The Fly Paper House Fly

A bulletin from the Director on those sticky issues in special education

 

August 26, 2004

 

  • WELCOME BACK – I truly hope that you have had a chance to enjoy a relaxing and recharging summer.  It’s hard to believe that we are into another school year, but time truly waits for no person!  I look forward to seeing you all as we start yet another new school year in District 97.  As we get this year off to a great start, there are some things that I want you to be aware of right from the start:

 

  • Reorganization – We had the opportunity to interview some truly excellent candidates for the Special Education Coordinator positions.  We have selected some excellent people as our new coordinators.  The assignments are as follows:

 

    • Brooks Middle School and the feeder schools: Renee Smith-Quinn

 

    • Julian Middle School and the feeder schools: Mary Stollberg

 

    • Early Childhood: Cindy Michul.

 

We hope that you share our enthusiasm over their selection, and congratulate these women.  We are certain they will do an excellent job and we are excited about the role they will play in improving special education services in District 97.

 

  • New Staff – We have some new faces in different places around the district in the special education department.  When you get a chance please welcome the following new staff:

 

Topaze Covert

Resource Teacher / Whittier

Andrea Bateman

Occupational Therapist / Longfellow & Irving Elementary Schools

Jill Dombek

8th Grade Instructional Class / Brooks Middle School

Karen Sackheim

6th Grade Resource / Julian Middle School

Patty Von Hagel

DLP Instructional Class / Irving Elementary

Tonya Williams

6th Grade Resource / Brooks Middle School

 

  • Compliance Issues – At the end of July, we finally received the report of the Special Education Compliance Review that took place in November of last year.  While we received many commendations for the things we are doing well, we were also found to be out of compliance in a number of areas.  As a result, we have a number of corrective actions that must be taken, with data to be submitted to ISBE by January of this school year.  You will certainly be hearing more as we get into the school year.

 

  • Web-based IEP – We have signed an agreement with eSped.com to have them provide us with a web-based IEP starting this school year.  We are confident that this particular provider will make our IEP lives much easier.  Of course there will be a slight learning curve as we learn how to use the new program, but once you have had a chance to work on the website, I think you’ll find it much easier than doing all of the paperwork by hand.   We will be initiating training in September.  Any IEP meetings that are held prior to the training will be completed using our paper forms.  Once we have had the training, we will be switching over to the web-based product.  You will be hearing more about training very soon.

 

Again, welcome back to what I know is going to be a SUPER year!!

 

 

Steven D. Castle, Director of Special Education

Oak Park Elementary District 97