Miss-Delectable
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http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20060420/TRIBEDIT/104200069
As Greeley-Evans School District 6 continues to struggle with ways to improve student achievement and get itself off the state watch list, all areas are coming under scrutiny.
The latest is special education services. Last week, the district announced it is planning to revamp services provided for students with the most serious physical and cognitive disabilities.
In an effort to improve education and control costs, the district is planning to consolidate services for children with the highest needs. Instead of being spread throughout 21 schools, students with high-level physical and cognitive disabilities would attend six different schools, which will affect about 79 students.
The district is also planning to consolidate programs for students with emotional disabilities into three schools, and create a special program for students with severe autism at Winograd K-8.
This is not a new concept. For many years, hearing impaired and deaf students have attended University Schools, formerly the University of Northern Colorado Laboratory School. At University, audiologists, sign-language interpreters and specially trained teachers are on staff to assist the hearing impaired and deaf students. The students attend regular classes, and all students at University receive instruction in sign language. The consolidation of these services has been a successful, educational program for both the deaf students and their hearing classmates.
Out of the 18,475 students who attend District 6 schools, less than 1 percent would be affected by the district's latest consolidation proposal.
And, we agree that it makes sense for resources -- such as equipment, therapists, special education teachers and specially trained paraprofessionals -- to be consolidated in more centralized locations, rather than traveling throughout the district. Not only is this more cost-effective, it should improve the services these children receive.
Yet, we also understand parents' concerns. "Warehousing" is a nasty word, and one that circulates every time a proposal like this surfaces. Disabled children need to attend regular schools and be afforded every educational opportunity given their peers. The district has a moral and legal obligation to provide more than adequate services to all special needs students.
The district must take parents' concerns seriously and do a better job enlisting parental input in its decision-making. Concerns, such as how this arrangement will affect services for less seriously disabled children like those with learning disabilities, still need to be addressed. Better communication with parents during the change is absolutely necessary.
Still, we support the district's plan. During the past several years, we have heard parents complain about the services given seriously disabled children. State and federal audits of special education programs have consistently shown students are not getting the services they need. And the district has constantly had difficulty finding and hiring special education teachers.
Change is sometimes difficult, but it can be good. This plan deserves a chance.
As Greeley-Evans School District 6 continues to struggle with ways to improve student achievement and get itself off the state watch list, all areas are coming under scrutiny.
The latest is special education services. Last week, the district announced it is planning to revamp services provided for students with the most serious physical and cognitive disabilities.
In an effort to improve education and control costs, the district is planning to consolidate services for children with the highest needs. Instead of being spread throughout 21 schools, students with high-level physical and cognitive disabilities would attend six different schools, which will affect about 79 students.
The district is also planning to consolidate programs for students with emotional disabilities into three schools, and create a special program for students with severe autism at Winograd K-8.
This is not a new concept. For many years, hearing impaired and deaf students have attended University Schools, formerly the University of Northern Colorado Laboratory School. At University, audiologists, sign-language interpreters and specially trained teachers are on staff to assist the hearing impaired and deaf students. The students attend regular classes, and all students at University receive instruction in sign language. The consolidation of these services has been a successful, educational program for both the deaf students and their hearing classmates.
Out of the 18,475 students who attend District 6 schools, less than 1 percent would be affected by the district's latest consolidation proposal.
And, we agree that it makes sense for resources -- such as equipment, therapists, special education teachers and specially trained paraprofessionals -- to be consolidated in more centralized locations, rather than traveling throughout the district. Not only is this more cost-effective, it should improve the services these children receive.
Yet, we also understand parents' concerns. "Warehousing" is a nasty word, and one that circulates every time a proposal like this surfaces. Disabled children need to attend regular schools and be afforded every educational opportunity given their peers. The district has a moral and legal obligation to provide more than adequate services to all special needs students.
The district must take parents' concerns seriously and do a better job enlisting parental input in its decision-making. Concerns, such as how this arrangement will affect services for less seriously disabled children like those with learning disabilities, still need to be addressed. Better communication with parents during the change is absolutely necessary.
Still, we support the district's plan. During the past several years, we have heard parents complain about the services given seriously disabled children. State and federal audits of special education programs have consistently shown students are not getting the services they need. And the district has constantly had difficulty finding and hiring special education teachers.
Change is sometimes difficult, but it can be good. This plan deserves a chance.