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Message |
    
fringe
Citizen
Username: Fringe
Post Number: 300
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 8:59 am: |     |
At Monday's BOE meeting it was announced that Dr. Bowles, the District's Special education director has resignes.
In another Monday statement Super H siad the District is getting good feedback from the current State review of the District's Special Education program.
Coincidence? |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 477
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 12:58 pm: | |
I am not surprised by the former, highly surprised by the second...
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marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 970
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 9:42 pm: | |
Where does one find the State Department of Spec. Ed's review on the state of affairs in SOMA Special Ed Department? Is it available to the public? |
michael
Citizen
Username: Michael
Post Number: 487
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 12:26 am: | |
We had a special Ed. director? Did anyone ever actually get to see or speak to her personally? |
finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 73
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 9:23 am: | |
Many folks with children who are classified are quite familiar with Dr. Bowles. She came to almost all of the Special Ed PTA meetings.
What I'd really like to know (and this is related to Marie's question)is: are any parents of special education kids having any input into this DOE review of SOM-Special Services? Have any SP-ED parents been contacted?
Does anyone know how to offer input? |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 442
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 12:35 pm: | |
She seemed okay at the outset. However, she inherited an unbelievably inept staff, which may have led to her undoing. |
bto
Citizen
Username: Bto
Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 7:48 pm: | |
Mont...Where did you get your information? I happen to know otherwise. In the Special Ed. Dept. there was a huge secretarial turnover every few months because Dr. B. was a difficult, inconsistant and an unknowledgable boss in the area of special ed. There is a lawsuit against her by her first secretary, who was here when Dr. B first started in the district. Very little got accomplished during her employment here. She was completely ineffective and I think other spec. ed. parents might agree with this. She took days to return phone calls if they were returned at all. The special ed staff within the schools is excellent and if there were problems it was because leadership at the top was poor. Often, even the staff and child study teams got little response or satisfation.
The special ed department has had 6 directors since 1997, when Steve Overy retired. Three of these directors were hired by the district. Two out of three of them were here for one year only, Dr. Bowles for two years. The other three were interim directors and only temporary. They were retired administrators who could only take the helm for 6 months or so at a time. This is why the special ed. dept. is in such a mess. It was in great shape before Dr. Overy left. He was experienced and knew what he was doing. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 443
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 9:30 pm: | |
Without going into details, the staff members that I dealt with would consistently attempt to sidetrack meetings, deny receiving correspondence, and generally refuse to follow through on commitments unless the Director personally intervened.
I have seldom encountered a more evasive and dishonest group of people, and can only hope that they were not representative of the department as a whole. |
finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 75
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 10:25 pm: | |
Among the sped parents I know, experiences vary tremendously based on which child study team they have. |
Dillon
Citizen
Username: Dillon
Post Number: 10
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 10:56 pm: | |
Overall the Special Ed. staff are caring, committed individuals. There are always a few...
Dr. B. was the worst. I am still waiting for a phone call to be returned from six months ago. So happy that she is going.
I am impressed with the assistant director Maria
Eppolite. Hope that she stays.
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bto
Citizen
Username: Bto
Post Number: 13
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 11:14 pm: | |
Mont...Also,without going into details...many times the proper correspondence was, in fact, not ready. This is because Dr. B. was not prepared and the appropriate paperwork, etc. had not been done. The teams were/are always frustrated about this. They are so overburdened and some of them have two or three schools to deal with. This is not to say we need more teams, only that much more organization is needed at the top. How can that happen when there is a new director evey year or so? Well anyway, some of the best child study team people left for other districts when special ed. became so unstable. I could name names but I won't. They were quickly swept up by Livingston, West Orange, Millburn and other towns that were looking for excellence. I am not a team member, secretary nor a spec ed teacher, but I know what I am talking about as I am a long time insider! |
michael
Citizen
Username: Michael
Post Number: 488
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 11:34 pm: | |
Finnegan, I'm one of those "folks" with children who are classified and reading the posts of others that followed mine and yours I'd say that the majority found her inaccessible to say the least.
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Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 446
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 11:41 pm: | |
I can recall one person out of the half-dozen that I dealt with that actually took a responsible attitude to their work. The others would have done credit to an HMO.
It was after the arrival of Dr. B, so maybe these were some of the "not so good" people that got hired when the good ones left.
I still think the place is a mess. |
jacman
Citizen
Username: Jacman
Post Number: 173
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 12:08 am: | |
At the high school, each Child Study Team member has a caseload of over 80, and now one member is out on parental leave, so the remaining three will have to divide those cases, too.
They do a Herculean job. |
finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 76
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 7:40 am: | |
Michael, I'm one of those folks, too.
Your post made me think you were unfamiliar with her (and perhaps sped.) Some posters in ed threads are pretty quick to suggest sped would be one good place to make cuts, (not to mention the ones that occasionally refer to our kids as "retards,") so I took your question at face value and just stated the facts.
Dr. Bowles was a presence at sped PTA meetings (whether or not that is a good thing is another question.)
But believe me, I could never get her to call me back either. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 448
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 11:08 am: | |
This is about bearing equal burdens, not an attempt to pick on special ed.
