The Soda Springs School District has made progress toward complying with federal special education requirements after the state flagged widespread violations last year.
But dozens of corrective actions remain incomplete as the eastern Idaho district faces a looming compliance deadline and continued leadership turnover, including a superintendent leaving for another district and three special education directors in two years.
An Idaho Department of Education investigation last year found systemic issues in the district’s special education program. The state placed Soda Springs on a corrective action plan designed to bring the district back into compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Investigators identified issues, including unqualified special education personnel and inadequate implementation and tracking of individualized education programs (IEPs).
The corrective action plan includes:
- Hiring additional personnel
- Providing staff training
- Creating staffing plans and protocols
- Submitting documentation and monitoring reports
Scott Muir
A second state compliance investigation opened weeks after Idaho Education News first reported the district’s violations. While the latter report acknowledged the district had begun hiring staff and correcting some issues, investigators concluded Soda Springs remained out of compliance with federal requirements, citing unfinished training standards, incomplete staffing documentation and concerns about teacher certification.
EdNews asked the Idaho Department of Education for an update on the district’s status for complying. According to numbers the department sent last week, Soda Springs has completed 48 assigned tasks tied to regaining compliance. The district must complete 29 additional tasks by the end of May.
Meanwhile, continuous staff turnover has plagued the district, including at the top. Soda Springs has had three special education directors since 2025. Superintendent Scott Muir in February announced his resignation after this school year. The Aberdeen School District, also in eastern Idaho, recently named Muir superintendent, effective July 1.
In his resignation letter to trustees, Muir did not explain why he resigned. Muir has not responded to multiple requests from EdNews for comment, including several interview requests and a list of questions regarding special education noncompliance issues.
Soda Springs trustees offered the superintendent position to Dietrich Superintendent Stefanie Shaw, who declined the offer and did not say why.
Former Twin Falls administrator Lennart Theodore Erickson will replace Muir in Soda Springs.
