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Parents urge review of special-education funding and raise OCR, safety concerns during public comment
Summary
Two residents raised questions during public comment about Medicaid reimbursement for special-education services, a student elopement incident, inclusion for Special Olympics and whether the district is in compliance with an OCR mandate; Superintendent Dr. Blum said the district believes it is in compliance and will look into outstanding concerns.
Two members of the public asked the Delaware Valley board to review special-education funding and student safety measures and to confirm the district’s compliance with a federal OCR agreement.
Jenna Ercolano of Digman Township asked whether the district is fully using Medicaid reimbursement opportunities for special-education services — a potential source of funding for aides and supports — and requested that administrators examine that avenue closely. "Can you clarify whether we are fully use utilizing these funding opportunities when planning and, planning for these resources?" she asked. Ercolano also asked whether the board had been made aware of a recent incident at DGES in which a child eloped through a window and whether a formal investigation had been conducted.
Matthew Contreras of Milford Township urged the superintendent to provide a written list of steps the district has taken to comply with a U.S. Department of Education OCR mandate, saying a web search suggested the district remains out of compliance. "I found that you guys are still not in compliance with the OCR mandate," he said, and asked for documentation that the district has satisfied OCR requirements.
Superintendent Dr. Blum responded that, "according to the OCR, we are in compliance with the changes that we made," and said he would look into the questions raised and provide follow-up as appropriate.
Board members thanked the speakers and said administrators would review the concerns and report back to the board and public.
