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Northwest cooperative seeks $6.5M to build regional learning center for students with high behavioral needs
Summary
Representative Gander and Tiffany Lemon of the Area Special Education Cooperative requested $6.5 million in bonding to build a regional therapeutic educational setting to serve students with high behavioral needs across 11 districts in northwest Minnesota.
Representative Gander presented House file 3757 seeking $6.5 million in bonding for a regional educational learning center to serve students with high behavioral and therapeutic needs across roughly 11 member districts in northwest Minnesota.
Tiffany Lemon, executive director of the Area Special Education Cooperative, said the center would provide evidence-based therapeutic programming, early intervention and transition supports for students whose needs cannot be met locally. She said this is a regional request, not a single-district ask, and that member districts have committed about one-third of the project cost through cooperative levy and a community partner has pledged potential land for a site.
Proponents emphasized the long wait for local access, the strain on families and districts that currently must place students far from home, and the cooperative’s intent to reduce those burdens by creating a local specialized facility. Committee time expired without a funding decision.
