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Board approves outside contracts to cover special‑education staffing shortfalls; district details turnover
Summary
Trustees approved multiple special‑education and instructional contracts, including a behavioral mentoring contractor, and discussed high turnover among special‑ed aides; staff said many recent hires left for other jobs, retirement or did not respond to outreach.
At the Dec. 17 meeting the Ocean View School District Board approved a series of contractual items to address immediate service needs for special education and related supports, and trustees heard district staff describe high turnover in certain classifications.
The board voted to approve multiple educational services agreements: non‑public school/non‑public agency placements for students with IEPs, amendments to those placements, independent educational evaluation contracts, and an amendment to an independent contractor agreement with a behavioral, emotional and academic mentoring provider (BEAM) to provide instructional assistance. These items were presented by district staff and passed by unanimous vote.
Trustees questioned the root causes of staffing shortages. Dr. Julian Hofer and Dr. Scott Jensen (interim assistant superintendent/executive director of human resources) described recent hiring and attrition patterns: the district had multiple recent instructional‑assistant hires followed by numerous resignations (staff summarized a recent pool where the district hired 10 and lost nine or hired 11 and lost 10 in short order), with reasons including relocation, retirement, health, transition to certificated roles and other jobs. District leaders said several departures were for valid reasons and that retention is an active personnel priority.
Board members and staff discussed the district’s limited ability to absorb unfunded special‑education costs and noted reliance on one‑time funds (for example, learning‑recovery grants) to offset those costs in the current year. Trustees requested continued work on retention and competitive compensation; staff said Human Resources is reviewing recent separations to identify patterns and possible interventions.
The board also approved a letter of agreement with the Ocean View Teachers Association and other personnel‑related items that aim to stabilize staffing. Board action on these contracts ensures continued services for students while the district pursues longer‑term recruitment and retention measures.
