Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Special‑education costs in Nelson County soar to $38,643 per student in budget presentation
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Amanda Hester told boards that special‑education per‑pupil spending averages $38,643 and that placement and intensive services are major cost drivers; trustees and supervisors pressed for thresholds and regional options.
Officials at a March 20 joint meeting were presented with stark per‑pupil figures showing how special education is driving costs in Nelson County.
"The blended raw data for all students is $23,909; for regular education students only, $20,551; for special needs students only, there is a drastic increase to $38,643," Dr. Amanda Hester said while explaining that mandated outside placements, residential day programs and intensive supports raise per‑student costs.
Trustees and supervisors asked whether the pattern is statewide and when the School Division would shift from transporting students to creating in‑house programs; Dr. Hester said part of the rise reflects greater recognition and earlier assessment of needs and cautioned that establishing in‑house programs requires space, certified staff and capped class sizes (for example, early childhood special education classes are limited to eight students).
Board members explored regional approaches and economies of scale, with Trustee George Cheape and Supervisor Jesse Rutherford noting that neighboring divisions developing internal programs can change cost sharing and placement dynamics across localities.
