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RSU 18 special education budget increases as director says more students arrive with IEPs
Summary
The board adopted Article 2 to spend $7,268,091.21 on special education after the special-education director said the district is now counting students placed at Erskine Academy and two private special-purpose schools and reported an uptick in kindergarten students with IEPs.
The RSU 18 board adopted Article 2, authorizing $7,268,091.21 for special education, after the district’s special-education director explained why costs rose this year.
Cheryl Mercia, identified during discussion as the special-education director, told the board that current special-education counts now include students from Erskine Academy and two special-purpose private schools whose programs require an individualized education program (IEP) for enrollment. "Those students now count in our district," Mercia said, explaining that in previous years some of those students were counted in Department of Education non‑school placements.
Mercia also said incoming kindergarten classes show a higher number of students with existing IEPs — she reported about 40 kindergarten students this year who already have IEPs compared with historical counts of 5 to 15 — and said the trend is districtwide. Board member Sherry asked whether that increase explained the percentage rise in special-education spending; Mercia confirmed the accounting changes and student counts were the cause.
The motion to authorize the special-education expenditure was moved, seconded and adopted without additional amendment.
What’s next: The increased appropriation will fund in‑district special-education services and placements; the district will include these counts in its enrollment and budget reports going forward.
