By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- A recent evaluation found that the Massena Central special education program is doing a good job with the students who need it, but it’s understaffed, according to Superintendent Pat Brady.

He said a company called Futures Education discussed their findings with the Board of Education on Thursday.

“They found the district has a good culture around our special education program to support students, the general education teacher and special education teachers are for the most part collaborating well ... and do a good job educating parents,” Brady said. “They also concluded in their, and they had examined many school across the state as well as across the country … they determined our program is understaffed at a time when numbers of students identified as needing special education is on the rise.

“They also felt we need to continue to improve upon our response to intervention program … designed to provide support to students in ELA and math beginning in the primary graders. Part of that effort is to lower the number of students being referred to special education … work to build up their skills … they would have what they need already.”

Brady said the board wrote in two additional special education positions in the 2017-18 budget, but they’re having trouble hiring them.

“Most schools in the North Country and throughout much of the state are finding it difficult to hire special education teachers because they are in limited supply. We are in fact looking for two at this point,” Brady said.

He said the board welcomed the Futures Education report.

“When you have a major program like this, it’s important we examine it from time to time and when you bring in an outside perspective of people who have been in the field as special education teachers, directors of special education, superintendents … I think it was a valuable exercise and we will use their recommendations as we set up our goals over the next couple of years,” he said. “Our special education program impacts a fifth of our students, and approximately one fifth of our school budget.”

The report can be read at goo.gl/RF9WV9

A presentation shown at the June 15 board meeting is at goo.gl/RH4DLY.