 |
| |||||||
• 
Photo Gallery
Text Size 
• Email • Printer Friendly
Mr. Gloeckler asked DLP to make a copy of the report for all of those who participated in the sessions. I knew it had been sent to Central office, but I was surprised that the board members did not get a copy of it until the board meeting. The board members did not have time to review or decipher the information in order to discuss it. Why? DLP had the report in plenty of time but held it. The board needs to know this information and they need to be able to discuss it publicly. JMO I also don't understand why it would cost $2500. to video tape the board meetings to show them on channel 22. I am waiting for an explanation. I doubt it will ever be televised as long as DLP is Sup't. JMO
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Photo Gallery
Text Size • Email • Printer Friendly
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 10:17 AM EC report shows needs Special ed programs are too separate By Stephanie Creech | Times Senior Writer Joyce Diggins handed several different lengths of paper to the students seated around her at the table. The task Monday morning for Diggins' students was to learn about length and how to tell the difference between something long versus something short. Across the room, Ginger Williams was working on the same concept with another small group of students. These might seem like basic concepts. But most students in the self-contained class at Lucama Elementary School entered school with a need for intensive intervention. The 11 students, who are in kindergarten to second grade, are considered either developmentally delayed or autistic. Some are mainstreamed into regular classes for music, art and physical education. But based on the findings of a report issued by Lawrence Gloeckler, executive director of the Special Education Institute at the International Center for Leadership in Education in New York, Wilson County Schools is keeping too many of its special needs children out of regular classrooms. In his report, Gloeckler said he found during his three-day visit here in February that there is a "consistent belief" among people that "special education and general education programs are too separate." Wilson County Schools Superintendent Larry Price presented highlights from the report to the Wilson County Board of Education Monday night. Price said the belief that special education and general education programs are too separate is an "underlying theme of this report." Price described Gloeckler's report as a "good report" that is "not to anyone's favor." But he admitted there is work that needs to be done. Price said he has already met with Vivian Roach, the district's exceptional children's program director, and Patti Sanders Smith, assistant superintendent for instructional services, and started working on some ideas. He is scheduled to meet today with a representative from the district's legal team to start a compliance review to make sure the district is not only meeting legal requirements for serving children with special needs but also meeting the spirit of the law. During the interim, the school board's Instructional Services Committee will continue its tour of special education classes. Board members participating in Monday's tour, which included the stop at Lucama Elementary along with visits to Lee Woodard Elementary and Daniels Learning Center, were Christine Fitch, Henry Mercer and Gary Farmer. The tours will continue in May. Price has Roach looking at the curriculum being used in self-contained classes because of apparent inconsistencies in what's being taught. Roach is also looking at ideas for improving communication between teachers, parents and district leaders. Price is also in the process of establishing a "group of key personnel" who will create a strategic plan focused on improving student performance. The group of 12 to 14 people will meet for the first time in early May, according to Price. He did not indicate to the board who is serving in this group. At Daniels Learning Center, Lois McClain, a teacher's assistant, spends part of her day in regular classrooms helping keep the special needs children she works with on task. During the tour, board members watched as McClain moved among her students making sure they were on the right page in their book and paying attention to the discussion in science. McClain and Brenda Farmer serve 15 students at Daniels, which is the district's alternative school serving students with behavior issues and students who have fallen far behind their peers academically. One student in Farmer's class spends part of his day working in the print shop gaining some work skills through the Occupational Course of Study program. Gloeckler's report lists the Occupational Course of Study program as one of the district's assets for certain students. While some mainstreaming does occur, the district does have a good number of students kept in self-contained classrooms. At Lee Woodard, for example, Sarah Daniels leads one of two classes for autistic children. Daniels has six children who are either in kindergarten or first grade. Next door, Tesa Bewlay leads a second class for autistic children who are in second through fifth grade. One of the concerns raised in Gloeckler's report is the "mix of students in self-contained classes being too varied, both by grade level and type of disability." In both classes, the teachers and assistants were working with the children in small groups. Daniels was leading her students in a game of animal sound bingo. Bewlay was at the computer working with students on vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. While the classes at Lee Woodard were not specifically mentioned in Gloeckler's report, he did praise the work being done with autistic children at New Hope Elementary. "The Autism program at New Hope Elementary School was seen as a program which was well structured, designed to met individual student needs and provided inclusive opportunities for students with learning activities aligned to standards," the report said. creech@wilsontimes.com | 265-7822 |
| Add Comment: | |  | | (All comments must be approved) |
| View Comments: | | | | (2 comments) |
Things cost said...
Cameras, film etc cost money!
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Kay Hannaford said...Cameras, film etc cost money!
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Mr. Gloeckler asked DLP to make a copy of the report for all of those who participated in the sessions. I knew it had been sent to Central office, but I was surprised that the board members did not get a copy of it until the board meeting. The board members did not have time to review or decipher the information in order to discuss it. Why? DLP had the report in plenty of time but held it. The board needs to know this information and they need to be able to discuss it publicly. JMO I also don't understand why it would cost $2500. to video tape the board meetings to show them on channel 22. I am waiting for an explanation. I doubt it will ever be televised as long as DLP is Sup't. JMO
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 8:31 AM
