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Board approves $2.7M one‑year strategic investment to bolster special education staffing
Summary
The board approved a one‑year $2.7 million strategic investment for FY27 to add 18 licensed special education staff and 18 educational support professionals; staff said stronger third‑party billing could increase reimbursements and help sustain staffing.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bridal (Brian) Bass presented a one‑year strategic investment request totaling $2.7 million for fiscal year 2027 to address sustained growth in special education enrollment and maintain current caseloads.
Bass said the investment would fund hiring 18 licensed special education staff and 18 educational support professionals. “So tonight, we are asking the board… to approve a strategic investment totaling $2,700,000 for the fiscal year 27 to address the continued increase in special education enrollment and maintaining our current caseloads,” he said. Staff explained the timing of the request was due to finalized child‑count data being available after the LRFP cycle and described efforts to expand 3rd‑party billing (Medicaid) revenue; Bass said the district’s FY26 billing was about $900,000 and the goal is to grow that toward $2,500,000 in FY27.
Board members praised the responsiveness and asked for a deeper work‑session review of staffing, hiring strategies and equity in supports; Superintendent Dr. Kim Heil confirmed the topic will be included in the March work session. After discussion the board approved the one‑year investment 6–0.
