Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Natomas Unified superintendent outlines start‑of‑schools updates and launches special‑education review
Summary
Superintendent Castillo reported enrollment growth, noted about 10 certificated vacancies with two special‑education classroom positions covered by substitutes, and said the district will contract Ascendancy Solutions to review special‑education programs and produce a roadmap for improvement.
Superintendent Castillo told the Natomas Unified School District board the district will serve roughly 17,518 students this school year and that Transitional Kindergarten (TK) eligibility expansion helped drive unexpectedly higher TK enrollment.
Castillo said staffing remains a priority: "As of yesterday... there were still 10 certificated vacancies," and two special‑education classroom positions are being covered by substitutes while Human Resources continues recruiting. She described steps the district is taking to add instructional aides in classes with sizes over 20.
The superintendent announced a planned special‑education program review. "We are gonna be contracting with Ascendancy Solutions Incorporated... to come in and to look at our programs in Natomas," she said, outlining that the review will include data analysis, an IEP file review and case studies, and examination of complaints and due‑process procedures. The review will include stakeholder focus groups and produce a report with recommendations and an implementation roadmap.
The presentation included immunization and attendance updates (the number of exemption cases changed from 24 to 25, with 20 students out of compliance working toward vaccination) and details about site safety measures and summer facilities work. Castillo emphasized the district will involve staff and community stakeholders in the special‑education review and seek to translate recommendations into concrete changes.
