Board hears plan to partner with jointure for special-education services; parents and staff press for clarity on contractors and staffing

The board heard a detailed presentation from Darius Pemberton, director of special services, on a partnership with a regional special-education consortium (the jointure) intended to provide specialized classroom programs, related services, transportation and shared professional development.

Pemberton said the jointure is not a vendor but an educational association that can provide fully staffed services and that the district will sit on jointure governance boards. He said parents'rights remain intact, IEPs will not be amended because of the partnership and class sizes and ratios remain compliant with state code. "All of the services and IEPs will be provided next full year the same way they were this year," he said, and added that about two-thirds (0.667) of paraprofessionals were already part-time prior to changes.

However, multiple public commenters asked pointed questions about how many related-service hours would be provided, class sizes, the timeline for when families would receive specific staffing numbers, and why the district sought approval for two additional outside agencies at a combined cost of about $800,000 if the jointure can "fully staff" services. Speech-language pathologist Lauren Alberta said she was seeking clarification about due diligence for an ADA officer appointment amid active litigation and asked how spending $800,000 on contractors demonstrates fiscal stewardship after layoffs of district related-service staff.

Board members and administrators responded that further detail would be provided to parents and that the jointure superintendent could be invited for an in-depth presentation. The special-education parent advisory group (CPAC) has been reconstituted and will be used as an additional communication channel, trustees said.