ESE students facing school reassignments
The School District of Lee County is changing its Exceptional Student Education delivery model — to the cluster school model — meaning students will be changing schools for their accommodations.
“The ultimate goal is to enhance student outcomes, better support staff and maximize district resources,” Student Services Senior Director Rachel Gould said during Tuesday’s school board workshop.
When looking at student outcomes, the data reveals concerning achievement gaps when comparing students with disabilities in Lee County to the state average, she said.
“Nationwide teacher and speech teacher shortage is acutely impacting the ability to meet demands,” Gould said.
The current resource distribution is financially unsustainable – as the current spending significantly exceeds budget limits.
“In order to protect the integrity of instructional programs we need to align spending with student outcomes,” Gould said.
The district is shifting from “diluted resources to centers of excellence.” Resources are spread too thin across multiple campuses which is resulting in the loss of instructional time to travel and equipment underutilization, she said.
The cluster school model concentrates specific programs to ensure specialized resources, equipment and expert staff are pushed directly to students who need them. The clusters include functional and life skills, social communication, and behavioral support.
There are three strategic pillars — benefits for students, teacher retention and staff support and itinerant efficiency and resource optimization.
Gould said the transformation includes putting meaningful cohorts together — for example students who are 18-22 years old.
For these students, the “transition work study” hubs will be located at North Fort Myers High School, Cape Coral High School, Lehigh Senior High School, and Bonita Springs High School. The hubs will focus on pre-employment skills and community-based instruction with age-appropriate peer groups.
She said the clustering also fosters professional collaboration to share resources and support one another.
“It allows for clearer definitions of service delivery models,” Gould said.
In addition, speech, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and behavioral specialist will recover drive time for direct student instruction through the clustering model.
“This is a very significant transition. We are committed to being transparent with parents, schools, and families. We are looking at really taking these resources and putting them together to do what is best for students,” ESE Assistant Director Scott Kozlowski said.
Transition is a two-year implementation with the data audit – phase one – already completed. He said they reviewed the IEP (individualized education plan) and separated them into categories to ensure needs were going to be met.
The second phase is staff and resources, the third phase is communication, and the fourth phase is master schedule alignment.
Principals at the schools where the student is currently enrolled are making phone calls to the parents this week to let them know where their child’s new school will be, Gould said. Calls will followed up with a letter.
After the presentation, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ken Savage said during his fifth year of teaching in Gainesville, he became a brand-new ESE teacher in a cluster-type of setting.
“It was an incredible environment for students and teachers. A more robust support system,” he said. “It is good for students, for teachers and it is a much more efficient model.”
Once the presentation concluded, Board member Melisa Giovannelli asked multiple questions that stemmed around logistics, transportation, and teacher retention.
“I am worried about the transition. ESE budgets are larger than regular budgets. How does it affect the budget to the school?” she said.
Giovannelli said the transition is a drastic change.
“I am worried about the rollout for it be next year without unintentional consequences. I would like to see this piloted first,” she said.
Board member Vanessa Chaviano said her understanding is they have a group of teachers who travel to each school based on the zone.
“Traveling is already happening. Now we are asking them not to travel as much. These schools selected are already equipped. In terms of the dollars, the dollars follow the children with those accommodations,” she said.