Director warns of rising special‑education needs and placement costs as IEP counts climb

Rena Crinion, the Shippensburg Area School District director of student services, told the board on May 11 that the district’s special‑education population and related support needs have risen sharply in recent years and that addressing those needs will require intentional staffing and resource allocation.

Crinion said overall enrollment grew from 3,369 in 2021 to 3,725 in 2025 and special‑education students increased from 638 to 804, or about 21.6% of total enrollment — slightly higher than the state average the presenter cited. She also reported English‑learner enrollment rising from 63 to 267 and a larger low‑income population.

Crinion described the district’s multi‑tiered system of supports and noted that STAR, while not a special‑education program, can serve students across tiers depending on needs. She summarized special‑education procedural timelines: 60 calendar days to complete an initial evaluation after parental consent and 90 days for a reevaluation, with a 30‑day window to develop an IEP if eligibility is found.

Board members pressed for details about transportation costs and placement decisions; Crinion said the district is legally responsible to provide transportation when an out‑of‑district placement is necessary and that transporting a single student to a specialized placement can be costly. She cited example costs for common placements (River Rock slots at about $40,000–$56,000; one Vista placement recorded at $228,000 this year) and estimated transportation costs between $14,000 and $32,400 depending on distance.

Crinion warned that the district’s evaluations and service timelines are under pressure because the district currently has one full‑time school psychologist and relies on contract evaluators. She said that, since October, the district recorded 64 newly eligible students and 39 newly enrolled with IEPs, with net increases when accounting for dismissals and withdrawals.

The director recommended strategic, vertical and cross‑department planning, training and coaching for intensive programs and strengthened MTSS (Multi‑Tiered System of Supports) early interventions to reduce the need for out‑of‑district placements. She told the board she will provide follow‑up information when asked for specifics and that administration is working to balance legal, ethical and budgetary responsibilities in placing high‑needs students.

The presentation provided the data and context the board cited when discussing the Laurel Life agreement and personnel items later in the meeting. The board asked staff to return with staffing and operational details as the district moves toward implementing in‑district supports.