Consultant urges early intervention in special education during AUSD meeting

By Michael Chaldu · Wed Jan 21 2026

Assistant superintendent announces establishment of a Budget Advisory Task Force

ATASCADERO — After hearing concerns about the Atascadero Unified School District's special education programs over the first few months of his tenure, Superintendent Dr. Tom Bennett brought in a colleague to assess the programs. At the district's Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, the first after AUSD's winter break, the trustees received the first feedback from that assessment.

Student Intervention Services (SIS) Consultant Mary Ellen Nest, with whom Bennet worked during his time in San Diego County, gave her report during the Study Session segment of the meeting.

"The intent of this item is to help us improve," Bennett said in introducing Nest. "We should not be afraid of the things that are going wrong. We should understand where we’re at and what we should do."

In beginning her presentation, Nest praised the board for their work.

"Atascadero lucky to have such a supportive board. You’re going a great job," she said. "I would like focus on some systems we can improve in."

First, Nest pointed out that the district as a whole needs to be more consistent with the Multi-System Tiers of Support to identifying and helping those who need special attention.

"I see that in some schools the MTSS is there, but I don't see the consistent implementation in all schools," Nest said. "We have to take a look at our universal instructional strategies at every school."

Nest added that early intervention is key, and making sure the materials and strategies are in place when a student is moved to another "tier."

Nest said the next system to improve on is the general ed interventions for struggling students; she again asked for more consistency in deciding whether to have a student moved to a special instruction plan (IEP) or remaining in GE while removing barriers to help them excel (504 Plan).

Trustee Rebekah Koznek asked what data educators need to concentrate on to reach their goal. Assistant Superintendent EJ Rossi mentioned curricular testing as one part of the data, while Koznek herself listed behaviorial data, with Nest mentioned social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions as another tool.

"I wouldn’t say it’s not robust enough," Nest said. "It's not reviewed and monitored as frequently as it should be. That is difficult, but we have the data."

Koznek asked whether the focus should be helping the student under intervention programs should be served within that program or whether the goal should be to get them to improve to where they don't need the program anymore. Nest answered that it's best to improve to where they don't need the special instruction, and used her granddaughter's experience as an example.

"My granddaughter had a 504 Plan for text anxiety and they were able to make changes to the way she took her tests," she recalled. "This year, my daughter shared with me 'I don’t think we’re extending this plan,' which meant she was going back to GE status, and when my granddaughter found out, she had a proud look on her face, she saw it as a real accomplishment.

"So yes, the goal is to show improvement so they don't need it anymore."

Nest also mentioned the shortage of qualified special ed instructors and para-educators to help at-need students.

"It's difficult to find people in field, and those who are well qualified. This is a statewide issue," she said. "Which then mean contracting, which is expensive. And that goes back with consistency and the interventions. If we get system stronger, we can bring down cost with less special ed referrals."

When Bennett asked Nest what the No. 1 priority is for educators, Nest answered that it was to "empower leader to empower people below them; make sure they have the information they need.

"Teachers I’ve talked with, they want to do the best they can," she concluded. "They just need knowledge, guidance, and support."

Earlier in the meeting, after the board has approved the Annual Financial Statements (Audit Report) for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025, Kendyl Darnell, the assistant supertintendent for business services, announced that the district has established a 90-Day Budget Task Force in response to significant and ongoing financial deficits across AUSD.

Darnell said the Task Force would take place over a 90-day period and would be made up of people on the district staff.

"We would like to respond with framework with transparency and a proactive process," Darnell said. "Intent is not to make decisions, but to give recommendations."

Darnell said the recommendations would be presented in March.

The Board of Trustees will next meet on Tuesday, Feb. 3, with open session starting at 7 p.m.