BRUNSWICK

The Brunswick School Board tonight will tackle a change proposed by the state that will impact young children with disabilities.

Under the current system, eligible children from birth to age five receive support through the Child Development Services program, run by the Maine Department of Education. The proposed change would shift responsibility for eligible children ages three to five to local school systems.

The proposed shift would decrease transitions between state and school programs, said the department in a press release.

Additionally, flat funding, rising special education costs and poor management of resources have caused a multi-million dollar deficit in the program and a shortage in special education services, impacting hundreds of children who require support.

Efforts to reach Janice Breton, CDS director of special services, were unsuccessful as of press time.

The transition to the school system at age three would use existing school staff and transportation infrastructure. However, the department acknowledged ongoing fiscal and technical support will be needed within districts.

Once children enter the school system, they transition to their local district’s special education program. Services include speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy, as well as parental strategies for guardians, according to Brunswick Superintendent Paul Perzanoski.

Perzanoski said Maine is one of the few states that does not have school districts in charge of programming at age three.

While shifting responsibility to school districts is good in theory and practice, Perzanoski said, the responsibility cannot be “plopped on public schools,” and must be implemented thoughtfully over several years.

About 85 children receive special education in the district now, Perzanoski said, adding that special education is one of the largest expenditures in the school budget.

Perzanoski said additional staff and space would be required to serve additional students, adding that designs for the new elementary school also does not have the space required to serve more children.

Perzanoski also said that given the Gov. Paul LePage administration’s cutting of school funding and shifting of costs onto districts, including teacher retirement, it is likely taxpayers may be asked to foot some of the bill when state and federal funding does not cover the total expense.

“Education is a very sound investment, but the way it is being discussed, and implemented, it’s not well thought out,” he said.

The school board meeting will take place 7 p.m. at the town hall following a closed door executive session.

jlaaka@timesrecord.com