Board approves QISA action plan; special‑education director warns district is underfunded

The Lansing Board of Education unanimously approved the district’s QISA accreditation action plan for the 2025–26 submission cycle after a presentation from Miles, who reviewed literacy and standards-alignment goals and the district’s implementation timeline.

Miles said the district has shifted from a five‑year accreditation review to an annual action-plan model and highlighted EC–5 structured literacy and 6–12 standards alignment as core goals. He described progress targets and check‑in points with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), including a six‑month and a 12‑month benchmark for staff application of structured‑literacy practice.

Sandra, the district’s special‑education director, presented an in‑depth overview of special‑education services, legal requirements (IDEA, Section 504, ADA), service-delivery models, staffing and contracted services, and funding sources. Using the district’s December 1 count, she reported that 475 students — about 18% of the district’s enrollment — were receiving special‑education services across 12 disability categories and multiple service models.

Sandra said special‑education costs are largely personnel-driven (staffing and contracted specialists) and that per federal and state formulas districts receive only a portion of the costs through categorical aid and Medicaid billing. She projected a fiscal snapshot for the coming year that included approximately $5 million in revenue for special education but, depending on year‑end figures, an estimated need to transfer about $2.9 million from the local operating budget to cover the gap. Sandra called the program “underfunded” relative to legal obligations and noted that complexity and intensity of student needs are rising.

Board members asked for clarifications about how a building closure (the earlier Early Childhood Center item) would affect the district’s ability to identify preschool‑age students, for the size of Lansing Lions Center enrollment, and about coop arrangements with neighboring districts; Sandra said the district provides monthly child‑find activities and that the Lansing Lions Center currently serves approximately four Lansing students plus a small number from out of district under a cost‑sharing arrangement with Greenbush.

The board voted 7–0 to approve the QISA action plan after the presentation. Administration said it will upload the plan to the KSDE system by the submission deadline and continue monitoring implementation and staff support needs.