For example if elementary instrumental music is cut, then those of us who value music will have to pay for private lessons, which will cost us more in the long run than having the program at the school, and doesn't provide the same experience to our children as a school band or ensemble.
On the other hand, remedial education and some kinds of therapy (speech, motor co-ordination) could be paid for privately by the parents, and might even be better as a result.
I am annoyed about this because I'm tired of seeing a vital program like music put on the chopping block every year. It's time for the BoE to look elsewhere. |
michael
Citizen
Username: Michael
Post Number: 490
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 11:29 am: | |
Fair enough finnegan. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 480
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 12:14 pm: | |
Mont --
The items you give as an example,
"remedial education and some kinds of therapy (speech, motor co-ordination)" are not elements that are the parents responsibility to provide. Those items are essential to a child being able to learn.
The special ed program is so bad in this district, for many reasons. A key one, being that the in-district options are so poor (meaning -- unstaffed, untrained, lack of materials, lack of time, no classrooms, etc.) -- that the only way for kids to succeed is to be sent out of district. There are *some* exceptions (yep, this year, for the first time out of 3 in the district, my son has some really good special ed teachers that are making a difference), but overall there are too few to make a meaningful dent.
This is one place where saving money means spending it -- on the *right* administrators, on the *appropropriate* training, on the *best* teachers, and to provide the right kind of classroom environment.
I bet enough out of district placements could be eliminated if the district had people who were devoted and capable to make this a worthwhile upfront investment.
Anyone care to guess what the board and its insurers have had to pay in special ed lawsuit settlements this year? Because most of the settlements come from the insurers, not the board, I think its virtually a buried number. (I don't know the answer, but in speaking to parents who have gone this route -- it cannot be insignificant)
Pete |
critter
Citizen
Username: Critter
Post Number: 23
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 3:48 pm: | |
Comparing music and special ed is budget apples and oranges. Special Ed is a federally mandated (and barely federally funded) program. I agree with Pete that an appropriate expenditure to get the right people in--from the top down--and properly train them would be the best use of funds, and I think in the long run it will really save the district money. Some improvements may actually benefit the general ed kids who share classes with special ed children. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 449
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 3:39 pm: | |
Many programs are essential to children being able to learn. Some are provided at public expense, others aren't.
Since the parents of general education students have to subsidize special education to the tune of several millions a year, they have a right to insist that their money be spent responsibly. |
finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 77
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 9:35 pm: | |
Montagnard, I think it would be fair to assume that everyone who pays taxes wants education funding to be spent "responsibly."
Your suggestion that "some kinds of therapy (speech, motor co-ordination)" might be better if payed for privately, harkens back to the days when children with disabilities were simply not welcomed in public schools.
If you are going to fret about "subsidizing" special education, perhaps you would be interested in joining with the many parents of special education students who are lobbying the federal government to fully fund the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.)Otherwise, your comments just sound like you're proposing taking educationally necessary services away from children with disabilities, which aside from the fact that it would be illegal, is, I am sure, not something you would truly advocate.
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Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 450
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 10:42 pm: | |
I am not suggesting that educationally necessary services be taken away from children, only that their parents be asked to pay their fair share of the costs. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 983
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 8:07 am: | |
Their parents' "fair share" is their tax payment just as for all the rest of us. Just because parents have a child who has special needs doesn't justify requiring them to pay extra to receive the educational services that have been determined (by law) to be due to them.
However, it is certainly appropriate to expect that funds be spent efficiently and wisely. I believe that is where energy and attention should be focused. |
viva
Citizen
Username: Viva
Post Number: 369
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 9:00 am: | |
montagnard
if you had a child with special needs, could you afford to pay what would you would consider to be a "fair share?"
what would be your alternative if you could not and how would that affect your child? |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 483
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 3:54 pm: | |
mont --
Since the parents of special needs kids have to subsidize general education to the tune of tens and tens of millions a year, they have a right to insist that their money be spent responsibly. --
I paid homeowner taxes for 20+ years before I had a child in special education. Considering my taxes are now $18k/year, I have paid and continue to pay dearly for the education of ALL the kids in this district. I want all the money spent responsibly.
This is not a "new" issue. I believe about 40 years ago, when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade I had speech therapy for stuttering. Seems to have been a good investment, considering I regularly speak to large audiences now (and can afford to pay these absurb taxes!).
Pete
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Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 451
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 8:53 pm: | |
The argument is pretty straightforward:
If the parents of general education students are being asked to pay for more of their children's education out of their own pockets this coming year, then the parents of special education students should bear a similar burden.
The budget figures for special education and general education show that special education students receive a large share of the budget.
Given the quality of the staff in special education, and the recent departure of the director, one cannot feel confident that this money is being spent in a responsible way.
The special education budget should therefore be given greater scrutiny this year.
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finnegan
Citizen
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 78
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 11:33 pm: | |
Your second paragraph will only make sense once the federal government legislates the right of every child to instrumental music instruction in the same way it has legislated the right to an education for children with disabilities (the IDEA.)
But I am beginning to get the feeling we're beating a dead horse here... |
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