D-158 parents offer ideas on improvement

HUNTLEY – By a 3-to-1 ratio, parents of special-needs children voiced Thursday night the improvements they would like to see in District 158’s special education services versus current strengths.

For Sherri O’Brien, she thinks an improved, phonics-based reading program would “bring kids up to speed,” especially her own. She is the mother of four children with speech and language concerns.

“I know what my children’s needs are, and they’re going backwards,” she said.

O’Brien joined about 20 other parents and faculty members Thursday during the district’s first Special Needs Parent Advisory Committee meeting, where members agreed to form a districtwide partnership to help parents become more involved in the decision-making that affects their children.

While many program strengths were discussed – such as staff and kindergarten curriculum – about three times as many suggested changes were listed. They included an option for a longer summer school program, better classroom transitions and full inclusion with other students.

Sara DiFucci, a mother of two special-needs children, brought up many of the ideas during the group workshop-like setting.

“We feel that our kids are being failed in many areas,” DiFucci said. “[This committee is] not for us to come in and complain. It’s for us to bring change.”

More than 1,300 of District 158’s students are enrolled in special education. That number is up about 12 percent from last year, according to district records.

The parent advisory committee formation comes at a time when the district is set to receive $1.6 million in one-time funding from the federal stimulus package. Expenditures for special services in fiscal 2009 were budgeted for more than $9.3 million.

Some options for spending the money include additional reading program licenses, replacing old computers and purchasing other new technology.

Informal community meetings to further discuss the district’s potential usage of the funds will take place at 7 p.m. July 14 and 15 in the administrative board room at 650 Academic Drive in Algonquin.

What’s next

The next Special Needs Parent Advisory Committee meeting will be at 6 p.m. August 13 in Room 180 of the administrative office. All parents of special-needs children in the district are invited to attend.