Yesterday, McHenry County Blog began a rather exhaustive report on Thursday night’s meeting of the Huntley School District 158 school board meeting on how to spend Federal Stimulus money earmarked for special education.
Today we continue the comments made by Special Ed Moms.
The plan would “continue to keep the district out of compliance,” Sara Deifucci charged.
“The district is so sensitive when it comes to regular students. It seems insensitive to special (needs) students.”
There was also this intriguing question:
“Has the district already purchased anything that parents aren’t aware of? Have you already purchased Read 180 licenses?”
“No,”
Superintendent John Burkey replied.
“If I FOI it, (will I find something)?”
“Do your FOIA (short for Freedom of Information request),” he said.
Past shyness was shed as one after another they worked up courage to speak in public about what they saw as poor judgment concerning where the money was to be spent.
Those with probing questions trained their sights on a computer assisted reading program called Read 180.
It is a program that is aimed at junior high kids. Late in the discussion it was reported that pilot program for sixty students had been conducted, but none of the students were special ed children. They were low level readers and, from the recommendation to roll out the program more widely, it must have been successful.
“It’s failed iin other districts,” another Mom said. She said her son, who has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) had told her he was going to start Read 180.
“Keep my son out of those things until it’s in his IEP,” she said firmly.
This mother even seems to have made the jump into political arena.
“We made choices by putting you in this spot. I wish I had gotten involved earlier.”
= = = = =
Read the whole series:
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 1
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 2
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 3
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 4
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 5