District schedules third-party audit of special education, highlights funding shortfalls

Amy Hampton, Student Services Director, reported the district contracted Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE) at Utah State University to conduct a special-education review. Work completed so far included staff and parent surveys, classroom observations and interviews; parent focus groups are being rescheduled after low turnout. Evaluators will conduct a site visit March 3–5 to review records, observe classrooms and hold student focus groups; Hampton said a final report is expected by the end of March and will be presented to the board in April.

Hampton told directors that the district's special-education share remains about 17% of enrollment but the intensity of need has increased, with more students requiring highly specialized support. She said funding is inadequate to reflect high-cost needs under the current state model: "Some students require $150,000+ per year in services, but our funding remains fixed per student, regardless of need," Hampton said. Board members discussed the potential benefit of higher special-education funding caps and targeted high-cost reimbursements under legislative change.