Parent tells Homewood SD 153 board special-education process left her ‘frustrating and disheartening’

Sherry Foster, a parent and resident, told the Homewood School District 153 board on May 5 that she spent the past year advocating for her daughter’s special-education services and eventually paid an outside advocate after communication with the district failed to secure clear answers.

"I have found the process deeply frustrating and disheartening," Foster said. She said the advocate, with 20 years of special-education experience, was able to extract clear answers at an ISBE mediation where she was not. Foster described the system as "inequitable, biased, and failing families, especially those without the financial means to secure an advocate." She also said the district placed an underqualified substitute — a former computer lab assistant — in a specialized role without adequate training or curriculum, which she said produced only "busy work" and no progress for students.

District leadership responded that administrators have followed up with many of the people who raised concerns at earlier meetings. "Virtually, all of these individuals have been spoken to either by me, or one of our administrators," a district official said. The official asked the public to "stay tuned," saying additional visible actions are expected with the start of the next school year.

Why it matters: Foster framed her remarks as a systemic problem that can disadvantage families without resources to hire advocates. The board did not take formal action at the meeting; the transcript records a district pledge to follow up and promises of future, more visible activity from administration.

No formal motions or votes were taken on Foster’s comments; they were part of the public-comment portion of the meeting.