Changes could be coming to Porter County's special education services.
Valparaiso School Superintendent Dr. Jim McCall says he and the other superintendents who oversee the Porter County Education Services (PCES) cooperative are looking at next steps, following an "extensive" review process last spring. "Evolving the model that's been in place for half a century, almost, into one that might be better suited for our various needs, as well as being able to recruit, retain, develop staff," McCall recently told the Valparaiso School Board.
PCES has experienced staffing challenges, and its special ed teachers earn less on average than the general education teachers in its member school corporations. Now, McCall says the superintendents are looking at having each school district employ interventionist teachers and paraprofessionals directly.
"It's very entangled. It's a Gordian knot of epic proportions, and we are choosing to try to untangle it, instead of just slicing through it with a sword," McCall added.
But he says many shared services would remain, including the Special Education Learning Facility (SELF) which handles students with the biggest support needs. McCall says it wouldn't be impossible for the changes to be made by the fall of 2023.
School leaders will discuss their plans with parents during a town hall meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 15 at 6:00 p.m. at Valparaiso High School.
