Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Special education report flags enrollment growth, staffing and space limits
Summary
Special Education Director reported rising special education enrollment and anticipated growth in the 18–22 transition program (about 17 students); board members and the superintendent discussed costs and the challenges of bringing students back from out‑of‑district placements given staffing and space constraints.
Special Education Director Ms. Fenech told the Ansonia Board of Education on May 20 that special education enrollment has increased and that the district is likely to see growth in both early childhood and transition‑age students.
Ms. Fenech said district programs currently include DTI, Transition and Inclusion classes and that staffing turnover and classroom space limit the district’s ability to return students from costly out‑of‑district placements. She said the district anticipates about 17 students in the 18–22 transition program next year and that a second Pre‑K classroom is needed because numbers are “significantly increasing.”
Board members pressed for clarity on costs. Dr. Steven Adamowski asked whether funds that now pay for out‑of‑district tuition could be used to bring students back in‑district and whether that would produce savings. Ms. Fenech said she believes it would result in cost savings in some cases but emphasized that needs vary by student, and that space and staffing challenges — including transient staffing — make implementation difficult. Superintendent DiBacco noted that starting an in‑district program carries substantial setup costs and that when funding permits some districts are better able to develop in‑district options.
The board did not adopt a specific program change at the meeting; members asked administration to continue exploring options and to provide staffing, space and cost details in future budget and finance discussions.
