SPECIALIST SCENARIOS

Scenario 1
SPEN has separate preps except PE and possibly media
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
1st
K
SP
H

3
4
4
4
4
4
4
1

28
= 25 sections of media, music, art, PE 1, and PE 2 + 5 sections of Media 2, 4
sections of Spanish, and 2 sections of other (could be doubled up media with groups
in separate computer labs)

SPEN PE combined
SPEN gets Spanish in schedule
SP3- Music
SP4- Art
Need 2 more prep classes for SPEN; not all SPEN students get art and music
(but could rotate)
o Could double up on media but be in two separate labs with Kathis
support

Scenario 2
SPEN classes double up for specialist
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
1st
K
H
SPEN

3
4
4
4
4
4
1
2
26
We have 25 sections of all preps + 5 extra sessions of media (1 each day)

Could add Spanish to schedule and ungroup SPEN students for music or art

Scenario 3
2 SPEN classes mainstream, 2 have separate preps (except PE)
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
1st
K
H
SPEN

3
4
4
4
4
4
1
2
26
We have 25 sections of all preps + 5 extra sessions of media (1 each day)

Scenario 4
SPEN students mainstream to specialist with their grade level and support
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
1st
K
H

3
4
4
4
4
4
1
24

All students get all preps

Possibly one separate section available for SPEN students who are unable to
mainstream
No extra specialist time needed

Scenario 5
Re-grouping 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades into 3 specialist sections
5th
4th (37
students/class)
3rd (33
students/class)
2nd (32
students/class)
1st
K
H

3
3
3
4
4
4
1

SPEN

4
26

We have 25 sections of all preps

SPEN have separate preps
All students get all preps
Class sizes are larger
Transition is more difficult

Scenario 6
6 Day rotation with 6 specialists
5th
4th
3rd
2nd
1st
K
SP
H

3
4
4
4
4
4
4
1
28

Everyone gets all preps in a 6 day period

Every 6 weeks, students get PE only 1x
Need to find $89,200 in the budget (eliminate other positions)

From: Jill Laven Spencer

Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 10:21 AM
To: Anne Deperry
Subject: Specialists SPEN 15/16 Recomm.

RE: per our earlier emails here is the Specialist SPEN 15/16 recommendation
Hi Anne,
The Specialists meet this morning to finalize our SPEN recommendations for next fall. I did
not give specifics of our discussion yesterday as was not sure if you wanted ideas under
consideration discussed. I did share that it looked like the class sizes would be smaller.
Recommendation: each SPEN classroom has their own individual specialist time
based on the following1. Research supports small group model
2. Decreases student anxiety as they are with the same group in learning settings
throughout the day (research supported and evidence based on observation of last 3
years)
3. IEP - small group supported
4. small group increases focus on academic and social learning
5. safety - students are calmer which reduces the level of physical aggression in the
classroom (based on observations of last 3 years)
6. reduction of stress on SEAs, EAs, and teachers - when in smaller groups as the stress
in the students is reduced which makes for a calm, safe, and focused learning
environment
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to express our recommendation and the reasons
behind it,
Jill, Kristin, Mike, Nancy, and Joe