Board votes to direct staff to separate budget line for special education director

The Vernonia SD 47J board voted to direct staff to separate a budget line and pursue a separate search for a special education (SPED) director, the board chair announced after the motion carried.

A teacher (identified in the record as S6) told the board that "we do not have a SPED director now because that was a position that was cut," arguing that the district needs a dedicated official to manage workload and services. Board members said they had received feedback recommending the SPED duties and budget be separated from other positions.

Board member S4 moved that the board "give Greg Kent the ability towards action to the superintendent to separate the budget out for a special ed director," and S2 seconded the motion. Chair S1 called for the vote; members vocalized their support and the chair stated, "Motion carries." The recorded tally in the meeting was three ayes; no opposing votes were recorded on the transcript.

The board's direction instructs Greg Kent to speak with the superintendent and to propose a separate line item for a SPED director during budget development and to pursue separate searches for the positions. The motion does not, in the transcript, set a dollar amount or a timeline for hiring; those details would emerge in subsequent budget work.

The action follows statements from staff, parents and a teacher citing workload concerns and recommending that the SPED director role be restored and budgeted separately.