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District task force urges behavior specialists and explores therapeutic center as special-education caseload rises
Summary
St. Charles Parish leaders reported a >30% rise in students with disabilities, recommended behavior interventionists in every school, expanded training and coaching, and proposed evaluating a dedicated therapeutic center (federal programs building) for intensive behavioral supports.
District leaders told the board a multi-stakeholder task force found a large increase in special-education enrollment over recent years and a corresponding rise in needs, particularly developmental delay and autism.
The task force's recommended priorities include placing a behavior interventionist at every school, expanding training on de-escalation and autism support, increasing special-education facilitators and coaching, and reviewing classroom and staffing models (including co-teaching/prioritization). The presentation stressed that some elementary students require tier-3, individualized behavioral interventions and that the district's current elementary infrastructure is not designed for that scale.
As a proof-of-concept, staff recommended exploring conversion or new construction of a standalone therapeutic/behavioral center that could offer reduced-ratio classrooms and wraparound services. They identified the federal programs building as a centrally located candidate and committed to returning with cost estimates and programming options; board members suggested evaluating both a short-term retrofit and a longer-term new-build solution.
Ending: The board asked for cost options, a timeline for a potential pilot, and further detail on staffing and program models; district staff will return with cost estimates and an implementation plan.
