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Board hears enrollment uptick, asks for formal policy on MAG and confirms SPED ratios
Summary
Administration reported a 50-student net enrollment gain; board members pressed for formal guidance on MAG (gifted) class target sizes after finding no adopted policy and reiterated that SPED self-contained ratios must follow policy 5-211 (1:2), noting several classes are slightly over ratio.
The Liberty Elementary District governing board on March 2 heard that the district gained about 50 students for the month and asked administration to formalize class-size guidance for the district’s MAG (gifted) program.
Board members said the district’s MAG offerings are concentrated at one campus. Member Zimmerman noted the district’s practice appears to staff MAG classes at about 18 students but that the board could not find a formally adopted policy documenting that target. “We researched the MAG classes and it looks to us like the practice has been to try to staff MAG classes at about 18,” administration told the board, and asked for direction on whether to codify a target.
Members also flagged special education class-size compliance. Member Zimmerman referenced board policy 5-211 and said the self-contained SPED ratio is 1:2; she reported three classes are over that ratio ‘‘not by a lot’’ but urged the board and administration to correct staffing so the district is meeting legal and policy obligations for those vulnerable students.
Board members asked administration to report back with recommended policy language or an operational target for MAG class sizes and to ensure SPED staffing and encumbrances reflect those needs. The board did not take a formal vote on policy language at the meeting.
The board is expected to continue the staffing and enrollment discussion as part of routine budget and hiring reviews this month.
