Just do it. This should take care of the cost of living adjustment. You want quality, you pay for it. Hawaii's Teacher of the Year, Jo Tepper, has said we should give more resources to our regular teachers so they can accommodate students with special needs students within their classrooms. Treat the problem, not the symptom.
Early intervention is best.
Strengthen families, cut down on teen pregnancies, expand programs with successful track records. No exceptions, no loopholes, no excuses. That already amounts to a dangerous game of Russian roulette with our children being held hostage. Matt Nakamura has been a DOE teacher and counselor for 15 years.