District discusses special ed audit

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HUNTLEY – Although District 158’s special education program has a “good base,” consultants suggested Thursday night that administrators rework its structure.

A special services external audit report, completed by the Rosemont-based ECRA Group in late April, revealed a list of improvements that the district could look to implement. Some key suggestions included boosting staff development and placing greater attention on early intervention.

“You’re working from a good base position, so it’s a matter of building on to what you do,” ECRA President and CEO Louis Gatta said during a presentation at Thursday’s school board meeting.

The group’s findings placed a large focus in the area of reading.

While testing results in the subject have improved steadily, the district’s students with disabilities have not met state standards in three out of the past four years. Last year, 43.7 percent of students with disabilities met or exceeded the requirements, but the target was 62.5 percent.

To improve that, the ECRA Group suggested that the district analyze the amount of students targeted for reading interventions and possibly increase the threshold. Additional cross-curricular lessons, more leveled books for all students, and an increase in phonics learning also were advised.

Aside from the reading portion of the audit, consultants suggested that the district perform a cost-savings analysis on whether to remain a member of the Special Education District of McHenry County.

According to ECRA Group members, other Illinois districts have saved several thousands of dollars by removing such co-ops, thus being able to spread the money to other needy areas in special education.

“I do think it’s something that needs to be explored,” Superintendent John Burkey said. “I don’t know that it’s on our front burner, though.”

In the meantime, the firm is finishing an additional audit to develop an action plan.

On board to help with that plan are special services administrators who were hired by the board Thursday night. Cheryl Kalkirtz will serve as the new special services director – a position recently vacated by Meg Schnoor – with Perry Yates serving as one of her assistant directors.

Stacy O’Dea also was hired at an earlier date as another assistant director.

On the Net

To view the special education program audit, visit the District 158 Web site at www.district158.org.