Miss-Delectable
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News - StatesmanJournal.com
An interim director has been appointed to oversee the Oregon School for the Deaf and will begin next week, state education officials said Thursday.
Jay Gense, an Oregon special-education director since 2003, was named interim director of special schools, said Deputy Superintendent Ed Dennis.
Gense temporarily will oversee programs and day-to-day operations at the Oregon School for the Deaf and Oregon School for the Blind. He also will lead a search for a permanent director of OSD.
Former deaf school director Jane Mulholland, who had been in her position since 1999, was fired Dec. 28.
In response to concerns from the parents and the deaf community, public meetings will be held today and Jan. 15 to discuss the state education department's decision.
Some parents said they looked forward to new school leadership.
Parents Eric and Joelle Sundquist said they hope a new director will be appointed who pays attention to deaf culture and focuses on student safety. Both said they were frustrated with Mulholland about their attempts to talk with her about problems such as verbal and emotional abuse of students.
"We never got any reaction out of anybody," Eric said.
Others remain frustrated with Mulholland's dismissal and hope for her reinstatement.
Parent Dan Dexter said he's upset by the lack of information parents received about Mulholland's dismissal.
"It's a concern for us, because this is where our children are educated," he said "All of the sudden this happens. Something is lacking."
Gense has been the director of state-supported special education programs since 2003, officials said. He has served as an education specialist for the Office of Special Education and coordinator for the Oregon Project for Services to Children and Youth Who Are Deafblind.
An interim director has been appointed to oversee the Oregon School for the Deaf and will begin next week, state education officials said Thursday.
Jay Gense, an Oregon special-education director since 2003, was named interim director of special schools, said Deputy Superintendent Ed Dennis.
Gense temporarily will oversee programs and day-to-day operations at the Oregon School for the Deaf and Oregon School for the Blind. He also will lead a search for a permanent director of OSD.
Former deaf school director Jane Mulholland, who had been in her position since 1999, was fired Dec. 28.
In response to concerns from the parents and the deaf community, public meetings will be held today and Jan. 15 to discuss the state education department's decision.
Some parents said they looked forward to new school leadership.
Parents Eric and Joelle Sundquist said they hope a new director will be appointed who pays attention to deaf culture and focuses on student safety. Both said they were frustrated with Mulholland about their attempts to talk with her about problems such as verbal and emotional abuse of students.
"We never got any reaction out of anybody," Eric said.
Others remain frustrated with Mulholland's dismissal and hope for her reinstatement.
Parent Dan Dexter said he's upset by the lack of information parents received about Mulholland's dismissal.
"It's a concern for us, because this is where our children are educated," he said "All of the sudden this happens. Something is lacking."
Gense has been the director of state-supported special education programs since 2003, officials said. He has served as an education specialist for the Office of Special Education and coordinator for the Oregon Project for Services to Children and Youth Who Are Deafblind.