In 2017, the Richland School District faced significant challenges characterized by three distinct divisions among parents, administration, and staff. These divisions led to numerous community complaints, including 21 filed by the local labor union, multiple due process hearings, and contentious team meetings and community forums. The resulting turmoil contributed to high turnover across all levels, unmet student service needs, and widespread distrust within the district.
To address these issues, the district engaged an external agency in 2018 to conduct a comprehensive audit of its special education department. The audit identified 18 actionable recommendations for improvement. Since then, the district, in collaboration with a dedicated Special Education Task Force, has made measurable progress in implementing these recommendations and fostering positive change.
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