Below we have posted the public letter from concerned MDUSD parents regarding the implications of the MGT Independent Study of special education and section 504 for MDUSD students.
- One Director
- Three Program Specialists to train site staff
- ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) to be handled by the district legal counsel
- Principals to take on the primary role of program management for their special education/504 students.
In addition to the increased responsibilities they have acquired due to staff reductions, Principals would now be responsible for special education/504 student services/programs.
- Can our Principals handle this extra responsibility?
- How much time will be taken away from the everyday management of their site due to this additional responsibility?
- Are our Principals knowledgeable in State/Federal laws regarding the district’s responsibility for serving our students with special needs?
- With only a director for special education under the Curriculum and Instruction department, who will provide necessary support/guidance to our Principals and staff?
- Will Principals be able to learn every aspect of every disability to be able to confidently place and serve every special ed./504 child placed at their site?
- Currently there are different programs at different sites. Will Principals know which students should be placed in which programs?
- Who will coordinate the related service providers i.e., speech/OT/PT/Nursing?
- When it is time for students with special needs to transition from preschool to elementary to middle to high school, how will the Principals know which sites to assign the transitioning students. Or will every site have full time staff to provide all the programs/services every student in their school will need? Who will coordinate?
- MGT is also recommending the elimination of the Mental Health Collaborative and placing these students in their home schools with a site clinician. The MH Collaborative is supported and paid, approximately 95%, by County Mental Health Services. If students are placed back at their home schools, County Mental Health will not provide services to these students due to their own budget restraints. Will the district hire therapists at each site to provide the services these students require? How will Principals deal with these students placed on their campuses? Whose safety will be compromised?
Why would the board of education implement these recommendations?
- Cost of the study was over $99,000. If the district does not implement the recommendations, will their constituents complain about the dollars spent?
- They do not understand what is cost effective vs. more costly.
- They would not have to admit their failure in not adequately using their resources in the district to determine reductions without compromising the integrity and compliance of the program.
- Did they request specific budget reductions from qualified staff in the
district?
Did they ask the CAC to assist them in developing specific
recommendations?
Have they factored in the “Cost of Reconstruction” after they butcher the foundation of the consent decree?
Have they factored in long term costs onto the cuts for a “real value”?
Why should the board of education NOT implement MGT’s recommendations?
- MGT of America is a consulting firm based out of Florida who apparently does not understand California law or Mt. Diablo’s philosophy of providing required services to students with special needs.
- Implementing MGT’s philosophy would be jeopardizing the health and welfare of all students, special ed. and general ed. by placing students in improperly supervised programs.
- The recommendations are not appropriate for our district needs.
- Programs could potentially go out of compliance due to lack of program knowledge.
- Lack of support will lead to more litigation.
- Costs of mismanagement will “encroach” on the general ed. fund.
- Parents will not request ADR from the District’s legal counsel; therefore, parents will file directly to the State and legal costs will skyrocket.
- Most important, it is not good for kids - all of our kids!
It took 10 years with a Consent Decree for Mt. Diablo to build an infrastructure that is in compliance and working. If we follow MGT’s recommendations and restructure, it will definitely bring about noncompliance and millions in litigation costs.
We need to act responsibly. The board, district staff and parents need to work together to determine the most appropriate way to reduce costs without reducing compliance and jeopardizing the safety of all of our students.
To view the complete report, you can go to the Mt. Diablo School District’s website at http://www.mdusd.org/ and look under the Board of Education Agenda or the CAC blog at http://www.mtdiablosped.blogspot.com/. I am also attaching the report to this email. To receive emails all year long regarding special education events/activities in the Mt. Diablo School District, please register at mdusdcac@yahoo.com
Parents / Staff / Community Members
Attend the Board of Education meeting on
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 6:00pm to express your opinion.
Please do not count on others to attend and speak on your behalf.
Meeting with be held at Monte Gardens Elementary School (next to the District office) .
Dr. Steven Lawrence , Superintendent: lawrences@mdusd.k12.ca.us
Paul Strange , Board President: paul@mdusd.net
Gary Eberhart, Board Vice President: gary@mdusd.net
Dick Allen Vice, Board Member: dickallen_dallen@yahoo.com
Linda Mayo, Board Member: mailto:mayolk@aol.com
Sherry Whitmarsh, Board Member: sherry@mdusd.net
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH OTHERS. THANK YOU.
6 comments:
First, please note that my email is incorrect - it is sherry@mdusd.net . I will not be able to read anything sent to sherrywhitmarsh@hotmail.com.
Second please remember that CAC representatives were part of the committee that selected MGT as the recommended vendor. This was even questioned at a board meeting by Gary Eberhart; however, the CAC reps felt that this firm was the best choice.
Finally the district office will present its recommendation to the board. I would not be surprised if some of the MGT recommendations are not proposed by the district staff.
Thank you for your comment, Sherry. I have corrected your email in the post. Apologies for any inconvenience.
So CAC, I would like to hear please what is your idea? leave everything alone? You approved of this firm and now what? You just keep it all the same vs. looking objectively at some of the possible changes to be made?
Please provide some objective analysis.
Anonymous 4:23pm: Please join us at the meeting tonight at 6pm in the district office so that we can explore the report together!
maria is it a secret what you hope to accomplish? please provide an update at the conclusion of your meeting. i do not have a special ed student so it is not appropriate for me to attend, but as spec ed occupies 23 % of our budget I do want to know what your plan is.
Anon 6:16pm: No secrets! CAC meetings are public and open to all. Meetings are on the first Monday of the month, 7pm, in the district office Board Room. Tonight we discussed the MGT report and developed recommnedations for the Board of Education. Tomorrow night (Tuesday) there will be a special Board meeting at 6pm at Monte Gardens where MGT will officially present the report. This is also open to all.
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