Bladen County Schools reports roughly $1.2 million special-education funding shortfall; district will cover gap with local dollars

Miss White Smith, the district's Exceptional Children presenter, told the board the district currently serves 641 students with disabilities and faces a projected funding shortfall for required services.

"We served 641 EC students," Miss White Smith said. "Based on our current spending patterns, we project needing an additional $659,534 in state funds and $282,315 in federal funds. The result of this total funding gap is just over $1,200,000." She added that the state and federal formulas fund only a portion of the district's EC count and that the district routinely uses local dollars to cover unmet costs.

The superintendent, Jason Atkinson, and several trustees thanked the district grant team for securing supplemental reserve funds and described Medicaid reimbursement as one revenue stream that helps offset related-service costs. "We do get some Medicaid reimbursement," Atkinson said; staff reported that Medicaid claims cover some occupational, physical and speech services but do not fully cover individualized nursing or other high-cost services.

Trustees asked for details about grants and compliance. Miss White Smith said the district received two grants that together provided a modest reserve and that staff are awaiting the results of an additional grant application to help cover psychological-evaluation costs. She said the federal fiscal-year timing (Oct–Sep) and state budgeting practices complicate cash flow and that the district sometimes must use local funds upfront.

Board members pressed for follow-up reports. Chair Singletary asked that the EC funding update remain an informational item for the next several meetings so trustees can monitor grant outcomes, Medicaid disbursements and any needed budget adjustments.

The board received the presentation as an information item; no formal board action was taken on the funding report at this meeting.