Gillett closes special education open enrollment

The Gillett School District has zero available spaces for special education open enrollment, Special Education Director Jessica Cappeart reported during the Gillett School Board meeting on Jan. 12.

Due to a maximum current caseload and projected caseload, Cappeart recommended that the district set caps and close special education open enrollment. A caseload is the total number of students receiving special education services in a particular grade level or program.

“Some of the factors that were considered to help us develop the maximum caseload number would be time requirements for evaluation, amount and frequency of individualized education program meetings, individual student needs, teacher-student ratios, the complexity of student needs, teacher availability, as well as a percentage of students receiving needs — currently our district is at 26.6% overall,” said Cappeart. “The Gillett School District currently has zero available spaces for special education open enrollment for the 23-24 academic year.”

Board treasurer Cliff Gerbers said that throughout his 40 years on the school board, he remembers that number being around 20% — a number that Gillett Elementary Principal Kurt Angeli said could be lower.

“I want to say that 17-18% sounds accurate,” said Angeli.

According to Cappeart, the Gillett School Board reviews open enrollment, including general education open-enrollment spaces and special education enrollment spaces, annually during the January school board meeting.

“Some of the information that districts consider when determining if there are any seats available include caseload number, projected caseload information and the amount of transfer students,” said Cappeart. “Although, the Department of Public Instruction recommends that school districts look more broadly about workload considerations and base these numbers on the quality of services we are able to provide as a district.”

Even though Cappeart recommended to set caps and close open enrollment, she said that the district cannot and will not deny a student based on disability or needs. The school district will be reviewing each application and individualized education program in its entirety.

The Gillett School Board unanimously voted in favor of Cappeart’s recommendation.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com