ANSWER:

The increase of 7.4 locally-funded itinerant paraeducator positions shown on page 5-31 is offset by a decrease of 7.4 grant-funded itinerant paraeducatorpositions shown on page 5-19, a result of a projected revenue decrease in the Medical Assistance Program for FY 2013. There is no change in the total number of positions; only a shiftof positions from the grant to the locally-funded budget.

For budget and staffing purposes, ratios drive the relationship between permanent teachers and paraeducators. For example in the Bridge program, the staffing ratio is 9 students to 1 teacher (9:1). The ratio of paraeducators to teachers is 1.25 paraeducators to a 1.0 teacher (1:1.25). There is no relationship between the allocation of itinerant paraeducatorsand teachers. Itinerant paraeducators usually are assigned to work directly with individual students as mandated on the IEP.