Committee recommends $64,957 supplemental special-education curriculum to full board

The Instruction Student Support Services committee reviewed several special-education measures and recommended a supplemental curriculum for the full board’s consideration.

District staff presented a package of special-education data — including current special-education enrollment (about 21% of district enrollment), the number of self-contained students (reported in the low 800s with a small projected increase), and vacancy and retention observations — before outlining a curricular purchase.

Staff proposed adopting Everway Unique Learning System, a standards-aligned supplemental curriculum designed for students with moderate-to-significant disabilities. The presenter said teachers across the district saw a demo May 15 and that about 10 teachers participated; district staff described the feedback as positive. The quoted cost for the first year (unlimited student access and consumables) was $64,957.

The committee also reviewed operational work intended to improve outcomes for special-education students: a decline in chronic absenteeism for this population of roughly 1 percentage point month-to-month over the past three months, and larger year-over-year improvements at specific sites (for example, a 15% reduction at the Transition Academy). Staff described efforts to reduce suspensions and expulsions by using restorative practices and by examining stipulated expulsion agreements only in applicable cases.

On organizational changes, staff outlined a restructuring that would create two senior supervisory tracks — one focused on compliance and out-of-district placements and one focused on in-district specialized instruction — and bring related-service directors and targeted supervisors into a clearer chain of accountability. The stated objectives were smaller class sizes in specialized settings, more classroom coaching, balanced supervisor workloads and improved communication turnaround.

After the presentation, a committee member moved to recommend the Everway proposal to the full board for approval. The committee approved the motion by voice vote and instructed staff to present the full contract and implementation timeline to the board.

The committee’s request list included final contract language, a clear implementation schedule for in-district visits and training, and details about consumables and license renewal timelines.