Arlington proposes split SPED/ML teacher at OMS to reflect changing needs

Superintendent Dr. Homan told the committee that a vacant 1.0 multilingual-learner position at Ottoson Middle School (OMS) could be reallocated to a split role — 0.6 special education and 0.4 multilingual-learner — because projected ML enrollment at OMS has fallen from 28 to about 14 students.

"The proposal is to create a split ML and special education position, that's 0.6 special education and 0.4 ML," Dr. Homan said, explaining that a dually licensed teacher on staff is interested in the assignment and that the district already posted the split position. He said the reallocation would help maintain small-group special-education classes while preserving some ML support for students who recently exited ML services.

Dr. Allison Ampey asked how the staff member in that split role would be evaluated. Dr. Homan replied the evaluator could be the special-education coordinator with the ML director as a secondary evaluator or other arrangements consistent with the contract and domain expertise. The committee did not take a roll-call vote on this item during the meeting and Dr. Homan said staffing would proceed consistent with hiring and scheduling needs.