Patch Poll: Should Special Education Be Part of Labor Dispute

A tempestuous issue in the ongoing contract negotiations between and the teachers union has been increased placement of students with special needs in regular classrooms. 

Teachers have claimed the reduction of resources devoted to special education has been a detriment to both special needs students and the rest of the student body while administration and board officials feel the current approach benefits all students.

Patch wants to know if our readers think this should be part of the negotiations and we've created another unscientific poll to gauge community opinion. Readers of some of Patch’s previous stories have been posting their ideas on the subject in the comments section.

took issue with School Board President Ellen London’s recent statement that favors special education services without a classification. 

“The statement (by London) that some students ‘may never need to be classified as special needs’ implies delaying services or interventions until someone decides it is time is irresponsible to the students, staff and the community,” Meyer wrote.

also wants to see services continue to be defined through an individual education plan (IEP) when a student must have special services. According to him, his children became successful adults because of the services provided.

"Having two students with special needs who graduated from District 109 years ago my family found the process, controls and most importantly the special level of care, concern and creativity that came from special education teachers involved in the formal process to be invaluable,” Steindler wrote.

Anne was blunt. She does not think District 109 give enough care to special needs children. “District 109 only supports those who are above average, ignores those in the middle and demoralizes those with IEP's,” she wrote.

There were no comments supporting position of the administration and the board.