CAC Recommendations on the MGT Report

Last night MGT of America presented the report on their independent study of special education and section 504 to the MDUSD Board of Education (BOE). No action was taken. The report was made available to the Community Advisory Committee on special education (CAC) on Friday afternoon and the CAC met on Monday night to study the report and put together recommendations for the BOE. Last night the CAC presented their recommendations and concerns to the BOE. The recommendations are:

Recommendations:

1. The CAC recommends that the Board of Education accept the MGT report but not implement any recommendations until a task force, comprised of a representative group of parents and staff, develop an appropriate implementation plan and time line.

2, The CAC recommends that the Board of Education exercise extreme caution when considering the implementation of recommendations included in the MGT report that have unclear outcomes with respect to their impact on student success or district finances.

3. The CAC recommends that the board request a written response from MGT in response to the CAC’s concerns/questions regarding the MGT Report as outlined in the 3/1/10 CAC meeting notes and as volunteered by Patti Davis, MGT Representative.

4. The CAC recommends that the board work with our Asst. Supt. of Pupil Services/Special education and staff to determine possible reductions that would have the least direct impact on our students.

Read the questions and concerns noted at the CAC meeting HERE.
Read the MGT report HERE.
View the board meeting HERE
Read an explanation of the BOE's request for the study HERE.
Read an explanation of the selection of MGT for the study HERE.
The difference between the MGT independent study and the self review conducted earlier in the year is explained HERE.

CAC Meeting 6pm Tonight!

WHAT: CAC Meeting and MGT Report Discussion

WHEN: Monday, March 1

TIME: 6pm.

WHERE: District Office Board Room

AGENDA: HERE

Read the MGT Report HERE.
Read the explanation of the BOE request for the study HERE.
Read the explanation of the selection MGT for the study HERE.
The difference between the earlier Self Review and MGT study is explained HERE.

Remember special Board Meeting on Tuesday, March 2, 6pm at Monte Gardens Elementary!View the agenda HERE.

Parents Express Concerns regarding Special Education Study

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.

Special Ed. Study Recommends the Dismantling of Mt. Diablo School District’s Special Education/Student Services Department and for the Principals to be Responsible for the Program Management of Our Students with Special Needs and 504 Plans.

The Mt. Diablo School District hired MGT of America, a consultant firm, to perform a study of their Special Education Services/Programs. The report has been received and recommendations include the complete dismantling of the Special Education/Student Services Department. Instead, there would be:

• 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) .

Send Emails to the District Superintendent and Board Members
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.

MGT Report Online!

The MGT of America report of their independent study of special education in the Mt. Diablo is available online. You can read the report HERE.

Last August, the MDUSD Board of Education contracted with a national consulting firm, MGT of America to conduct an independent study of special education and section 504 in the district. Read HERE why the BOE requested the study.

MGT consultants started their study in October. They met with board members, administrators , parents, teachers, special education assistants administrative and support staff and visited 35 school sites. On Tuesday, March 2nd they will present their report to the MDUSD Board of Education at a special baord meeting at 6pm. The next board meeting on Tuesday, March 9th, is the board's last opportunity for budget reductions, including significant reductions to special education.

The MDUSD Community Advisory Committee (CAC) on special education will be discussing the report at our meeting on Monday, March 1st. Please note that the meeting time has changed to 6pm. to allow time for a more in depth discussion. Please join us!

EARLY CAC MEETING

WHAT: MDUSD CAC
Meeting and discussion of MGT Independent
Study of MDUSD Special Education
and Section 504

WHEN: Monday, March 1

TIME: 6pm.

WHERE: District Office Board Room

VIEW: Agenda and MGT Report

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

WHAT: MDUSD Special Board Meeting to accept the MGT
Report

WHEN: Tuesday, March 2

TIME: 6pm.

WHERE: Monte Gardens Elementary

AGENDA: HERE

Special Meetings Notice

Click on the image to enlarge

MGT Online Forum closes on Friday

The MGT of America online forum is closing this Friday (November 20). MGT is conducting an independent study of special education in our district. The forum is anonymous. Please speak share your MDUSD special education experience. You can access the forum HERE. A link to the forum can also be found in the right hand sidebar of the blog.

Please note that the MGT of America Independent Study (MGT) is separate from the state mandated Special Education Self Review (SESR) that is also taking place right now.
The difference between the MGT Independent Study and the SESR is explained HERE.
The selection of MGT of America for the Independent Study is explained HERE.
The Board of Education request for the Independent Study is explained HERE.

Online Forum on MDUSD Special Education

MGT of America is conducting an independent study of special education in MDUSD. They have created an on-line forum for parents and community members to comment on special education in our district. The forum is anonymous. Please comment on your special education experience! The on-line forum will be open until November 20, and can be accessed HERE.

Please note that the MGT of America study is a separate from the CDE self review. The parent focus groups and surveys that went out by mail were for the CDE self review. This forum is for MGT independent study.

The difference between the self review and the independent study is explained HERE.
The selection of MGT for the independent study is explained HERE.
The BOE request for the independent study is explained HERE.