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RSU 18 special-education line rises; director cites counting changes and more IEPs
Summary
The board approved $7,268,091.21 for special education after Special Education Director Cheryl Mercia explained increases caused by counting Erskine Academy and special-purpose private school students and higher numbers of incoming kindergarteners with IEPs.
The board adopted Article 2, authorizing $7,268,091.21 for special education. A board member asked why the special education percentage had risen, and the superintendent asked Special Education Director Cheryl Mercia to respond.
Mercia explained that the district now includes special-education students from Erskine Academy and two special-purpose private schools in its counts; historically those students had been classified as DOE non-school and not included. "The numbers that are represented don't have an offset for Erskine Academy. We count the special ed students from Erskine, but we don't count the regular ed students from Erskine because I still provide services to them," Mercia said. She also noted an early trend of more kindergarteners arriving with IEPs, saying this year "we have 40 kids coming in that already have an IEP in kindergarten." The motion to appropriate the special education amount carried and Article 2 was adopted.
