FARMINGTON — RSU 9 school directors voted Tuesday to pilot a restructuring of the district’s Special Education Department to have a special education teacher in each of the district’s seven schools become a building-based coordinator for this school year.

The proposal eliminates a half-time assistant director position, which is not filled.

The goal of the restructuring is to make the administration of the special services department more efficient and effective and to reduce the cost of administering the programs, interim Special Education Director Christine Gatto-Shea said.

It is difficult to be in seven buildings, she said.

The proposal is also expected to streamline communication.

The building-based coordinator model is currently being used effectively in many districts, including in RSU 18 in the Oakland area and RSU 10 in the Dixfield area where they have realized reduced administrative costs as well as greater ease of program administration, according to Gatto-Shea’s information.

Building-based coordinators in other districts are paid a stipend of $5,000, Superintendent Tom Ward said.

“It would be a savings to our budget to go this route,” he said.

It would cost a total of $35,000 for the seven coordinators if the board approves a $5,000 stipend for each.

He stressed that he was not recommending to go with the model to save money.

“I am recommending the model because it works,” he said.

If the proposal was approved, Ward said, he would need to meet with a school board’s Contract Resolution Committee to set a stipend amount and then the positions would be posted.

The stipend would be offered because it requires work to be completed outside of the school day and is work in addition to what the teachers currently do, Ward said.

The building-based coordinators would not be responsible for supervision and evaluation of staff unless otherwise outline in another role they serve.

Among the responsibilities the position carries is to work together with building principals, assistant principals, guidance councilors and special education staff to assist in developing schedules for staff. The position would also help manage data and act as chairperson of required meetings.

The coordinators would work under the supervision of the building principal and special services director to ensure that the special services program is in compliance with the federal and state rules and regulations.

When doing a search for a new special education director, they would need to hire someone who supports the model, Ward said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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