In a recent school board meeting, parents expressed significant concerns regarding the proposed changes to the district's special education services amid a planned overhaul of the school system. One parent, Joan Boehm, raised questions about the feasibility of maintaining integrated co-teaching (ICT) classes as the district considers redistributing students across five buildings. She highlighted the limited number of ICT classes available for second graders at Countrywood and sought clarity on how the district would ensure adequate support services without resorting to busing students to specialized schools.

District officials responded by assuring parents that no students would be bused to different locations for special education services. They acknowledged the complexity of the situation, noting that the exact structure of the new model would depend on the outcomes of upcoming Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings, which will determine student placements and necessary support.

Boehm also commended the board for improving communication over the past few weeks, but criticized the ongoing adjustments to the research underpinning the proposed changes. She expressed disappointment that the community was not consulted earlier in the decision-making process, emphasizing that many residents were hearing about the proposal for the first time during the meeting, despite previous requests for information.

The meeting highlighted the ongoing dialogue between the school board and the community as they navigate the challenges of restructuring educational services while ensuring that the needs of all students, particularly those requiring special education, are met effectively.