Board Meeting Comments

it’s hard for stakeholders to trust contracts like this if they’ve ever had to sit through an IEP meeting with ESS. How many of our ESS stand alone classroom teachers are also expected to serve students who need ESS resource? Two separate time-consuming jobs for one low salary. Furthermore, we need to investigate ESS implementing previous contracts that the board loves and what will make this different if the get the money? In previous years, for example , they talked about implementing a universal gifted screener, but then in practice did half of eligible schools and the screener was not implemented with fidelity, results were useless. Board members were excited about that one too, and it recently got renewed, despite poor implementation previously. So what will be the point of this contract who will be required to follow through and make changes? We are under serving disabled children. So please make sure this contract leads to high-quality services in a better culture in ESS.

ESS definitely needs help. It’s just whether this contract will result in positive changes or not which isn’t clear. ESS has a cultural problem and that the emphasis has been on maximizing bills to Medicaid and less so serving children with high-quality services. That said, we massively under identify children and often have disabled children who come back from A rated magnets and charters, as they do not want to serve disabled students. There are staff in ESS that act as if you choose to send your children to EBR Schools that you should have a very low standard. Too often it is insinuated to parents of disabled children that their children belong elsewhere, but no one says where they expect them to go or how they expect them to be served. Some of our providers that get contracts to help serve disabled students do not give high-quality services, but show up just to check the box. Sure little Eddie got 15 minutes a month of occupational therapy but he still can’t hold a pencil?

At one point, our schools had resource teachers, and now they have resource officers. Did reducing the number of special education staff in schools, underidentifying kids, and putting more on classrooms teachers lead to more behavioral and academic problems? It feels like we’re spending on contracts instead of staffing. Maybe that’s not true and this is the beginning of a massive change. It’s just not obvious here. ESS needs a big shift. Hopefully, this will result in data which will lead us to some BIG moves towards truly focusing on the needs of exceptional students. More specifics on this contract and the outcomes would be helpful. It seems like the memo attached is not related to this contract. Thanks.

Good evening. My name is Tranettea Williams, and I am the mother of a young boy who has multiple disabilities, including cortical visual impairment. Every time you review and approve contracts, I sit in the audience hoping to see one that will finally bring meaningful change into my son’s classroom. I want to share why this particular contract leaves me deeply concerned, and how, without additional commitments, it risks repeating patterns that have failed children like mine for years. I want to be very clear: I am not opposed to monitoring. Monitoring is important, and iaction plans can be useful. But if monitoring is not connected to actual investment in classrooms, then we are just spinning our wheels. What children like mine need are direct, tangible resources:Adaptive learning materials specifically designed for children with CVI and multiple disabilities. Twenty-five IEPs in a district that serves thousands of children with disabilities isn't enough and students will be overlooked

EBR already paid Great City Schools to review the Special Education program and failed to implement recommendations. We need to keep in mind the compliance with applicable laws is the floor. Compliance alone does not improve student outcomes. Money would be better spent on staff as we currently cannot staff our special education positions with certified teachers.

We are all adults. We do not need to wait for the responsible moment to receive our allowance. Disburse the funds as soon as possible. This, as well as the EBR stipend.

Any board member who is truly concerned about the welfare of children and the quality of their education should vote against this diversion of tax money into corporate profits.

Businesses need to pay their taxes. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s

The board's mandate is to provide for the education of the community's children. It is not to generate employment, or to enhance private companies' bottom lines. Please vote no.