While I voted to increase the property tax levy to make up the budget gap (rather than spending cuts) I do have serious concerns about excess spending in certain MMSD areas. Currently MMSD pays for extensive high level support for special ed students beyond the usual "student" years - e.g. extending beyond 18 years old. In addition, for many special ed students, a special ed class would be preferred over being placed in a regular classroom with one or more aides. This would also be more cost effective. However, MMSD sticks tenaciously to only ONE pedagogy, that of mainstreamed heterogeneous classrooms, for primary and middle school education. It's time to be more flexible. And more cost efficient.
While I voted to increase the property tax levy to make up the budget gap (rather than spending cuts) I do have serious concerns about excess spending in certain MMSD areas. Currently MMSD pays for extensive high level support for special ed students beyond the usual "student" years - e.g. extending beyond 18 years old. In addition, for many special ed students, a special ed class would be preferred over being placed in a regular classroom with one or more aides. This would also be more cost effective. However, MMSD sticks tenaciously to only ONE pedagogy, that of mainstreamed heterogeneous classrooms, for primary and middle school education. It's time to be more flexible. And more cost efficient.