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Superintendent shares FY27 budget feedback; parents raise concern over reduction in advanced learning specialists
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Summary
Superintendent Latanya Daniels reported 42 online budget feedback submissions and said the district will redesign a model that reduces advanced learning specialists from 8 to 4 FTEs; parents expressed concern about that reduction and possible impacts on advanced learning services.
Superintendent Latanya Daniels presented community feedback on the district’s FY27 budget proposal at the April 23 ISD 191 board meeting, summarizing the content and key themes collected through an online portal and in-person listening sessions.
Daniels said the portal was open from March 13 to April 9 and produced 42 online submissions; three people attended the district’s in-person presentation. She said positive comments highlighted a focus on core instruction, classroom resources and the learning coach model, while the most frequent concern among respondents was the proposed reduction in advanced learning specialists from eight to four FTEs.
Daniels acknowledged the reduction but stressed the administration is redesigning the advanced learning specialist model rather than reverting to an earlier schedule that staff and families found ineffective. She said district staff, including Assistant Superintendent Chris Belmont and Director Aftedal, are working with advanced learning specialists and families to co-design a delivery model intended to keep services effective despite reduced FTEs. Daniels said the district will use portal feedback, parent emails and listening sessions to refine the plan.
Board members urged clearer communication with families about the redesign. Director Mickelson and others said the district must explain how work will continue, what learning coaches will do and how behavior supports will be handled. Daniels said community questions — about how the new structure will preserve priorities and about timelines for implementation — are valid and that the district will continue stakeholder engagement while designing the new model.
The presentation also noted other concerns raised in feedback, including anxiety about uncertainty and questions about potential reductions to music and band; Daniels said that the feedback will inform further budget work and that the administration will provide additional detail to address stakeholder concerns.
