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Parent urges district to assign certified reading specialist after reporting breakdown in special‑education communication
Summary
A parent during public comment said his autistic grandson had strong early support at Manoa Elementary but has experienced poor communication and lack of a certified reading specialist in middle school. The parent requested the district hire or assign a certified reading specialist for the child; a board member asked for administrative follow‑up.
During the public comment period a resident identified as Mr. McGlory described ongoing concerns about special‑education supports for his grandson, whom he said had made substantial progress in elementary school but encountered difficulties and poor communication after transitioning to middle school.
McGlory said the child, identified in remarks as Johnny, "learned how to talk by technology" and benefited from consistent communication at Manoa Elementary, including daily messages from staff and a one‑to‑one aide. He said similar communications stopped after the move to middle school and requested that the district provide a certified reading specialist experienced in special education to work with his grandson. "All we want for Johnny is a reading specialist who is certified as a reading specialist and in special ed who wants to meet the challenge of teaching Johnny," McGlory said during his three‑minute public comment.
Board members and staff asked whether someone from administration could follow up with the family; the meeting chair asked for an administrative follow‑up to be arranged. The comment concluded without a formal board response or vote; the request was recorded as a public comment and district staff indicated they would pursue follow‑up contact with the speaker after the meeting.
The presentation portion of the meeting had earlier discussed districtwide supports and surveys for student belonging, and McGlory tied his comment to concerns about whether autistic students feel the same sense of inclusion at all levels of the district.
