Prior Lake-Savage School Board calls on government to fully fund special education

Prior Lake American

In February, the Minnesota School Board Association will hand deliver resolutions to members of Congress asking the federal government to fully fund special education services.

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools will be included in those resolutions.

The Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board unanimously approved both a state and federal resolution during a regular meeting on Monday.

"These are two resolutions that have been forwarded to all school districts in the state," Board Chair Richard Wolf said.

The resolution states the federal government passed the Individuals with Disabilities Act in 1975 which promised to fund 40 percent of the additional cost of educating children with disabilities.

However, the government has never provided more than 15 percent of the additional cost, according to the resolution.

Minnesota school districts will have to pay an average of $815 per student due to special education costs in fiscal year 2017.

In other action at the regular meeting on Monday, the board:

• Approved an agreement to share the staffing and cost of a Minnesota Center for Advanced Professional Studies coordinator with Lakeville Area Public Schools. The agreement is valid from July 1 of this year to June 30, 2021, though any party may terminate the contract by June 30.

• Held a mid-year progress report on the 2017-18 goals of the district.

• Increased rates at the Circle of Friends Preschool. The cost for two days a week will go from $90 to $96, three days from $134 to $144 and five days from $225 to $240. There has been no increase since the inception of the program.

• Increased rates at Kid's Company. For kids in kindergarten through third grade who consistently attend (the same two or more sessions per week) the cost goes from $10.50 to $11. For fourth and fifth grades, the cost goes from $9.50 to $10. For kids in kindergarten through third grade who do not consistently attend, the cost goes from $11.50 to $12. For fourth and fifth grades, the cost goes from $10.50 to $11. Summer and non-school day tuition is increased to $37 from $36 and to $42 from $41 after the deadline. The last increase was for the 2015-16 school year.