The Board of Education heard updates regarding a special education self study conducted in 2018 at its November 19 meeting.

Director of Pupil Services Deborah Mailloux-Petersen said her department used points from the self study, which was presented to the school board in December 2018, and implemented different programs and changes.

A Special Education Self Study Update sheet highlighted 12 points she wanted the board to know. Points included a new language training program called Fundations that was implemented for kindergarten/first grade students and that the number of educators who are working or have completed training and certification for Wilson Reading System Level 1 are growing. Other educators completed Orton-Gillingham Approach training.

“It is a lengthy process. It takes a year for a teacher to get certified in Wilson Level 1,” said Ms Mailloux-Petersen, adding that teachers must volunteer for the training.

Another point highlighted confidentiality, one of the issues brought up in 2018.

“When looking at [the breaches], I put together the confidentiality training that was part of the self-study. All staff, [kindergarten to twelfth grade], have been trained, as have our paraprofessionals,” Ms Mailloux-Petersen said.

Since the training occurred, Ms Mailloux-Petersen said she has not been told of further breaches, and the protocol is to have a special education administrator contacted immediately. They will contact impacted families to inform them of the breach. If there is a general education breach, a “building administrator should be contacted immediately and follow the same procedure.”

To board members voicing concerns that parents and staff may be afraid to bring breaches forward, Ms Mailloux-Petersen said everyone was told no one would be fired.

“It really is about working through the process and understanding how and why it happened and trying to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” she said.

Sample Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meeting agendas are now provided to parents at the start of a PPT meeting. That practice started last April, according to Ms Mailloux-Petersen. After discussion, board members suggested the agenda be sent to parents ahead of the PPT meetings so they can understand what to expect.

“[Parents] have to feel embraced; they have to feel comfortable; they have to feel that someone is listening to them,” said Mr Vouros, adding it is “key” when there is a disagreement.

Ms Mailloux-Petersen later said her department has been collaborating all school year with a Newtown Special Education PTA. A November 14 Special Education Department presentation was held to share information with group and attending parents.

“The face to face has really been beneficial for all of us,” Ms Mailloux-Petersen said. She also said a Newtown Special Education PTO created a mentorship program and cards for it are handed out at PPT meetings, and there is a parent resources tab on the school district’s website that she is working to update. The most recent update offers frequent acronyms used in special education.

Board of Education Vice Chair Rebekah Harriman-Stites suggested information about the mentorship program should also be added to the resources tab on the district’s website, and Ms Mailloux-Petersen said she can do that.

“I think that could be a really positive opportunity for parents, and if they really knew that it was there, maybe they would take advantage of it,” said Ms Harriman-Stites.

Ms Harriman-Stites also said she has heard complaints from parents that a “safe guards” pamphlet has small font. Ms Mailloux-Petersen and special education department representatives at the meeting explained it is a 31-page document that is offered at PPT meetings in larger font for parents and sent home in the pamphlet size. Ms Harriman-Stites suggested it, too, should be put on the website.

“I think that would be a nice, positive step to increase the communication between parents and staff,” said Ms Harriman-Stites.

Near the end of the discussion, Mr Vouros reflected the special education department overall has “come so far” in the last eight years.