Board approves additional special‑education staff to address rising caseloads

District administrators told the board the special-education caseload is increasing and recommended adding staff to provide co-taught classes and reduce teacher case loads. The board approved the requested positions.

The superintendent and administrators described a district review showing larger caseloads and significant behavioral needs among some students; staff presented a color-coded spreadsheet used to identify where additional teachers and support professionals were needed. Administrators recommended adding three special-education teacher positions (including positions at Bloomsdale Elementary and St. Genevieve Elementary and a split position to cover middle/high needs) and three special-education professionals for the 2026–27 school year to enable co-taught courses and more balanced class sizes.

A board member moved to add three special-education teacher positions for 2026–27 and a separate motion was made to add three special-education professionals; both motions passed by voice vote. The meeting transcript records "All in favor" and "Motion second," but no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes excerpt.

Administrators said the additional staffing would allow the district to offer co-taught English sections and reduce combined-class sizes in science and other subjects where numbers have grown by combining grade levels. No specific salary or funding source details were stated during the presentation; administrators described the additions as a staffing prioritization in response to student needs.

Next steps: Administrators will proceed with staffing plans for the 2026–27 school year and return with implementation details and assignments as hiring progresses.