Moline-Coal Valley board hears special education update

With all board members present, the March 11 meeting kicked off with a “Student Spotlight” presentation on Butterworth Elementary School. 

Principal Julie Paup spoke about how Butterworth aligns with the district’s strategic PACE (People, Achievement, Community and Environment) goals.

She also shared 2023-24 school year highlights, including:

• Butterworth’s new ‘Developmental Kindergarten’ classroom, which serves special education students in a general education setting.  
• The “Classroom Buddies” program, where older Butterworth students mentor younger students in games and activities. Similarly, student council members occasionally give up their recesses to hold “Purposeful Playtimes” with kindergarteners.
• Exploring professional development opportunities with a focus on collaboration. 
• Growing from the 46th to 55th-percentile in MAP math assessment data, along with notable growth toward grade-level reading proficiency. 
• New playground equipment, funded by Butterworth paraeducators and PTO. 
• Hosting recruiting events for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley. 

Next, Kristin Sanders — assistant superintendent for pupil personnel and special services — gave an update on Moline-Coal Valley’s special education services. 

• The district employs 74 special education teachers and 83 paraeducators; 13 speech pathologists, five school psychologists, three occupational/physical therapists and two special ed. coordinators, among other staff. 
• In 2023, approximately 15% of district students had an IEP (individualized education plan), and 54% of these students spent most of their day in general education. 
• Pre-K programming has grown more inclusive, with 43% receiving general ed. this school year. Each district Pre-K teacher is certified in both special and general ed. 
• Moline-Coal Valley places 34 special ed. students out of district, representing roughly 3% of its total population. 
• Last school year, the district earned 90% compliance from the Illinois State Board of Education for its special ed. services.  
• The district is training its fourth therapy dog at Logan Elementary School, with a fifth planned for Moline High School. 
• Moline-Coal Valley’s instructional special ed. programs are at capacity, and Jefferson Elementary School is maxed out. Aside from working with students to reduce their special ed. needs, Sanders said the district is working to “divide up” its instructional programs to create smaller learning environments and develop student placement descriptors. 
• The district adopted a K-12 Steyer-Fitzgerald life skills curriculum for special ed. this school year. 

For the full presentations and board discussions, watch Monday’s meeting livestream on the “Moline Television” YouTube channel. 

After regular communications, the board approved Monday’s consent agenda and sole action item: renewing IHSA membership for the 2024-25 school year.

The IHSA regulates interscholastic high school sports and other activities in Illinois. 

Superintendent Rachel Savage recognized Luz Hernandez — a Willard Elementary School instructional coach — and Angela Curnyn, an English teacher at Wilson Middle School, for earning the ISBE’s 2024 “Those Who Excel” Award. 

The ISBE presents these annual awards in seven categories: classroom teachers, early career educators (teachers 1-4 years), school administrators, student support personnel, educational service…