Beecher Board of Education Meeting | November 12, 2025

Article Summary: The Beecher Board of Education has directed its administration to move forward with a plan to create an in-district, cross-categorical special education classroom for students in grades three through five. The initiative is designed to better meet the growing academic needs of students and is expected to be more cost-effective than sending them to out-of-district programs.

New Special Education Classroom Key Points:

• Purpose: To provide a self-contained classroom environment for students in grades 3-5 with higher academic needs, offering a more supportive, small-group setting all day.

• Financial Impact: The district estimates that bringing back six students currently in out-of-district placements would save approximately $50,000 to $75,000 annually, even after hiring a new teacher and an aide.

• Continuum of Services: The classroom will allow for a smoother transition for students, providing the flexibility to move them from a self-contained setting to a resource room and eventually to a general education setting within the same district.

• Timeline: The district will begin developing job descriptions and searching for qualified staff with the goal of launching the classroom for the 2026-2027 school year.

BEECHER, IL – The Beecher School District 200-U Board of Education on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, gave its support for a plan to create a new cross-categorical special education classroom for third through fifth graders, a move aimed at enhancing in-district services and bringing students back from external placements.

Dawn Compton, the district’s special education coordinator, presented the proposal, explaining that the needs of students are growing, particularly as they transition from second to third grade and face increased academic rigor. The new self-contained classroom would be housed at Beecher Elementary School and would provide students with small-group instruction for core subjects throughout the day while still allowing them to participate in specials like P.E. with the general education population.

“Our needs are growing in that area to be able to have a self-contained classroom,” Compton told the board. “It gives us a bigger continuum of services that we can provide here in the district.”

Administrators noted a significant financial benefit to the plan. According to Superintendent Dr. Jack Gaham, the tuition for six students who could potentially be brought back to the district from out-of-district programs totals approximately $200,000 per year. The estimated cost to hire a new, fully credentialed teacher and a classroom aide would be between $125,000 and $150,000, resulting in a net savings for the district.

“I know this isn’t about saving money, but even if I told you that each one was going to give you $200,000, it’s at net zero,” Gaham said. “You now have six more kids in our area.”

Compton also highlighted the logistical and educational advantages of having the program in-district. Currently, transitioning students back from external placements is difficult due to transportation challenges, making trial periods or partial-day integrations nearly impossible. An in-house program would give the district the flexibility to gradually move students into less restrictive environments as they progress.

The board expressed its unanimous support for the concept, directing Compton to proceed with developing job descriptions and beginning the search for qualified staff. The district plans to have the new classroom operational by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.