Teacher contracts

[agnes!]

Why spend limited funds on him? Because he's a human being. He's a child who is entitled by law to receive a free and appropriate education. Even if the traditional educational model doesn't suit him (reading, writing, math), there are things that he can learn like life skills. I'm sure the OP can give us more insight into what he's taught at school and what kind of progress he's made. But every single child is entitled to reach his or her full potential. And every single child is worth the investment!

BRAVO.

agnes!

 

[Mickey's Minion]

And if it's a choice of X many dollars to go to either the one or two kids who may regress to not being potty-trained again if they don't have a teacher and three aids coaching them or the 50+ kids who won't learn how to multiply fractions because they don't have a teacher who has the time to teach them that, then I'm afraid I'm going to agree that the dollars should go to the majority of the kids.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Thank goodness there are laws in place that protect Special Needs population from people who think like you. And it is exactly why the laws were put in place.

I see I posted before reading the rest of the responses that addressed this so well.

Ms. Roach, I would suggest you inform yourself on the laws that protect Special Education before spouting off. Here is a great place to start your research:
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home

It has a searchable copy of IDEA.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

It is sad that things like this are being cut. I am not sure how each school district made their decision. Some are cutting sports, others are cutting music programs, and some are cutting special education. But when there isn't enough money, cuts have to be made somewhere.

Nope, you are incorrect. Music and Art can be cut, Special Education is mandated by federal law and cannot be cut. Special Education must be provided to all students that qualify. Every IEP that is already written is a legal and binding contract between the school and the family that the goals set in the IEP must be met. That means that services need to be provided in order to for the child to reach those goals, otherwise the school is in breech of contract and can be sued successfully.

For instance, if an IEP states that a child will receive 4 hours a day of para time, then the school is legally obligated to provide an aide for 4 hours a day. They cannot cut that back unless both the school and family renegotiate the contract. Now, it is up to the parent to make sure that when the IEP is written, it is very clear during annual meetings. In otherwoards, if it states a vague 4 hours per day, the school can try to save money by pooling aides and making several children share an aide during that 4 hours. If the child really needs 1 on 1, hopefully the IEP is well written and specifically states the child will have 4 hours of one on one para. In that case the school cannot by law, have the child share a para with another child. That child will have a personal aide as it was agreed to in the contract, for 4 hours a day. This cannot be cut back by the school.

Studies have shown that for every $1.00 spent in special education, the taxpayers save $3.00 in taxes to support the special needs person later in life. While special education may be expensive but it actually saves tax monies in the long run.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

And Bravo to that law - whatever accommodations ... learn the required material.

The problem is the OPs son is severely mentally handicapped - the OP herself has described him as a 1 year old. So WHAT the heck is he doing in a school? Reading, writing - nope. Is he learning the required material - nope. Will he ever live on his own and have a job - nope.

So please tell me why are we spending limited funds on him?

If the OP is so concerned about her son - why not home school?

Unbelievable.

One of the most insensitive posts I have EVER read on the DIS. ever.

I take it that when you wrote this yesterday, that you meant that only people without challenges are entitled to feel good about themselves, huh?

Sorry, but you cannot put a price on feeling good about yourself!

Just an FYI to those saying a parent should home school or go to a private school. Choosing either of these options still does not relieve a public school district of the burden of providing services for a child with special needs. The school is still obligated to provide services for a home schooled child with special needs, and depending on the circumstances is very often obligated to provide special education services to the privately schooled kid with special needs.

So, if the OP did choose to home school her son, she could still insist that the school to provide the services he is entitled to under the laws that protect him.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Why spend limited funds on him? Because he's a human being. He's a child who is entitled by law to receive a free and appropriate education. Even if the traditional educational model doesn't suit him (reading, writing, math), there are things that he can learn like life skills. I'm sure the OP can give us more insight into what he's taught at school and what kind of progress he's made. But every single child is entitled to reach his or her full potential. And every single child is worth the investment!

 

[kirstenb1]

And Bravo to that law - whatever accommodations ... learn the required material.

The problem is the OPs son is severely mentally handicapped - the OP herself has described him as a 1 year old. So WHAT the heck is he doing in a school? Reading, writing - nope. Is he learning the required material - nope. Will he ever live on his own and have a job - nope.

So please tell me why are we spending limited funds on him?

If the OP is so concerned about her son - why not home school?

Would you be saying this if he were your child? If your answer is "yes" I pray you never have children. Unbelievable.

