District Looking to Increase Special Education Budget

One of the difficulties in planning the special education budget is that it is often a moving target, according to Seekonk School Committee member John Bilodeau at the committee's meeting Monday.

The budget can fluctuate largely with the addition or subtraction of just a few students. Director Student Personnel Services Arlene Bosco gave an example that this year, two students moved into the district who will likely require out-of-district placement at a cost of over $45,000 each.

Bosco said that often these changes end up being a wash, with equal numbers moving in and out of the district. However, that trend is changing and more students are moving in and less are moving out.

“The kids who are moving in are requiring much more significant programming than in the past,” said Bosco. “It’s not uncommon. Many of the neighboring districts are having similar issues.”

The district is looking to create a new middle school program that would serve students with social and emotional issues. The program would require adding a new teacher, two aides, and a part-time psychologist.

“What seems like a great deal of money now, could be a significant cost savings” said Quinn. The savings would come by keeping the students in the district down the road, rather than needing to pay tuition to send them out of district.

One the problems facing Seekonk and other smaller towns, is that they often don’t have the number of students to really justify the creation of a program. However, Bosco said they are in the very beginning stage of looking to collaborate with nearby towns to work together to provide programs.

The next school committee meeting is scheduled for March 5 at 7 p.m. in the library.