Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District reports increase in special‑education enrollment, flags funding gap
Summary
District staff told the board the special‑education caseload rose to 235 students (16.36% of enrollment), above the state's 11% funding threshold, and that the district must use general‑fund dollars to cover services while requesting more life‑skills capacity at elementary grades.
District staff presented the annual special‑education report and told the board the program is serving 235 students, which they said represents "16.36 percent of our students" this year, up from about 14.87 percent the prior year. Staff explained that Oregon's funding model funds districts only up to an 11% threshold, meaning the district must pay for the difference from the general fund.
The report outlined where special‑education students are enrolled (Givollinger 79, Ferndale 41, Central 56, MacKay 57) and that the district is preparing for an expected 11 preschool‑age students next year. A staff member warned the board that the largest near‑term need is more elementary life‑skills classrooms and noted some students are arriving with "large struggles," increasing demand for specialized supports. "Our sped teachers are — I would put them up against anybody. They're amazing staff," the presenter said while describing staff efforts and the funding pressures the district faces.
Board members asked whether recent evaluations (13 students currently being evaluated) could raise the caseload further and pressed for a calculation of how the additional students would affect the district's funded percentage. Staff said they will follow up with the precise percentage change if those evaluations find eligibility. The presentation also noted that many services are provided through the ESD and through contracted providers because licensed school counselors and other specialists are scarce in the region.
