District 86 still ponders leaving special ed co-op

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Updated: March 26, 2012 1:57AM

District 86 officials say they need more time to discuss whether or not to continue as part of the La Grange Area Department of Special Education.

Late last year, District 86 Superintendent Nicholas Wahl said the district was unhappy with LADSE’s structure and began looking at the school system’s future in LADSE. District 86’s largest feeder district, District 181, discontinued its membership in LADSE last year.

The main argument District 86 officials have is the way Individuals with Disabilities Education Act money is disbursed throughout the 16 school districts within LADSE. District 86 finances about $683,000 of IDEA funds annually.

LADSE was founded in 1957 as a way for area school districts to combine resources to provide a system of services for children with disabilities.

The LADSE board met last week and Wahl felt he would be able to make a recommendation to the District 86 board this week. Instead, he has set up two special meetings to review the proposed changes in funding and service delivery to member districts.

“It did not come to fruition,” Wahl said of his hope to make a recommendation Monday night. “As I’ve said, we would like the District 86 IDEA dollars to be used directly for services for our students.

“That’s been my representation to the LADSE board and we’re looking for a funding model that represents that. Today, we don’t have that.”

District 86 chose this to be a study year of its membership with LADSE. If it chooses to leave the cooperative, district officials said next year would be used to develop a plan indicating how District 86 would provide special education services to its students.

The earliest District 86 would leave LADSE would be 2013-14.

The special meetings will be held Feb. 1 and 8. Wahl is expected to update the board regarding the results of the two meetings at its Feb. 27 meeting.

“I hope to get closure to this so we can move forward in some fashion,” Wahl said.