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RSU 05 authorizes superintendent to create early-childhood special-ed positions amid reimbursement uncertainty
Summary
The board approved allowing the superintendent to create positions for the districts special education early-childhood program, with funding expected from the state subsidy; board discussed that state reimbursement is not guaranteed and identified backup funding options.
The RSU 05 School Board voted to allow the superintendent to create positions through the first board meeting in September to support the districts new special education early-childhood program.
Superintendent Tom explained the action is needed because children with IEPs who previously received services through CDS are entering public school and the district must have staff in place to meet IEP requirements. "We need to do this to meet the needs of the kids," Tom said, describing the request as limited to the special education early-childhood program and funded by the state's early-childhood subsidy.
Board members asked how certain the district can be that the state will reimburse these costs. Tom responded that the state has stated it will cover "reasonable and necessary" services for 3- and 4-year-olds with special education needs but that the district cannot guarantee every reimbursement will be approved; decisions about what the state deems reasonable can change over time.
The board discussed safeguards and backup options: reimbursements will be monitored quarterly, and the district could draw on Article 2 reserves if needed. Board members also raised workforce concerns and noted that recent contract changes have improved recruitment; administrators reported active hiring interviews for ed-tech positions.
The motion to allow the superintendent to create positions until the first September board meeting, with funding to come from the state early-childhood subsidy, was moved and seconded and passed with no opposition.
The meeting later moved to executive session to discuss a confidential record under 1 MRSA section 4056F.
