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LPGE board approves part‑time special‑education position to support new online academy
Summary
The Long Prairie‑Grey Eagle School Dist. approved hiring a part‑time special‑education teacher to serve the new Thunder Online Academy or in‑person where needed, after staff described enrollment planning, capacity and IEP considerations.
The Long Prairie‑Grey Eagle School Dist. School Board voted to hire a part‑time special‑education teacher who can be assigned either to the new Thunder Online Academy or to in‑person classrooms as needed. The decision followed a staff briefing on enrollment, capacity and special‑education obligations for online delivery.
District staff told the board that "full enrollment opens August 1" and that 19 families had already provided information indicating interest in the online program. Staff cautioned that special‑education services require careful planning: orientation processes, IEP adjustments and meeting state minutes requirements for services delivered remotely.
Board members debated timing and logistics—whether to wait until August to see final enrollment or to begin hiring sooner to avoid being short staffed at the program launch. Staff described a notional capacity model and noted that a single online teacher is often planned at roughly 40 students; they also emphasized the complexity of serving students with IEPs remotely and the potential need for a part‑time special‑education professional to support both online and in‑person students.
A motion (recorded in the meeting as made by "Zastrow") to hire a part‑time special‑education teacher for the online program or for in‑person deployment where needed was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The board charged administration with following hiring procedures and returning with contract details and any contingency language if the position becomes unnecessary.
Administrators said the online program will have separate budget accounting so initial costs and staffing for the online academy can be evaluated apart from the district's in‑person general fund.