 

[cm8]

EVERYWHERE is feeling the crunch, we just have to deal with it!

 

[minkydog]

And Bravo to that law - whatever accommodations ... learn the required material.

The problem is the OPs son is severely mentally handicapped - the OP herself has described him as a 1 year old. So WHAT the heck is he doing in a school? Reading, writing - nope. Is he learning the required material - nope. Will he ever live on his own and have a job - nope.

So please tell me why are we spending limited funds on him?

If the OP is so concerned about her son - why not home school?

Excuse me for a moment while I vomit.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Nope, you are incorrect...

Tell me, of the part that you quoted, where was I "incorrect"?

 

[minkydog]

I just want to thank those of you who have been sympathetic and offered support. I really really appreciate your kindnesses. I know that there is very little that I can do to change my son's situation. Money is tight everywhere and our school district is really in disaster mode. I'm just very disappointed and sad to be losing these oh so valuable teachers; I just needed to vent some feelings. And I appreciate that most of you were able to see that. Reading the rest of these posts has given me a stomach ache and a hurt in my heart.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...Reading the rest of these posts has given me a stomach ache and a hurt in my heart.

 

[yoopermom]

Minkydog don't let some people get you down. I'm a sp. ed. teacher and give you and all other parents of children with special needs lots of these
. I'm only certified l.d., not c.d.b./c.i. like your son's teacher, and I say to these naysayers...

don't judge unless you've done it!!!

Hold your head up, give yourself a hug, and use your ignore button as need be .

Terri

 

[daughtersrus]

Tell me, of the part that you quoted, where was I "incorrect"?

You need to read the rest of the post. The very next sentence explains it.

. Music and Art can be cut, Special Education is mandated by federal law and cannot be cut.

The rest of the post goes into the details and gives some examples.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

You need to read the rest of the post. The very next sentence explains it.

The rest of the post goes into the details and gives some examples.

The part quoted did not suggest otherwise. Hence, it was not incorrect.

 

[daughtersrus]

The part quoted did not suggest otherwise. Hence, it was not incorrect.

Your original post gave the impression that school districts can choose to cut SpEd just like they can choose to cut sports or music. That it's correct. SpEd is mandated by law and legally binding. I don't believe that sports and music programs are.

It is sad that things like this are being cut. I am not sure how each school district made their decision. Some are cutting sports, others are cutting music programs, and some are cutting special education. But when there isn't enough money, cuts have to be made somewhere.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Your original post gave the impression that school districts can choose to cut SpEd just like they can choose to cut sports or music. That it's correct. SpEd is mandated by law and legally binding. I don't believe that sports and music programs are.

I can see how one might read that into it, but it isn't there.

BTW, I was not aware of those laws before this thread, but even if they didn't exist, I would hope that every other program was cut before we eliminated help for those with disabilities. Those children need help (as my son needed help) before they need sports or music programs.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I am absolutely appalled at some of the attitudes on this thread to those with disabilities. I teach in a moderate needs MR classroom. I have nine students with intellectual disabilities. The IQ range for my classroom is mid 40's to low 60's. Some of my students are violent, I have posted on here before my frustration with getting bitten, hit, kicked, etc. on an almost daily basis. Many people would not think my kids are worth educating. They will not go to college. Many of my kids will not be able to live on their own. They will probably never read a novel for fun. BUT. My kids can eventually:

-Hold a job in a supported or sheltered employment environment
-Live in an independent supported living environment or a group home
-Contribute meaningfully to society
-Find love and maybe one day have a family of their own (About 1/3 of my students have parents with similar disabilities)

I have also worked in a home for people with profound disabilities, some of our residents have little to no independent movement. I can't speak for MinkyDog, but what our children learned in school was basic things such as the ability to feed themselves, as opposed to us doing it. They were able to learn how to use assistive technology to communicate their wants and needs, or control basic devices like a radio so that they could participate in their own entertainment. They were also taught how to take care of basic hygiene needs.

These skills may mean the difference between a residential home like the one I worked at and a group home. That difference means lots of money for tax payers as the residential home has to have nurses on site and a much higher ration of aides to clients. Our group home has a nurse during the day, and a lower aide to client ratio. This is just one example of why you should care, and not even the most important one.

My FIl used to work for Cobb County BOE, so so sorry to hear about Christian's teacher situation. It's sad all around really. Just a number of years ago, my FIl was tryign to get us to move up there...."Cobb needs to hire 500 teachers this year....." Now it's cuts all around.

