Meeting highlights special education

At the Nov. 20 regular business meeting, members of the Waseca school board heard from special education director Geoffrey Wagner. Wagner said that despite the challenges to finding qualified teachers and staff during the school year, all of the programs in the district are filleed. “In the last couple of years we have had very little turnover among our staff,” Wagner said, “which we know that consistency makes a huge difference with our special ed students. We’ve been really lucky that way.”

 

Wagner told the board that he and teaching and learning director Brooke McGuire continuously examine curriculum for the best match to academic focus, flexibility, and specific learning goals of students. 

 

Wagner said the needs within the district have increased, as have needs all over the state and nation. Currently special ed is targeting early interventions, which Wagner said is “pivotal for student success.” An early childhood Thursday afternoon class and a Friday morning class were recently added to current programming, as well as a new sensory space. Among Waseca students, 21 percent receive special education services.

 

Superintendent Eric Hudspith gave a fall “wrap-up” to the strategic plan, and concluded with a reminder  of the Truth in Taxation Public meeting at 6:00 p.m. Dec. 18.