Special Education: 20162017 Budget Narrative FY16: $ 6,546,926 FY17: $6,708,238 Percent Increase 2.46%
We currently are serving 559 students with identified disabilities grades K12. This accounts for 18.5% of our total population. We provide a full continuum of services for students as required by federal law. These services range from the general education classroom to hospital/homebound settings and a variety of settings in between. It is our responsibility to provide special education services while always remembering that although the students we work with are identified as having special education needs, they are first students in MSAD 60. They are students with special education needs, not special education students. The difference is subtle but important in order for the collective “us” to provide the most appropriate education for all of our students. The good news is that we have an amazing group of educators who are working collaboratively to provide programming for all of our students. ●
Our first goal in special education is always to provide appropriate services in the least restrictive setting, that is what we are mandated to do. I think that the fact that our anticipated Out of District Costs are down is one indicator that we are doing a good job in that regard.
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Another goal is to work with parents of special education students to help them to understand the confusing special education process. Our first steps in making progress toward this goal is the formation of a special education parent group. We have had two meetings so far this year and have had a great turnout. Additionally we have developed a parent handbook that is available on our website.
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The last, and perhaps most important goal is to improve reading scores. In order to do this we need to improve specialized reading instruction for our students with specific reading disabilities. In order to move toward this goal, we have done the following: ○ Provided LIPS training for most of our special educators during the summer of 2015. ○ Currently providing professional development during early release and late start. This PD is being provided by Exeter Speech/Language Associates. The focus is on providing instruction on the reading process which is broken into the following components: Phonological Awareness, Fluency, Comprehension, Vocabulary and Oral Language. ○ A reading committee led by Lora Lenehan is developing a document to provide guidance for teachers regarding which program(s) will be most effective for students depending on where they are experiencing difficulty with the reading process.
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Section One: Highlights and Rationale for Program Changes and/or Purchases Current need is to add a teacher to work full time in the 8th grade. With the reduction of a teacher last year, one teacher is currently split between 8th and 9th grade. This has been difficult due to the fact the the 8th grade and high school have different schedules. More importantly the incoming 8th grade is large and has a large number of students with significant special education needs. It has been difficult for the high school self contained programs to incorporate the 8th graders into their programing. There are a few reasons this is difficult: ● Age Span (often students in self contained programs stay until they turn 20. ● Overall number of students in the program, without adding 8th graders programs are at or near capacity. ● Schedule of HS and 8th grade are very different, so including 8th graders with their typical peers is difficult if they are generally following a high school schedule. Adding a teacher would enable most 8th graders to be placed with other 8th grade students rather than in the high school self contained programs.
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Sign that the students made, material cost was $75.00, Student engagement priceless. Average cost per student at MHA is $14,566. Average cost of OOD placement that students at MHA might have otherwise attended $49,400.
$49,400$14,566=$34,834 $34,843 X 26 = $905,918=The amount of money we are saving by having our students at MHA And talk about engagement: ● Currently distributing between 57 & 72 backpacks weekly. Between $570 & $720 worth of food being distributed to needy families weekly. ● 510 families per week are visiting the thrift shop which is open from 2:154:00 on Tuesday afternoons and by appointment during school hours. ● Last year 6 MHA students graduated. Many have jobs at Tyco, which they could not have without a diploma. ● Currently in addition to the thrift shop and backpack program students are engaged in ELO at: ○ The animal shelter ○ Working with our students at the elementary schools 3
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○ Subway Our students at MHA are receiving outside services that they need due to the collaboration between MHA staff and outside agencies.
It is incredible that some of our neediest students are doing such great things to contribute to their community. They should be commended for their hard work.
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Enrollment ‘1516 School/Town
current enrollment
’16’17 School/Town projected enrollment
Lebanon
91
Lebanon
81
Berwick
100
Berwick
99
North Berwick
43
North Berwick
38
Noble Middle School
108
Noble Middle School
97
Noble 8
35
Noble 8
50
Noble High School
143
Noble High School
144
Mary Hurd Academy
26
Mary Hurd Academy
26+
Out of District
13*
Out of District
10
* Two have returned from OOD this year. Three will graduate
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Staffing ’15’16
T e a c h e r s
S p e e c h
OT S o c w o r k
P s y c h o l o g i s t
Lebanon
4
1.8
1
.40
1
Berwick
5
2.6
1
.40
North Berwick
2
.90
.8
Noble Middle School
6
1.5
Noble 8
1.5
Noble High School Mary Hurd Academy
’16’17
T e a c h e r s
S p e e c h
OT
S o c w o r k
Ps yc ho l og i s t
Lebanon
4
1.8
1
.40 1
1
Berwick
5
2.6
1
.40 1
.20
.8
North Berwick
2
1
.8
.20 .8
1+
.40
1
Noble Middle School
6
1.5
1+
.40 1
*
*
*
**
Noble 8
2
*
*
*
9.5
1.5
1
1.6
1
Noble High School
10
1.5
1
1.6 1
3
.10
*
1
*
Mary Hurd Academy
3
.10
*
1
**
* Shared with NHS **Shared with NMS
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*
Section Four: Total Increase/Decrease from 20152016 to 20162017
20152016 Cost Center
20162017 Cost Center
% Increase/Decrease
Regular Special Education
$6,057,783
$6,226,646
2.79% increase
Summer ESY Programming
$93,511
$117,440
25.6% increase
Mary Hurd Academy
$395,632
$364,152
7.96% decrease
Total Special Education
$6,546,926
$6,708,238
2.46% increase
ADDITIONAL: Special Education receives additional funding through the Local Entitlement Grant. FY 2016 grant was $890,338.89 for schoolaged students and $10,356 for Preschool students. No information has been given to us yet regarding estimated grants for FY 2017 so I am anticipating about the same amount of money. Approximately $800,000 of the school age grant goes toward salaries and benefits for educational technicians. The remainder of the money provides instructional supplies and equipment for special education students. The preschool grant is generally used to provide educational technician support for Kindergarten students to assist with their transition to public school.
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