Special Ed Costs: “It’s a moving and evolving target”

From the BCCT.

Changes costly for districts
One of the biggest mandates — and likely costliest — establishes training requirements for special education support staff.
By THERESA HEGEL

State special education regulations that went into effect in July will require some costly adjustments from school districts, according to a longtime education lawyer.

Andrew Faust, whose New Britain law firm represents about 200 school districts and intermediate units in Pennsylvania, outlined some of those mandates at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Bucks County Right to Education Task Force.

One of the biggest — and likely costliest — establishes training requirements for special education support staff.

By July 2010, instructional aides and other “paraprofessionals” must have completed at least two years of college or pass rigor ous state or local assessments, he said.

Effective this year, staff must have 20 hours of relevant training for each year of employment. And districts must be able to document that such training has taken place by the end of the school year.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” Faust said, because the rules were put into place after districts had finalized their current budgets.

He said he believes most districts will open up teacher training to the support staff to meet the requirements.

Another pricey piece of the law involves providing alternative print forms to the learning disabled simultaneously with traditional texts — “no excuses, no delays,” he said.

In the past, there has often been a lag between distribution of conventional materials and availability of, for example, audio recordings for special needs students.

Now all texts and workbooks that districts purchase must include a universal file format that allows easy conversion to Braille, computer-based reading software or digital audio recordings.

Though Faust outlined some rather extensive changes to the system, he was quick to point out the fluidity of education law and noted that parents and educators could expect more adjustments in the future.

“It’s a moving and evolving target,” he said.

School Board Meeting Recap

From the BCCT

PUBLIC MEETING WRAP

Morrisville school board
215-736-2681
When: Wed, Sept. 24

Issue: Agreement to have the administration look for qualified candidates for the position aide to the school nurse for two hours per day.
Vote: Approved 7-0 by William Hellmann, Alfred A. Radosti, Joseph Kemp, William M. Farrell, John Buckman, Gloria Heater and Marlys Mihok. Robin M. Reithmeyer and Brenda Worob were absent.

Issue: Consider administration’s proposal to hire an assistant principal for the middle/senior high school.
Vote: 1-6, with Kemp supporting the hiring. The board argued that one principal is enough to administrate 435 students. Former principal Melanie Gehrens has left the district, and former assistant principal William Ferrara has taken her place.

Issue: Agreement to hire Tom Padden as interim business manager for three days per week, effective Oct. 13, at an hourly rate of $75.
Vote: Approved 7-0.

Issue: Acceptance of Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities grant for 2008-09. Grant is $3,294.
Vote: Approved 7-0.

Issue: Agreement to pay bills in the amount of $917,339.65.
Vote: Approved 7-0.

Council Meeting Recap

From the BCCT

PUBLIC MEETING WRAP
Morrisville Council

215-295-8181
When: Monday, Sept. 15.

Issue: Resolution to adopt the comprehensive plan created by the Morrisville and Bucks County planning commissions.
Vote: Approved 8-0 by Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta, George Bolos, Jane Burger, Eileen Dreisbach, Rita Ledger, David Rivella, Stephen Worob.
Impact: The plan serves as a roadmap for future physical development in the borough.

Issue: Accept the resignation of Bolos from the borough council and the Morrisville Municipal Authority.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Authorize borough staff to enforce procedures under the dangerous structures ordinance regarding 37 Harrison Ave.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Resolution for Morrisville to adopt the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s NIMS concept for emergency planning.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Approve a planting project and support the TreeVitalize grant application as requested by the Morrisville environmental advisory council.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Extend Williamson Park hours to accommodate the Morrisville Rotary’s carnival from Oct. 2 through Oct. 4.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Ratify grant application to the PA Council on the Arts.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Appoint Panzitta to the cable advisory board; Pat Wilcox to the recreation advisory board; Andrew Redmond to the zoning hearing board; Don Diretto to the Morrisville economic development corporation.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Appoint Judith Frigerio to the Morrisville economic development corporation.
Vote: Approved 7-1. Worob voted against.

Issue: Appoint Marc Neglia to the economic development corporation.
Vote: Approved 5-3. Sherlock, Panzitta and Rivella voted against.

Issue: Resolution to apply for Bucks County Community Development Block Grant program. Vote: Approved unanimously.
Impact: Borough Manager George Mount recommended the council use any grant money to put an emergency generator at borough hall, which serves as Morrisville’s emergency command center.

Issue: Pay bills; renew borough’s membership with the Friends of the Delaware Canal for $100; pay A.M. Mechanical Contracting Inc. $7,758 for Morrisville Library boiler replacement; pay L.C.Costa Contractors Inc. $266,107.17 for West Bridge Street curb and sidewalk replacement.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Accept July 21 meeting minutes.
Vote: Approved 7-0-1. Ledger abstained.

Issue: Accept Aug. 12 public hearing minutes.
Vote: Approved unanimously.