Here in the county my husband works (near Augusta), they worked out a plan to save them from furlough days next year. Teachers that had 30+ years or were close to retirement, were encouraged to retire. No new teachers will be hired to fill the slots. Class sizes are getting pushed up. They also took $300 out of the county supplement each teacher receives......

This happened in my district. They offered early separation incentives and still had to let go 14 teachers. I stayed on my same step in the salary schedule- which is fine by me. I told my family I would be upset if they let people go and then raised everyone's salaries. Unfortunately, many districts are dealing with financial issues. I can't speak for Minky's district, but here is the issue in ours (and many across the country):

-AFTER the 09-10 budget was made and approved, Jackson County reassessed land values, resulting in a significant shortfall of funds.

-The state of Missouri failed to pay every district $650,000 in March. This money was already budgeted for, and is money the state owes the districts. There was no warning. They simply did not pay it.

-Gambling revenues fell very short of the projection.

The state is drastically cutting money to schools, with little or no notice. Unfortunately that money has to come from somewhere.

If you are passionate about this issue, read my next post about the proposed senate bill to address all the education layoffs. Minky, I don't know if it will help your situation, but it might.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I received this email from our local National Education Association chapter:

Dear Certificated Staff and Para-Educators:



Senator Harkin (D-Iowa) has introduced Senate Bill 3206 – Keep Our Educators Working Act. The bill would establish an Education Jobs Fund. It would prevent layoffs of educators across the country by making $23 billion available to states specifically to prevent massive layoffs of educators.



NEA estimates that Missouri would be entitled to $437 million under this plan. The American Association of School Administrators estimates that without additional financial support states will reduce educational funding and force districts nationwide to lay-off nearly 300,000 educators and education professionals this year.



Senator Harkin wrote: “Make no mistake: this is a crisis of the first order. Not since the Great Depression have our public schools faced the prospect of such massive layoffs. Job losses of this magnitude would take a terrible toll on our education system, resulting in bigger class sizes, fewer program offerings and less time for students to learn in school. This would be a major setback for the nation’s economic recovery - both in the immediate future and in terms of our nation’s ability to compete in the economy of the 21st Century.” http://harkin.senate.gov/press/column.cfm?i=324709



On Thursday, President Obama announced his support for the bill. There are 31 Senate co-sponsors as well as 323 House co-sponsors, including Rep. Cleaver. At this time, neither Senator Bond nor Senator McCaskill have indicated their support for S. 3206.

I just received it, so I don't know much about the proposed legislation other than what is in the email. But on the surface, it seems like it will help prevent many of these situations.

 

[minkydog]

I have also worked in a home for people with profound disabilities, some of our residents have little to no independent movement. I can't speak for MinkyDog, but what our children learned in school was basic things such as the ability to feed themselves, as opposed to us doing it. They were able to learn how to use assistive technology to communicate their wants and needs, or control basic devices like a radio so that they could participate in their own entertainment. They were also taught how to take care of basic hygiene needs.

These skills may mean the difference between a residential home like the one I worked at and a group home. That difference means lots of money for tax payers as the residential home has to have nurses on site and a much higher ration of aides to clients. Our group home has a nurse during the day, and a lower aide to client ratio. This is just one example of why you should care, and not even the most important one.

And this is it in a nutshell. We have been working for 10 years on toilet training alone. Just being able to go to the bathroom has eliminated at least 4 diapers a day--that's over $1/day, or $30/month. Despite our best effforts at home, Christian actually learned this skill at school. Between what he learns at home and what he learns at school, Christian is actually high functioning for his particular disability. His IQ is estimated to be about 20, but his functional abilities are greater than they should be. He learned to wash his hands and carry his dinner plate to the sink.He has learned colors and numbers, up to three. They have taught him to use assistive communication and a computer which "talks" so he can tell someone what he needs. Many children with his syndrome never learn to even make eye contact or roll over.

I have to believe that learning this functional skills will only make his life easier. It would have been virtually impossible for us to teach him these things at home. For one thing, they have 4-5 people in the classroom all the time--there are only 2 of us at home, and one of them is disabled himself. Taking care of a profoundly mentally handicapped child by myself--it's all we can do to get through the weekends, let alone 7 days a week. If we didn't have school to help us I'm sure that Christian would have been placed in institutional care several years ago, costing the taxpayers millions. Every skill he masters is one more step toward independence. We will keep encouraging him as long as we have breath in our bodies.

Special Ed teachers everywhere, you have my undying devotion. It really does take a village to raise a special needs child.