District outlines special-education overhaul, IEP changes and $220,000 grant for supports

Director Healey delivered a comprehensive update on special education at the March meeting, detailing staffing additions, new documentation and grant-funded supports intended to simplify compliance and better serve students.

Healey said the district has hired multiple special-education staff this year — including a special-education support specialist, a BCBA, registered behavior technician and several inclusion teachers — and noted nursing staffing increases funded in part by a CSHS grant. She emphasized the district’s transition to a new state IEP format and the locally developed IEP resource guide meant to make the legal document clearer for families: "the change over to this new IEP document makes things much clearer for our community," Healey said.

Healey also outlined federal and state grant support: last year’s 274 grant paid for five special-education liaisons and printing of resource guides, and the district was awarded $220,000 under a subsequent 274 cycle to pilot a program called Goalbook to help staff produce measurable, standards-aligned IEP goals. She said the district is near completion of Tiered Focus Monitoring corrective actions and is revising a 200+ page special-education procedure manual into smaller, staff-friendly guides to improve compliance and day-to-day use.

Why it matters: The combination of rising special-education costs (out‑of‑district tuition has increased materially) and procedural change makes this a high-priority operational area for the district. The grants and new staffing aim to reduce burdens on classroom teachers and to improve documentation and family communication.

What’s next: The district plans further professional development and a fall rollout of the streamlined procedures; the business office and special-education department will continue grant management and monitoring.