The Mid-Prairie School Board approved the addition of another paraprofessional position for East Elementary during their recent meeting.

Mid-Prairie Alternative Learning Center Principal Amy Shalla shared with the board that due to an increase in students with individual education plans, the need for adult support has increased as well. Superintendent Mark Schneider explains the process that the district takes to evaluate where schools and students require assistance, “Every student that has a disability has an IEP (Individual Education Plan). So in that IEP it spells out what kind of learning goals that [a] student with disabilities has and kind of the steps it takes to meet those learning goals. It will also specify the amount of support that student needs. So as you gain students with disabilities in your building or as they are identified or students may need one level of support and others may need a higher level of support. So as those things change it may mean that you need to add a paraprofessional to help meet the needs of all of those students.”

Duties outlined in the student’s IEP include the need for adult support for academics, behavioral support, and monitoring the student’s safety. The new position at East Elementary would be a special education expenditure and the school is looking to make an immediate hire.