Parent urges district to keep ICT services at Fifth Avenue rather than relocating student to Pulaski

During the public‑comment portion of the June 18 meeting, Dan Brandell, identified himself as a parent of a student with an individualized education program (IEP) and asked the board to reconsider a staff recommendation to move his son from Fifth Avenue Elementary to Pulaski Elementary to access an ICT (integrated co‑teaching) classroom.

“Moving him away from a stable environment would be detrimental to his learning,” Brandell said, saying the child has made progress in his current school and that fellow neighborhood students already have ICT services at Fifth Avenue for an adjacent grade. He said parents were not adequately notified that special‑education services were concentrated at Pulaski and asked the board to prioritize “equitable placement decisions that prioritize a child’s emotional well‑being.”

Brandell told trustees he and his wife had suggested alternatives — including consultant teacher support — but were told the district’s recommendation remained Pulaski. Board members did not make a decision during the public comment period; the superintendent and administrators will need to coordinate any placement decisions consistent with the student’s IEP and federal/state special‑education rules.

Brandell’s remarks were entered into the meeting record and the board acknowledged the parents’ request; no board action was recorded at the meeting on the specific placement.

The parent asked the district to improve transparency about which buildings provide which services for incoming families.