Morgan Hill parents of special education students have a new
outlet for their frustrations as a series of informal meetings have
been arranged to give them a chance to discuss the issues.
Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill parents of special education students have a new outlet for their frustrations as a series of informal meetings have been arranged to give them a chance to discuss the issues.
Retired teacher and school administrator Don Kruse is volunteering to facilitate the parent forums with the help of Linda McNulty, a special education advocate who generated the idea to meet with parents.
Special education parents have told McNulty and Kruse, who served as a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Education for four years, they have concerns that are not being resolved by Morgan Hill Unified School District officials.
Although Kruse believes district officials are “very receptive” to the information being gathered during the forum and informal gatherings, he’s concerned that special education students’ needs must be carefully evaluated to provide the best learning plans possible.
Director of Special Education Salli Welsh said she and her staff are excited that parents of special needs students are willing to meet to share their concerns.
Welsh said the district faces economic issues when it comes to serving students with special needs, as do other school districts, because there are many un-funded mandates districts must meet. But, she added, the staff is always looking for ways to meet student needs in the most cost-effective way.
“We try to look at all the resources, things we haven’t thought of to cut costs,” she said.
During the Oct. 22 meeting, Kruse said several “re-occurring themes” appeared in parent complaints, and he listed 59 separate concerns raised.
Some of the complaints included needed assistance to prepare Individual Education Plan, or IEP, meetings, age-appropriate placement in programs, opening up communication, ensuring that the IEP is followed by teachers and district officials and more.
As common issues, Kruse noted that parents said district staff needs to be more knowledgeable about the different disabilities special education students have, communication is flawed, parental input is needed for policies and procedures and the agencies and regulations do not work together, do not communicate completely together or do not communicate to parents.
A second forum will be held 6:30-8 p.m, Nov. 13, at El Toro Elementary School, 455 East Main Ave. The forum’s purpose, Kruse said, is to write down issues “in detailed constructive action statements,” and to bring up any new or related issues. Kruse said those not able to attend the forum or a “drop-in” meeting can contact him at (408) 778-9373 or do******@*******al.net to make sure their concerns are included.
Kruse has two more drop-in meetings scheduled, one today at the school district office, 15600 Concord Circle, 8-10 a.m., and one Saturday at Starbucks on Walnut Grove Drive at E. Dunne Ave. (by Walgreens), 8-10 a.m.
