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Parents and counselors outline expanded special-education programming as district fixes timeline gap
Summary
Parents from the Special Education Parent Advisory Council described a year of reorganization, community events and fundraisers and urged broader outreach while district staff said a state DESIE review found only a minor IEP timeline finding and outlined corrective actions and new supports.
Heather Mandansa and Jennifer Elliot, co-chairs of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC), told the Marlborough City School Committee on Feb. 10 that the parent-led group reconstituted last year, registered a friends organization as a 501(c)(3) and has run workshops and inclusive community events to connect families of students with IEPs or 504 plans.
“Their mission,” Mandansa said, “is to work by communicating, evaluating, advocating, and educating within the community for understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with special needs.” The co-chairs reviewed caregiver workshops on IEPs and 504 plans, a fall festival and a ‘touch a truck’ event that brought police, fire and ambulance staff to meet families.
District officials and the CPAC emphasized access and outreach. CPAC leaders said they host monthly hybrid meetings, offer materials in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole, and are fundraising to place picture-communication boards on playgrounds across the elementary and middle schools to help nonverbal children and early learners.
Why it matters: CPAC members argued that better outreach and visible supports help families access services and reduce isolation for caregivers. Several committee members encouraged the district to amplify CPAC materials on the district website and translate resources so families can return repeatedly to find information.
Administration response and state review
Brian, the assistant who briefed the committee on special-education compliance, said the district recently hosted a DESIE compliance review (state civil-rights and special-education unit) and ‘‘overall it was a very, very positive report’’ but noted a single finding related to timing for delivering finalized IEP documents to parents. Under recent state guidance the district said it must furnish IEPs within five days after an IEP team meeting; the district has revised procedures, provided targeted training for ETLs and office staff, and submitted a corrective-action plan to the state.
John Fletcher, director of special education, and district curriculum leaders described an action plan that includes monthly data reviews of NWEA results, targeted interventions, and expanded professional development so special-education teachers attend core-curriculum training (into reading/into math) alongside general-education teachers.
The district said it is using Aspen workflows and Adobe Sign to track IEP timelines and will run regular compliance reports; it is also exploring on-demand translation tools to speed distribution of translated IEPs to families.
Community supports and grants
Also on the agenda, Ayako Barnum of the Marlborough Education Foundation presented a $2,500 grant to Wickham Schools’ Danielle Cicotella to expand restorative centers for middle-grade students. CPAC leaders said partnerships with local nonprofits and funders are critical to sustaining playground-access tools and family workshops.
What’s next: District staff said they will provide evidence of corrective steps to DESIE and expect a future records review. CPAC leaders plan outreach events through spring and summer and urged committee members and staff to help publicize resources and translated guides on district platforms.
