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Parents press Baldwin board on missing therapy services and bus delays
Summary
During public comment, residents described a multi‑year gap in in‑school physical therapy for a severely disabled student and repeated bus delays after a snowstorm; the district promised follow‑up and said it is exploring GPS/ETA systems for buses.
Several residents used the board’s public‑comment period on Feb. 11 to press the Baldwin Union Free School District on service gaps and emergency communications.
A resident who identified herself as a long‑time Baldwin resident said her child, who uses a wheelchair, has been without in‑school physical therapy for three years. “This is the third year that she has been without receipt of physical therapy services within the school district,” the speaker said, and asked the district to consider hiring a full‑time physical therapist rather than part‑time contractors. The presenter responded that the district will have someone from the special‑education office contact the parent and that the district uses a mix of hiring and contracted hours to try to meet needs.
Another commenter raised months‑long concerns about ‘a specific educator’ alleging harmful behavior toward students and asked for a transparent process to address repeated incidents; the superintendent said the district takes such matters seriously but is constrained by labor agreements and privacy laws, and that administrators and human resources collaborate on cases.
Kenya Philip Weeks described repeated bus delays after a large snowstorm in which children waited outside for 30–60 minutes with limited communication. “There was significant bus delays... my bus route was affected by at least four school days where the children were outside for 30 to 60 minutes waiting for the school bus with very little communication from the school,” she said. Board members said the district is exploring GPS/ETA applications to provide parents with ETAs and is reviewing bus‑company flexibility; they promised follow‑up communications.
What happens next: district staff committed to contacting parents who raised personnel and special‑education concerns and to pursue technology and vendor options to improve transportation notifications. The board recorded the comments and proceeded with consent‑agenda business.
