Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Resources topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears request for two special‑education para positions; staffing realignments projected to net ~$54,000
Summary
District administrators asked the Somerset School Board to approve two full‑time special‑education para positions to address rising student needs and crisis response; packet shows staffing reductions and reclassifications that together produce a projected net savings of about $54,000 next year. The new hires and reclassification will return for action on June 15.
Jesse presented staffing adjustments at the Somerset School Board work session on Monday, asking the board to consider adding two full‑time special‑education para professionals — one at the elementary school and one at the middle school — to address higher‑needs students and crisis intervention needs.
"We're above our capacity," Jesse said when explaining why the additional para support is necessary, noting some students moved into the district this year with higher behavioral needs and several students are transitioning back from out‑of‑district placements. Jesse said the paras would allow case managers and special‑education teachers to preserve resource‑room integrity and reduce the need for teachers to cover multiple general‑education periods.
The staffing packet also showed targeted reductions and reclassifications intended to offset costs. Administrators noted a net subtotal of about $132,000 in reductions driven by declining enrollment and reassignments; two new para positions were estimated to cost about $47,600 combined. Reclassifying three positions as "teacher specialist" was estimated to add just north of $30,000. Administrators presented these items together and estimated an overall net savings of roughly $54,000 into next year.
Board members asked for details about ratios and licensing requirements; administrators said state guidance (DPI) does not prescribe a fixed para ratio because student needs vary and that the district reviews IEPs and schedules to determine staffing needs. The proposal for the two para positions and the teacher reclassification will be returned to the board for action at the June 15 regular meeting.
