Special-education director: December count 214; higher-intensity needs and audit follow-up

Claudia, presenting the district's special-education report, said the December one-count for students receiving special education services was 214 and noted the district had newly made 11 students eligible since that count with four additional students currently in referral.

"This year was 214," Claudia said. She added that while the raw headcount has dipped slightly compared with prior years, the intensity and needs of the students currently served are higher than in previous cohorts. Claudia reported 12 seniors will exit special education this year and about 10 early-intervention/ECSE students will transition into kindergarten next year.

Claudia described recent compliance work and an audit flag related to over-identification under "other health impairment." She said the district conducted a root-cause analysis, worked to strengthen eligibility worksheets and is adjusting practices around extended state assessments to align with state guidance. Claudia also described operational changes: contracting with regional services for virtual speech-language-pathologists and using local SLP aides on site; she characterized the transition as "clumpy" while staff coordinate schedules.

Board members asked about case-manager load, comparison challenges among buildings with different grade spans, and whether the district would adopt a caseload formula used by other Oregon districts; Claudia said she would present comparative formulas and additional recommendations to the special-education team.

The board's discussion emphasized the need to track transitions and the higher service needs among current students; no formal action was taken.