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Barker staff weigh in‑district self‑contained class as special‑education needs rise
Summary
District special‑education leaders told the board that caseloads and placements are increasing; planners are analyzing whether a new in‑district self‑contained class could reduce costly out‑of‑district placements but said staffing and training costs are significant.
Director of Instructional Services Mark Learo told the board the district logged "22 CSE meetings and 5 CPSE meetings, of which 4 were initial CPSE meetings" between Jan. 13 and Feb. 7, and that the special‑education caseload trend is increasing.
Learo said the Self‑contained Program Planning Team is meeting weekly to determine if the district can provide more services in‑house to avoid out‑of‑district placements. "There are currently four pending out‑of‑district placements for next year," he said, and cautioned that bringing some services in‑house could require hiring additional staff and specialized training that would increase costs.
Trustees and administrators discussed program structure and length: Learo said a potential in‑district program would operate during the academic year rather than as a 12‑month program, and that a behavior‑focused program in particular would carry higher multidisciplinary needs and costs. The board asked administration to analyze immediate and long‑term costs, aid differentials based on placement, and staffing implications before any decision.
Superintendent Jacob L. Reimer and business staff said budget projections and aid estimates will factor into whether an in‑district class is fiscally viable; no formal program approval occurred at the meeting.
