Overcrowded school update, not good

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Overcrowded school update, not good
4
Thu, 05-17-2007 - 11:12am

Well, here's the latest on the school front. First, I can't get the assistant principal to answer my calls or emails. I know it is the end of school, but still. I guess I have to go to the principal, but Eric hasn't even started school yet and I hate that I must already appear as a confrontational parent.

Here is what I have learned. They are not only moving and combining the kinder inclusion classes, but also the 1st grade ones too. Now I do know 3 other parents in my same situation, though the others are all first grade parents.

When I called our region ASD specialist, whom I usually like--she has been helpful before-- she was very cold and said she really had nothing to do with the class asssignements and that should we hold a new IEP she could not say something like, "Eric should be in a smaller classroom bc he is ASD" unless she had examples of his poor behavior to back it up. I said, "so what you are saying is we can't do anything pro-actively, that he has to fail first?" and she said, basically that is right. Her role, as she views it, is to give strategies to the gen ed teacher when there is a problem. I think this is stupid.

So I call our current staffing specialist (this will change next year when he enters the new school). She was as upset as me and said that the class model as described is a co-teaching class, which is not what is in Eric's IEP. She said it is certainly the school's right to create whatever class they want, but they also have to honor Eric's IEP and create the setting outlined there. She said it is not up to me to change Eric's IEP to accommodate what the school can offer, the school has to offer what the IEP says. I am sure that is true, but easier said than done. She told me to call the region Inclusion specialist.

I called the region includsion specialist who basically backed up the staffing specialist and said she would call the AP for me and find out exactly what is going on. I haven't heard back from her.

I also called our local parent advocacy group. They told me that Eric's IEP was not specific enough and that it left open the co-teaching option. Now I see they are right. But they also seemed to say "you can't fight city hall" and that instead of trying to get the school to create the model originally described, we should just get Eric into a regular kinder class that is smaller, even if he does not have the ESE support for as many hours a day.

So I don't know what to do. Right now I am thinking of getting the other parents together and all of us call the principal to meet and talk about this. I am not sure who we should have there from the region level (like some staffing specialist, the inclusion specialist?) There needs to be some impartial mediator or someone.

Also, I know that of the kids involved, Eric is the most HF. I have even had people lately, who never saw him before, tell me they don't think he is autistic. I'd love to say, "groovy, he's cured" but I know better. I keep thinking of Renee and other moms I know whose kids were mainstreamed in kinder and then had trouble. We've all worked too hard for that to happen, Eric has worked too hard. But right now the official types and even some parents, who didn't see him as a non-verbal 3 yo banging his head against the wall, look at him now and think I have Munchhousen's by Proxy!

Aack!

This is getting incoherant, but if you followed my earlier post and have read this, I'd love some perspective.

I don't want Eric penalized by the reputation of his "meddlesome mother" who is annoying the school admin before he even starts. On the other hand, I DO NOT want him thrown to the sharks, so to speak, when he has been doing so great.

I don't think I am asking for the moon. I'm not even asking for extra services, just a smaller class. Is that so crazy? It must be from the trouble I am having.

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2001
Thu, 05-17-2007 - 12:19pm
No advice to offer, but i am looking forward to see what the others have to say!!

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 05-17-2007 - 10:46pm

ok Katherine


I am calmed down now from reading this earlier, so I can post, lol.


*takes a deep breath*


I'm very close to coming there and teaching Eric myself.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Fri, 05-18-2007 - 8:43am

Thanks for your encouragement, Debbie. I will print out all my posts, that is a god idea. I have been keeping a written phone log of all my conversations with the various officials, as well as keeping all the emails I have sent to people, so I already have a good little file.

I am sorry to upset you, Debbie. I, of course, more than anyone don't want Eric to have to fail. We've all worked too hard and come so far, especially Eric himself.

So you want to hear the latest? I just showed up at school yesterday and went to the principal, who did meet with me. I wanted to ask her about setting up a meeting with parents of the kids this affects. Guess what she told me? "It would be a waste of time. We don't have enough classrooms. All the kindergarten classes and most of the first grade classes will be doubled next year. When the new school opens in 2 yrs. we'll have some relief."

I said can't we talk about staggered schedules, putting up a removable wall, hiring some extra paras, heck I'd even pay myself. I told her I wanted to help solve this problem not just for Eric but for all the kids involved. She gave me the "there, there, dear" look and said it is out of her hands.

So that's it. I am done trying to negotiate like a normal human being. I'm calling the advocate today to do a new IEP, with only 10 more days left in school. Geez.

Also, in the last 24 hrs., two of the 1st grade parents decided to go the voucher route (you get a voucher to go to private schools that take it) and give up on the public schools. I have a feeling I may be calling Sara for advice.

I am just so annoyed at the stupidity and lack of understanding I have encountered. And this is supposedly a "good" school where the kids ace the annual standardized tests. I'm beginning to think that is all they care about, number crunching and rules.

Keep giving me pep talks, Debbie. I need it.

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Fri, 05-18-2007 - 12:38pm

Dearest Katherine,

Advocate? Lawyer? I'd call an immediate IEP meeting (nothing informal, what a waste of time that meeting with the principal was, yes?) and bring a legal representative. Yes, I'd start calling the private schools as well. The school is saying they don't have the physical room to create what you need --- AUGH!!! not an excuse, at all, but you may actually be up against a wall (or not enough of 'em, ha ha) here and running out of time.

Still, I'd call the meeting anyways and get an advocate or lawyer to come with you. Don't let them think you are going to be one of those pushover parents, let them know you mean business!!! The class size is unacceptable and if it is "out of their hands", they will have to pay for private if they can't provide the smaller one.

By the way, normal human beings here always show up with a lawyer or advocate...

Sara

(and if you get the special needs kids to go away by not providing what they need, the standarized testing results go up... That is so happening here as well. Sad, sad, sad)