Frustration Runs High at Special Education Meeting

When a group of parents gathered at on Thursday, their first step was to write down their fears for what the meeting on special education could become.

“I fear this is yet another meeting where nothing changes,” one parent wrote.

“I fear my child would not progress,” wrote another.

A third one wrote, “I fear there is no support or help available for my child and me.”

These parents—nearly 40 in total—got together to discuss the situation of special education at Ottoson School, where many say their complaints go astray.

Most parents had different issues with the state of special education there. One parent, Linda Katz, said her child’s learning-based disability is not being met. Another, Alanna Connors, said her child is well matched with classes that help him, but other kids may not be in the same situation.

Though complaints varied, they appeared united in one concern: No matter how many meetings there are, parents say their ideas seem to go into a vacuum where nothing appears to change at the district level.

“I’m not happy with that anymore,” said Trish Orlovsky, of Arlington’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council. “I think a lot of parents are not happy with that anymore. We’re looking for something more formal.”

Parents pressed Superintendent Kathleen Bodie for a next meeting, asking her to set a formal process to address their concerns.

Bodie told parents it isn’t possible to solve issues in one year. “We need to focus on what are the key things that we need to work on,” she said.

“I’m not going to promise that we’re going to change everything,” Bodie continued. “There is a commitment in this district of doing a very good job of educating all of our students. But there’s always room for improvement.”

The scene at Ottoson reflects a bigger problem at , where that result in special education students not progressing.

In previous meetings, parents have called for the creation of a joint committee to develop a permanent organization of the special education department.

Recently, Bodie told the  she had  after intense opposition from parents.

Bodie’s organization includes an interim special education director with an assistant director. There will also be an elementary and secondary coordinator, each supported by team chairs.

At Ottoson, the Thursday meeting started on a positive note. Along with fears, parents wrote down their hopes for what they wanted the meeting to be.

“I hope that programs designed to meet individuals kid’s needs are successful,” one parent wrote.

“I hope my questions are answered and I learn of some valuable resources,” another wrote.

But things turned sour toward the end, when parents asked for a next step and administrators gave them an answer they know too well: “We’re working on it.”

“It sounds like the end of the same kind of meeting I’ve been through for three months,” Orlovsky said.