FARMINGTON — The Regional School Unit 9 Board of Directors heard an update on special services at the Tuesday, July 12, meeting.

Special Services Director John Jones presented to the board on how the special services department is doing leading up to the 2022-23 school year.

He told the board that currently there are 383 students with disabilities enrolled in special services at RSU 9. But he anticipates that number to reach around 430, including transfers and students to be evaluated by the October Child Count.

Broken down there are:

• 120 students with Specific Learning Disability

• 60 students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• 30 students with Emotional Disturbance

• 21 students with Intellectual Disability

• 29 students with Multiple Disabilities

• One student with Orthopedic Impairment

• 64 students with Other Health Impairment, including ADHD or other medical conditions.

• 57 students with Speech and Language Disorder

Jones said the department is prominently seeing an increase in students with autism.

Jones said the department has implemented new social and emotional learning programs to serve students with disabilities, including a social skills group for students at Mt. Blue High School and Middle School.

There, Jones said he’s seen great student response, some becoming friends through the group.

This year Jones said, the district will undergo Maine Department of Education program monitoring, as they do every four to five years to review the special services department’s practices, “correct issues on students’ special-education documentation and provide evidence of systemic compliance.”

Jones said the department is currently working on hiring for vacant positions. Though there are fewer vacant positions at this point compared to the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, Jones acknowledged “one vacancy can be problematic.”

Additionally, Jones told the board the department prioritized professional growth and development for staff.

During discussion, Director Libby Kaut asked Jones to explain some of the ways that students can be eligible for special services.

Jones said it was a complicated question, but overall, eligibility is “a part our child-find obligation to identify, locate and evaluate students suspected of having s disability which in some cases impacts education, whether performance or functional.”

It doesn’t necessarily need to be in a subject either, Jones said. Some students may struggle academically, while others might thrive academically but struggle socially.

“It’s the (special services) team’s responsibility and obligation … (to identify a disability that has) an adverse effect on education, performance and a need for special education to be provided,” he said.

Of interest to the board was the new Unified Basketball program. Established for the 2022-23 school year students with and without disabilities can compete together in “cooperative” games of basketball.

Unified Basketball is different from varsity sports in that it lacks the competitive element.

“(Students) work together and play other teams. It’s a cooperative and collaborative effort instead of a contest,” Jones explained.

Vice Chair of the Board of Directors Debbie Smith asked whether the unified basketball program is required by the state.

“There’s no requirement for it,” Jones said. “But we’re always looking to institute more inclusive practices in our classrooms and broader schools.”