Want to Help

[advocate4kids]

I have been a VERY active special educaiton parent in the district and
WAS proactive with this situation but it was very hard to get the word
out to everyone. I was contacted by parents, therapists, and
teachers. I brought this issue up in October about the OT's and was
told that they absorbed the positions, but I still persued the issue.
I have dealt with special education in this district for the past 9
years and I KNOW that I know more about the special ed law than our
dear Director. As for the supervisors, Lisa has no clue about
elementary issues, etc. Jen Carney came back a month early becuase
she got word and knew she was needed. Please understand that I do not
play the "devil's" advocate. Like I said, I have dealt with this for
9 years. I have filed MANY state complaints, which I suggest EVERYONE
do so that the state will come in and force them to follow the law. I
have also gone to due process, mediation and filed a FEDERAL
complaint. Even with all of that, I know that I need to have a
working relationship with the district or my children would suffer.
If anyone wants help with writing a state complaint, I can e-mail the
form with all the codes included and all you would have to do is
insert your personal info and mail it out. I spoke with the county
supervisor of child study teams, Carmen Fanucci yesterday and she
informed me of what SHE told the district that they need to do. I am
TOTALLY on top of this and will not rest until all the students are
"up and running!" Please know that I am here for you all and anything
you need, please let me know. The special education budget is being
presented at the next board meeting on the 12th at 6:30pm at the
administration bldg. You will ONLY be able to ask questions about the
budget that night but the next board meeting after that is the 19th at
Memorial HS. There will also be a parent open forum after the Parent
to Parent meeting on Thursday, Feb. 7th. The meeting starts at 7 with
Board member Linda Lackay talking about voting for the budget, then
the speaker will speak for about 1 hour, then the rest of the meeting
is for parents only. All administration will leave and the parents
will have the room for the rest of the evening.

[lmel...@optonline.net]

This is very encouraging. I know this will be a long process but as I
told them the first night, I am nice person, but once you cross into
hurting my child I am a lion. Please post the information on where we
can file complaints, phone numbers, etc. We are going ot have a
meeting ASAP. I am making calls today to get it setup. I hope you can
attend. It sounds like you are a very good untapped resource. We need
more parents involved. They can fight individuals or small groups, but
they cannot fight a huge group doing what the do and get away with
it. I keep syaing this and we are doing it but we need ot band
together. A lot of parents are upset. I do not think they realize
there is much they can do. I am thankful that someone informd me or I
would have been one of the peopel who had no clue. If you need ot
speak to me on the phone, please let me know and i will send you my
number. In the meanitme, let's see those links to register
complaints. The APP said they are very interested in the story. I am
contacting them again today and we really need the news involved. I am
pro-school and pro-teachers but I am anti people who mess with my
childs futures and anyone else's who is considered a "little voice"
in this mess. We are fortunate that there are so many concerned
parents! I know so many parents were very vocal that night. We need
more!! As I found out last night, we are also very lucky that Sharon
Dey is on the Board of Ed. That I think is another critical piece!! I
will be in contact shortly back here with meeting place. I have been
getting phone calls this morning with so much great information. I
wish we all knew each other more previously!

best,
Lou