South Whidbey restores full-time special education leadership after review

South Whidbey School District has restored a full-time director of Special Education and Student Services, a move that could change the daily experience for families who rely on quick answers, coordinated plans and steady follow-through on services in Langley and across southern Whidbey Island.

The district opened the position on April 14 after Superintendent Becky Clifford led a nine-month review of student needs and community feedback. Business-and-operations executive director Paul Field reworked district spending to make the job possible, with the district saying the change would not compromise fiscal responsibility. In a system of about 125 full-time equivalent staff, bringing back one central special-education leader can have an outsized effect on how quickly concerns get routed and resolved.

That matters most in special education, where parents often have to track evaluations, service minutes, classroom supports and compliance deadlines at the same time. South Whidbey School District serves students ages 3 to 21 who have been identified as eligible for special education services. Referrals move through a formal referral and evaluation team assessment process, and the district lists a special education contact line at 360-221-6808 ext. 2206 for families who need help starting that process. The district also says South Whidbey Middle School and South Whidbey High School use a resource-room model for students needing specially designed instruction in reading, written language, math and social-emotional needs.

The restoration also signals that the district has heard enough concern to stop treating the role as a part-time add-on. Principal Kayla Phillips had been bridging leadership duties by serving in two roles, including middle school principal and director of curriculum, a sign that special education had been leaning on other staff to keep services moving. For families, a dedicated director could mean fewer handoffs, faster responses when a plan breaks down and a clearer point person when teachers, specialists and parents need a decision.

The change comes amid broader pressure on Washington school districts, including those on Whidbey Island, over special education funding. A November 2025 report cited a statewide audit finding that districts spent at least 26 percent more per special education student than the state reimbursed. Clifford, who became superintendent in 2025 and received a contract extension in March 2026 that keeps her in the job until at least 2029, has now made special education one of the district’s clearest staffing priorities.