Special-needs
students neglected, parents say
Friday, October 01, 2004 • By LINDA LISANTI
• The Express-Times
GREENWICH TWP. -- Parents with special-needs students in
this district say they are tired of always having to fight
the administration.
They liken the situation to a battleground where it's
them against the administration, and the children don't
win.
More than a dozen parents with special-needs students in
the district confronted school officials Wednesday night in
hopes of a truce.
"We, as parents, feel unheard by the current
administration to the point where it's necessary to bring
our concerns directly to the board," parent Joe Bozada said,
reading the petition the group presented calling for action
within 90 days.
Although the special-needs population in the Greenwich
school district continues to grow, the parents told
officials they have seen a decline in the district's support
of special needs.
The children are not receiving services they are
entitled to receive by law, equipment that would benefit the
students isn't being ordered, aides aren't being trained,
and parents aren't being informed, the group claims.
These issues have been ongoing for a couple of years,
according to the parents, but were brought to a head by the
administration's recent decision to replace the district's
occupational therapist of nine years without any warning to
them.
The group asked the school board to either reconsider or
at least give them insight into why the change was made.
They say the move will harm the district's most vulnerable
students.
"We are deeply troubled by this deterioration," Bozada
said on behalf of the petitioners.
Most of the parents say they have repeatedly tried to
relay their concerns to district officials through letters
and conversations, but have gotten little or no response in
the end.
In the petition, they say, "none of us have felt heard,
understood or received clear answers."
They want all of that to change now.
School board President Bill Kanyuck said this was the
first time that any of these issues were brought to the
attention of the board.
The curriculum committee will meet within the next week
or so to go through the parents' petition more closely,
Kanyuck said.
"It's not something we're taking lightly."
Greenwich's special-needs program has come a long way in
the last decade, he said. When he moved to the district in
1993, he said needs were not being met, but that's not the
case now.
He said other districts are actually looking to
Greenwich's system as a model of success.
Superintendent Kevin Brennan said that while he
appreciates what the special-needs families have stated, he
disagrees with their comments.
"It's quite the contrary," he said, noting that over the
last several years, the district has shown a strong
commitment to special needs by hiring additional aides and
expanding services.
The switch in therapists was the result of a decision to
stop contracting for that service and bring on a full-time
employee, Brennan said. The move saved roughly $30,000,
officials said.
Brennan understands the parents are upset, but said the
new therapist has wonderful credentials and is already
getting rave reviews.
"Change is always difficult," he said.
He said he plans to look into the issues raised and
wants to work to re-establish the lines of communication. He
agrees that's crucial.
The parents suggested that the district create an open
forum where the two sides can meet regularly to support one
another and express concerns.
They also desire a greater say in the decisions made
that will affect their children and a clearer understanding
of the economics involved. They say these issues affect
special-needs students, as well as the mainstream
population.
The parents said that from this point on they want to
work with school officials, not against them.
Special-needs students have to be "a genuine priority,
not a cost-cutting possibility," Bozada said.
Reporter Linda Lisanti can be reached at 610-258-7171 or
by e-mail at llisanti@express-times.com.
Copyright 2004
The Express-Times. Used with permission.
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