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Schools add an assistant special‑education director and a middle‑school behavioral role while net school FTEs fall by 7.5
Summary
Superintendent Mclofflin and city staff told the council the school budget nets a 7.5‑FTE reduction while adding an assistant special‑education director and a RISE coordinator at the middle school intended to reduce costly out‑of‑district placements.
Portsmouth’s FY27 school budget proposal shows a net reduction of about 7.5 full‑time equivalents, but includes targeted investments intended to curb out‑of‑district special‑education placements.
Superintendent Mclofflin (present at the session) described the proposed assistant special‑education director and a middle‑school RISE coordinator as strategic, in‑district responses designed to reduce the large and growing cost of placing students outside Portsmouth. Nathan said the net reduction includes clerical and paraeducator shifts but that the new positions are intended to expand in‑district capacity and program development.
Councilors pressed for outcomes and timelines: the superintendent said the immediate goals are to (1) increase in‑district services so families do not feel compelled to seek placements elsewhere, and (2) eventually bring some students back who are currently educated out‑of‑district. Nathan and the superintendent said an existing half‑time out‑of‑district case‑manager role would be converted/expanded into the new coordination role, and that the added position would be partially funded by special‑education federal dollars.
Pupil transportation: Staff flagged a combined $441,000 increase in school transportation (nearly 20%) driven primarily by out‑of‑district transport and in‑district specialized routes; a portion of that rise is tied to contracted rates with STA. Councilors asked for the number of pupils served by the out‑of‑district transportation line and for clearer line‑item detail.
What’s next: Staff said they will provide the council the loaded cost for the new school positions and itemized transportation counts so the council can evaluate the expected fiscal and program outcomes.
