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District acknowledges service gaps: roughly 20 special-education students awaiting services
Summary
Presenter told the board about ongoing provider shortages and that about 20 identified children are not yet receiving required services; trustees and staff said recruitment, reimbursement and inter-district billing complicate timely provision.
Dr. Heather Chadwell Dennis told trustees the district has approximately 20 children who have been identified as needing special-education services but are not currently receiving them; she said 2 of those children are waiting for a program placement the district has not yet been able to find.
She described several reasons for the gap: a long-running disparity in provider reimbursement across counties that disincentivizes providers from working in Beacon, and entrenched staffing patterns that will not change overnight even if county reimbursement increases. Trustees and the superintendent discussed sending letters to county officials and engaging in advocacy to improve provider pay and availability. Dr. Chadwell Dennis said the district works with Dutchess BOCES and area agencies, and sometimes students must travel to neighboring towns for therapy.
