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Pawnee City board authorizes MOU with ESU 4 for regional level‑3 behavior program; $40,000 per seat cited
Summary
The board unanimously authorized an MOU with ESU 4 to place students in a regional level‑3 behavior program starting in 2026–27, with the superintendent saying seats would cost about $40,000 each if fully filled and historically out‑of‑district placements have cost more.
The Pawnee City Public Schools Board authorized a memorandum of understanding with ESU 4 on Monday to enroll students in a regional level‑3 behavior program beginning in the 2026–27 school year.
Superintendent Mister Evans described the program as a way to meet district obligations to educate students in the least restrictive environment. He said the MOU envisions a per‑seat cost "40,000 a seat," with a plan for 10 seats across two grade bands (K–4 and 5–9). "If not all the seats were taken, then you will pay more than 40,000," Evans said, and contrasted that with prior out‑of‑district placements that had cost about $63,000 per student plus transportation.
Board members asked about parental rights and the process for placing a child in a level‑3 program. Evans replied that the placement process can go to due process if parents object: "The IEP team can overrule the parents, but there is a process...to make sure the parents' rights aren't trodden on," he said, and noted proposed state legislation that would have changed parental control had not passed.
Board members also asked how many seats might be available; Evans said he anticipated possibly one district student initially and that seats at ESU 4 fill quickly. After brief questioning, the motion to authorize the MOU passed unanimously.
The board did not specify in the recorded discussion a final seat commitment, transportation details, or the MOU's full financial terms beyond the $40,000 per‑seat figure described on the record.
