groups and the availability of parent training sessions. Kelley reviewed existing work with EastCONN to build educator capacity to serve more students in-district and described a proposal to explore building a formal in-district special education school to serve students closer to home; board members discussed potential benefits and budget implications.
Kelley and board members suggested conducting a survey of special education families to assess satisfaction with the district's special education services as a potential next step. The minutes record discussion and consideration of contracting with ESS and exploring an in-district program; there is no formal vote recorded on those proposals in the minutes.
