Director outlines growth in special services, highlights inclusive practices and career transitions

A district special‑services leader outlined a multi‑part update on services for students with disabilities, describing staff expansions, inclusive classroom practices, transition and career readiness work, and outcomes from pilot programs.

The presenter said the office now records about 1,086 special‑education services (some students receive multiple services) and emphasized inclusive placement when appropriate. "All means all — all students all the time," the presenter said, framing the office's goal of placing students in general classrooms with co‑teaching when possible.

The office described new behavioral supports funded initially by an elementary alternative grant (positions retained after state permission to carry funds forward), a behavior specialist and interventionists focused on prevention and in‑school supports, and the New Beginnings Academy (NBA) alternative program. The NBA model has returned several students to their home schools; staff stagger transitions and accompany students during initial reintegration.

The district ran a MindPlay literacy pilot in three schools beginning in January; staff reported roughly 40 students improved one reading level in the short pilot period. The special‑services team also described a career readiness lab (‘PAYS Lab’) that simulates workplace experience for students and said several students found local employment or training opportunities through a recent career fair.

Board members praised the work and the state invited the district to present its career‑fair model at a regional conference. Administration said the program relies on a mix of grant funds and district support and that staff continue to pursue stable funding and training to expand inclusive and transition services.