The St. Joseph School Board voted to authorize an expanded contract with SESI to operate specialized classrooms for students with intensive special‑education needs.

Administrators said switching services from an out‑of‑district placement to SESI‑run classrooms in district buildings has been cost‑effective and improved access to students’ IEP goals. The district previously served a handful of students in an out‑of‑district setting; under the SESI arrangement the district can serve substantially more students in‑district. The contracted program will provide three classrooms at Webster, four foundational‑skills classrooms at Oak Grove and one structured‑learning classroom at Ellison, for a total of eight contracted classrooms.

A district presenter described the students who will be served in foundational‑skills classrooms: “those are our students that are typically diagnosed autism, significantly cognitively impaired. Usually, they are nonverbal or have very few verbal skills. They use AAC devices to help communicate. They often have issues with restrooming needs. They need 1 on 1 pairs, for safety and security.” Administrators said hiring and staffing shortages have limited the district’s ability to staff all sections directly; contracting with SESI expands capacity more quickly than hiring would allow.

Board members asked about grade groupings and mainstreaming opportunities. Staff said placement is skill‑based rather than strictly grade‑based; students in those classrooms will have opportunities to participate in specials and some peer activities when their IEPs permit.

The motion to expand the SESI contract passed on a recorded vote; the presenter said the arrangement reduces the need to send students to out‑of‑district facilities and allows instruction to be monitored in the district.