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USDB reports 1,236 students served and details enrichment uses, staffing needs
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Summary
USDB presenters said the system served about 1,236 deaf and hard-of-hearing students, reported heavy audiology caseloads and described enrichment-funded activities (summer camps, competitions, travel). Staff warned of vacancies (psychologist, speech-language pathologist) and described FY27 budget planning.
The Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind told the State Board standing committee on March 17 that it serves roughly 1,236 deaf and hard-of-hearing students statewide and is pursuing a mix of enrichment, outreach and staffing strategies to support those learners.
A USDB presenter summarized February counts: 337 parent-infant program enrollees (ages 0–3), 315 campus students and outreach services reaching students across the state, yielding about 1,236 students in total. Staff reported 461 parent-infant visits in February and 1,518 audiology visits provided by nine audiologists, which the presenter described as the program’s 'heartbeat.'
Program highlights included student successes in national competitions (Gallaudet University literary awards), an annual USDB spelling bee across campuses, an expanding deaf-theater event now including other schools for the deaf, and statewide Braille Challenge participation. USDB also described experiential extracurricular trips (a Washington, D.C. visit and a planned 70-mile/48-hour boat-rowing challenge) and summer-camp planning supported in part by board-authorized enrichment funding.
Funding and staffing: the presenter thanked the board for approving up to $250,000 to support summer camps and extracurricular activities through the end of the year, and said staff are working with financial operations on FY27 budget needs. He identified active recruitment for a school psychologist, an imminent offer for a speech-language pathologist, and two educator vacancies.
Operational notes: USDB staff said outreach and expanded-core services (ECS) will continue traveling TVIs and local programming for families; USIMAC (accessible-textbook service) is taking orders for 2026 and expects volumes to rise. Staff also noted technical accessibility challenges with some statewide apps (SafeUT) for deaf students and the need to balance centralized tools with local, person-centered plans.
What’s next: USDB will finalize FY27 budget requests with financial operations and follow up on staffing recruitment; board members asked staff to share written reports and video materials that were distributed before the meeting.
