Oct. 17, 2018
Dear Natomas Unified Families,
It is not often a school district can generate new money and new resources for schools. The 5 other large districts in Sacramento County have already taken action. It is time for Natomas Unified to do the same. It is time for Natomas Unified to become its own SELPA.
What’s a SELPA? Federal and state funds for students with disabilities are allocated through a Special Education Local Planning Area (SELPA). Districts must either be a member of a multi-district SELPA or operate as its own SELPA. Sacramento’s 5 largest districts are or will be their own SELPA by July of this school year. Natomas Unified is the 6th largest district and plans to leave Sacramento County’s multi-district SELPA and create its own single-district SELPA next school year.
Fiscal Responsibility: Currently if the Sacramento County SELPA shrinks overall, even if Natomas Unified grows, our school district could lose funding. We cannot allow Natomas Unified to once again be unprepared for financial challenges that have brought this district to the brink of financial reckoning before. In December 2017, Twin Rivers Unified announced they would be leaving the Sacramento County SELPA this July. Twin Rivers would be taking their 32,000+ students out of the Sacramento County SELPA. As they leave, all of the previously shared federal and state funding would leave with them. The only responsible thing to do was to explore all options to protect our neediest students and MAINTAIN our current strong financial situation. Unlike some of the districts in the news right now, we are not cutting teachers, cutting programs, or facing insolvency. We have added 223 new certificated staff in the last 7 years. That’s a lot of hiring and smaller class sizes TK-3rd grades. We have added Career Technical Education programs, Advanced Placement classes, and an IB program. We have taken action to strengthen our south area schools and we’ve created a Mental Health/Social Emotional Support program that helps those in crisis. The Sacramento Bee’s Editorial Board even referred recently to Natomas Unified’s “newfound momentum.” We will keep that momentum moving forward!
More Local Control and Collaboration: We can keep our momentum through more local control and collaboration. Only 43 Natomas Unified students currently receive direct services from the Sacramento County Office of Education Regional Special Education Programs. But 100% of the federal and state funding for Natomas students with disabilities is determined by a committee of Superintendents. Natomas Unified has influence but not local control over funding decisions. In fact, a November 2016 report by Public Policy Institute of California states, “The first step in improving special education financing should be to allocate state special education funds directly to districts.” If this report’s recommendations are implemented, we are ahead of the game. If not, we have taken the same action the 5 larger districts in the county already have taken. Providing quality services to students with disabilities is vital, so Natomas Unified is taking steps to increase the amount of state and federal money it receives for such programs, enhance accountability, and provide parents of Special Education students with a new opportunity for input through creation of a Community Advisory Committee (CAC). This will benefit students with disabilities now and as the district grows in years ahead. Additionally, Natomas Unified and the Natomas Teachers Association have a Special Education Committee for 2018-2019 being co-chaired by an Assistant Superintendent and a past NTA President. Being our own SELPA also allows us to partner with neighboring districts on programs and services, as we plan to do.
What’s Next? Currently Natomas Unified is executing the mandated steps for becoming its own SELPA. Last week the Board approved the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) members. There is more technical work on the way. These are important but procedural tasks. Once these mandated steps are taken, Natomas could be its own SELPA as early as July 2019. Once we become our own SELPA, the work of envisioning what we can be will accelerate.
What Does this Mean for Students with Disabilities and Staff? Only 43 Natomas Unified students receive direct services from the Sacramento County Office of Education Regional Special Education Programs. This will remain the same for the foreseeable future through Natomas paying fees for utilization of these programs. The remaining 1,637 students with disabilities will not have their services affected. The Sacramento County SELPA has not specifically dictated special education actions. Going forward, we would see new funds as we grow (which is not guaranteed in a multi-district SELPA), and Natomas would have its own CAC to advise how we support students going forward — not a committee of Superintendents.
Experienced Leadership:
Natomas has hired the staff expertise to make this change successfully. Assistant Superintendent Josh Harris will lead the Natomas Unified SELPA. He was hired from his position as the leader of the Sacramento County SELPA and has prior experience as Yuba County’s SELPA administrator. He has experience as a Special Education teacher, principal, and is a licensed attorney.
Chris Evans
Superintendent
