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Special-education child count down; district outlines interventions and IDEA-related corrections
Summary
A district-presented special-education review reported a December child count of 47 (down six from last year), 7 students under evaluation, 18 submitted DESE file-corrections and plans to expand interventions, transitions training and AAC devices; the board discussed these findings without taking formal action.
Dr. Bush, presenting the special-education program review, told the board: "Our December 1 special education child count was 47," and then detailed changes and program staffing.
Dr. Bush (S9) said seven students were in the evaluation process, four students had been released from special education this school year, 11 students moved out of the district and 14 moved in with IEPs. The presenter said the district currently has 15 students with 504 plans and two students placed at Discovery School. When the disability categories were reviewed, Dr. Bush said specific learning disability counts fell from 20 to 9 after aligning with DESE indicators, while other health impairment increased.
Dr. Bush also described corrective work after a DESE file review: about 18 corrections were submitted and the district is completing a current self‑assessment. Staff emphasized ongoing training for teachers and parents, more interventions and data collection, and transition planning for older students. Dr. Bush noted the district is exploring AAC (alternative and augmentative communication) devices for nonverbal students and planned a staff visit to an external district for program observations.
Board members commended the depth of information and said the presentation improved the board’s understanding of how the district’s SAT team, interventions like Barton and the sensory room integrate with special-education supports. No formal action or vote on policy changes was taken during this presentation; the board thanked Dr. Bush and moved on to other agenda items.
The discussion and data were presented as informational, with next steps focusing on continued training, monitoring and the submission of required paperwork to DESE.
