Special Education Plan Outlined at Spring Cove School Board Meeting

Spring Cove School District’s Director of Special Education Harry Gregg outlined the district’s special education plan for the upcoming year at the April 17 Board of Directors meeting.

There are currently 278 students in the district receiving special education services. That represents 16.4 percent of the school’s student population. The state average is 18.6 percent. The school district’s total student enrollment is 1,698.

Special education works with multidisciplinary teams to develop specific treatment plans of students. Individual Education Plans (IEP) are developed by teachers, parents, and school district representatives. Parents must approve proposed IEPs. Gregg emphasized that parents are involved in every step of the process. The IEP is based on a students’ needs as outlined in the Student Evaluation Report completed by multidisciplinary teams.

The district will continue to utilize the support of one-to-one aids and paraprofessionals to support students during the school day. There are currently 33 paraprofessionals in the Spring Cove District.

The student’s IEP will determine what educational setting a student with a disability, of any type, will be placed in. Gregg also stated the district uses a least restrictive environment approach and positive behavioral supports.

The district uses Blair Family Solutions for trainings and Alternative Community Resource Program (ACRP). There is no Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) or facility for incarcerated youth in the district.

A motion to approve the Special Education Plan effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, was unanimously passed by the board. Gregg also stated the special education program will be up for audit next year. Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker recognized Gregg for his extensive efforts in all areas of special education, even filling in teaching in the classroom when necessary.

During Baker’s report, she congratulated Mr. Tom Ritchey on being awarded $9,252 through this year’s Career Technical Education (CTE) Equipment Grant program.

“We appreciate Mr. Ritchey taking the time to apply for and secure these funds each year in a continual effort to modernize and strengthen his vocational agriculture program,” Baker said.

Dr. Baker also addressed next year’s proposed budget saying, “As a reminder, Mr. Foor will be presenting the 2023-24 budget at the May 8 Board Meeting. As you know, each Pa. school district annually receives an Act I index, which determines the maximum tax increase that can be levied. Although our Act I index for 2023-24 is 5.5 percent, the proposed budget includes no tax increase.”

Baker noted that, over the last five years, Spring Cove School District has never raised taxes to the index and has not raised taxes at all for three of those years.

“Many thanks to the Board and Administration for their combined efforts to continually maintain fiscally responsible budgets,” Baker said.

A motion to approve the renewal of the Food Service Management Contract with Metz Culinary Management for the 2023-24 school year was unanimously approved. The renewal of the contract is done on a year-to-year basis.

A motion to approve remodeling of the Spring Cove Middle School bathrooms through Capital Projects Funds for a total of $50,500 was passed.

The district accepted the resignations of teachers Sarah Sarvey and Megan Weller, as well as paraprofessional Jess Ebersole.

A motion to employ Ben Smith as a learning support teacher at Central High School at a salary of $50,728 was approved.

Five new van drivers were hired for Maxwell Transit Systems to help ease the shortage of drivers problem the district has faced all year.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 15 at the administration office board room at 7 p.m.