Union reports staffing, caseload and compliance concerns in special education response

A representative for the district staff union presented a written staff‑driven report responding to the district special education director's earlier presentation, urging collaboration to address persistent operational problems.

The union speaker summarized contributions from special education and general education teachers, support staff and union representatives and said the report was intended to add context to the director's findings rather than diminish individual efforts. The presentation listed recurring concerns including staffing shortages, large caseloads, delayed evaluations and services, inconsistent implementation of inclusion models, high turnover, limited substitute coverage for special education certificated teachers, safety concerns, insufficient behavior supports, and compliance issues related to IEP implementation and timelines. "Our goal in highlighting these issues is to ask for support and to collaborate with you," the union representative said.

Board members and staff acknowledged the report and noted that district staff had already provided a written response from the special programs director. Trustees discussed wanting additional evidence and asked staff to coordinate follow-up conversations with union leadership and the new director of student services. The superintendent also reported a recent federal program monitoring result that produced a single finding related to documenting time and effort for employees funded from several federal titles; he described training and corrective steps being planned to remedy that finding.

The union offered to share further evidence if the board seeks it, and trustees indicated they want continued dialogue with staff about special education resourcing and compliance. No formal board action was taken at the meeting; trustees asked staff to continue engagement and to return with additional information as appropriate.