NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Haven USD 312 Superintendent Craig Idacavage said Monday that the amount of Special Ed funding that is not coming to his district that would if the current statute were followed is significant.
"Just south of $200,000, like 198," Idacavage said. "That extra cost is calculated at the state level, not at the local level. That is that extra money that districts have to use on special ed costs that should be, or by statute is supposed to be coming from the state level."
Since the money we are talking about is backfilled from the general fund, if Special Ed were funded to statute, it would open up opportunities for all students.
"There's a lot of things we could do with that money," Idacavage said. "It could go to teacher raises, it could go to other programs, not only to benefit just SPED kids that we have, we still have in our building. They could benefit from extracurricular activities that we could add. They could help as we recruit highly qualified individuals to be in our classrooms, as well."
Idacavage noted that though his district is okay for now, keeping teachers can be competitive, especially when they live so close to districts with other opportunities.
"We don't have any openings right now," Idacavage said. "We were able to fill positions with the transition to teach program. It's been huge for us and we've got some great individuals into the building through that program. There are options, but some of the larger districts around us in neighboring counties certainly do pay more."
Idacavage is in his first year as the Haven USD 312 Superintendent.
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