By GILLIAN POMPLUN

At their January 14 meeting, the North Crawford School Board adopted an ‘open enrollment space projection’ for the 2026-2027 school year. Adoption of this projection, mandated by the state Department of Public Instruction, occurs annually.

The projection approved by the board has no space available in the district in 2026-2027 for special education students looking to open enroll in.

“This year, we are busting at seams within special education in the district. So, for the first time since I’ve been involved in projections, we are determining that we are at capacity going into next year within all of our special education areas,” North Crawford District Superintendent Brandon Munson told the board. “More and more districts have been doing this because of the level of need in a district compared to the staffing available. With tight budgets, it becomes increasingly more difficult to add additional staff to try to meet those additional needs.”

Munson emphasized that this is only for open enrollment. He said that if a family moved into the school district, and had a student with an individualized education plan (IEP), then the district would have to accept that student.

“One thing that we’ll need to discuss is how to handle a special education waiting list,” Student Services Director Amanda Wagner said. “I do know that preference is given to siblings of existing students and families that have enrolled students in the district in the past.”

“What is the plan if people do move into the district and have those needs? If we're already at capacity, as far as spending goes on those resources, and we're at capacity for students, are we obligated to take care of those students?” board member Mark Fredelake asked.

“Every student's IEP isn't necessarily apples to apples. You have some students that are a significantly higher investment of resources, and you have students who are a more minimal investment of resources,” Wagner responded. “The administrative team reviews the caseloads and the intensity of instruction when we decide how we need to staff that.”

Electric buses

Munson told the board he’d recently reached out to Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson seeking assistance in opening up a dialogue with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the grant funding the district was awarded in 2023 to purchase two electric school buses. He said the two representatives indicated they would pursue the matter.

“I did sit through a Zoom meeting a few weeks ago offered by a federal environmental group for any school districts nationwide that had signed on with Lyon electric,” Munson shared. “Districts are either in the situation that we're in right now or worse, had gotten busses from Lyon electric, and can’t use them because there is nobody to service those buses right now.”

In anticipation of receiving the grant funds to purchase the two electric buses, North Crawford installed electric charging equipment at their bus garage.

In other business

In other business, the board:

• learned that testing revealed that fewer students in the elementary are falling into the high risk category, with most students exhibiting grade level proficiency

• learned that middle and high school operations continue to reflect stable routines, consistent expectations, and a sustained focus on instructional follow-through across grades 6–12.

• learned that middle school and high school staff are using recent assessment information, classroom observations, and student performance data to refine instructional practices, intervention groupings, and academic supports

• learned the district’s 4K screening will take place on February 9, and Lion’s Club members will offer vision screening

• heard that transportation staff recently had a meeting where they received some training and guidance on ALICE  school safety procedures on the school bus, and worked with law enforcement on clarifications and expectations when vehicles pass a stopped bus, and winter driving safety reminders

• learned that Cody Brockway and Ed Heisz will run unopposed for the two open seats in the April nonpartisan election.