Districts cover the remaining costs with money from their other funds, which aren’t intended for special education. Baraboo Director of Business Services Yvette Updike said in June that those transfers approached $3.9 million last year.

Despite the state budget’s increase — the first time special education funding has increased in about 10 years, Mering said — he noted it doesn’t make up for inflation.

“This might be the first year where we’re not going to fall further behind, but we’re not obviously getting further ahead, either, because inflation is still there,” he said in an interview Friday. “Up until this year, we’ve had no increases at all, and so inflation just kind of keeps biting away at it. So I think we just want to keep our attention on that issue.”

Wisconsin reimburses private schools for special needs students at a higher rate than public schools, the resolution states. Voucher schools are not required to have the same certified staff as public schools are, nor are they required to accept students with special needs.

Community Christian School doesn’t participate in the state’s Special Needs Scholarship Program, Lempa noted.

Federal funding for special education programs also lags at 12% of costs, according to the resolution.

Both resolutions passed unanimously by roll-call votes Monday with no discussion beyond Mering’s explanation. The documents don’t hold legislative power, but they do indicate a board’s advocacy to legislators, other school boards and stakeholders.

Follow Susan Endres on Twitter @EndresSusan or call her at 745-3506.

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