Special ed cooperative board considers options
Staff reporter
It was unclear whether the board of directors of Marion County Special Education Cooperative was getting any closer to a consensus about the facilities for the department Monday evening, but one board member made her opinion known.
Via teleconference, Doe Ann Hague, representing Peabody-Burns USD #398, said she was in favor of a new building being located in Marion.
"I don't support staying in Florence," she said, because the school is isolated from the other schools and programs.
"The best place is in Marion near the new indoor pool," Hague said.
A meeting was held Oct. 10 to review preliminary costs regarding a new structure which would house a special education classrooms, the Oasis program, and administrative office. Architect Kelly McMurphy of Landmark Architect of Hutchinson facilitated the meeting with some board and community members.
A 14,080 square foot building could cost approximately $110-$120 per square foot or $1.5 to $1.7 million. It would take 12 to 15 months to complete.
To fund this type of project, additional contributions from the individual districts would be necessary. Approximately an additional $60,000 per year for 10 years from both Marion and Hillsboro would be warranted, about four times the current rate. Peabody would be asked to give an additional $35,000. Centre and Goessel school districts would have to provide an additional 12.5 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
In the end, the cooperative would have to make a $200,000 per year bond payment.
"This has to be done," Hague said. She added that special needs students were entitled to the same modern facilities as other students.
Cooperative board chairman Richard Drake said the individual school district boards needed to be educated about the need for improvements, and in turn they could educate the individual communities.
Clark Davis of Centre USD #397 said the board needed to look at its options from more than one dimension.
"In the past, we took care of the kids in the individual school districts," he said, and he wants to look at that option again.
Special education director Chris Cezar said having special education students in individual school districts was not the answer. He used an example of Oasis students being the responsibility of a principal with his/her other duties, which isn't fair or effective. Integration is more successful when students are in a separate program, he added.
The special education board is faced with decisions regarding an extension of the current lease from Marion-Florence USD #408 or seek another location. It was determined, by consensus, that the cooperative should remain at the Florence location until more research and decisions are made regarding the possibility of a new facility.
Drake suggested the board notify USD #408 of its intention to remain in Florence and ask the school district to provide a proposal for a lease.
The board also was in consensus to invite all five school districts to a regular special education board meeting in January at the Florence facility.
The same information could be shared with board members at the same time. It also would provide an opportunity for individual school board members to tour the facilities.
"Some board members may have never been here," said Deb Geis, Hillsboro school board representative.
In other business:
— The consent agenda was approved which included the following items: resignations were accepted from Treva Janzen and Angie Ruck, both paraeducators. Neither gave two weeks notice. Peggy Estey, also a paraeducator, was terminated. Robert Haude was appointed as a part-time classified staff member at Marion Elementary School.
Mike Luce, a speech therapist for the Emporia Special Education Cooperative, has agreed to provide speech services two days a week at Centre at a rate of $40 per hour.
A contract with Memorial Hospital of McPherson for speech services will be considered. The hospital charges $85 per speech evaluation and $70 per speech therapy session.
One teacher in each school district will receive a $250 grant which will target women with disabilities and promote their employment.
— Cezar presented information about better response to intervention. Instead of waiting for students to reach a certain age or criteria, help is available at the first onset of learning difficulties.
— The board entered three separate executive sessions to discuss acquisition of property, personnel, and negotiations. No decisions were made.
The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 20, in the cooperative conference room in Florence.
