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Parents tell Gloucester Township board their children’s IEPs are not being followed, call for CPAC and urgent fixes
Summary
Several parents and a special-education teacher told the Gloucester Township Public Schools Board that Individualized Education Programs are not being implemented, described students placed in a noninstructional room called “Chillville,” and urged formation of the state-mandated CPAC; the superintendent said he could not discuss individual cases but noted dispute-resolution options and ongoing litigation.
Several parents accused the Gloucester Township Public Schools district of failing to follow Individualized Education Programs and urged the board to act quickly to restore services.
"I'm not afraid of your Parker McKay attorney. I'm not afraid of advocating for what's right," said Kelly Porter, who said her son has been sent to a noninstructional room she called "Chillville," where he spends the day without academic work. Porter said she retained a special-education attorney and asked that an applied behavior analysis (ABA) provider be allowed to observe her son as soon as possible.
The superintendent declined to discuss individual student matters during the public meeting but described the district’s legal constraints and dispute-resolution paths. "These are all individual student matters," he said, adding broadly that districts must provide a Free Appropriate Public Education, or FAPE, and that families have mediation and legal options through the state Department of Education.
Other parents and community members described similar concerns. Amy Ortiz said her twins were denied Extended School Year (ESY) services after the family moved to the district and alleged the students endured multiple assaults at a prior placement. "They were physically assaulted at least 12 times each," Ortiz said, recounting delays in transfers and services that she said left her children behind academically.
Manny Ochoa identified himself as a parent volunteer and asked whether the district has an active CPAC (special-education parent advisory committee). "CPAC is a state-mandated group," Ochoa said; he offered to lead or help reestablish one, calling it a parent-led avenue to address systemic issues collaboratively.
Britney Pannell, a special-education teacher in a neighboring district and a Gloucester Township parent, said that an IEP is a legal document that must be followed. "If we're dropping the ball on their IEP, then we're dropping the ball on them in general," Pannell said, urging better communication and parental involvement.
Several speakers pressed the board about legal costs and outside counsel. A public commenter referenced roughly $17,000 in recently approved legal services; the district solicitor confirmed there are active litigations and that Parker McKay provides contracted legal services for matters including special-education cases and personnel negotiations.
Board members did not take formal action on the individual complaints during the meeting. The superintendent and district staff said they would follow up with parents outside the public meeting to address cases, noting that confidentiality rules limit what can be discussed in open session.
The public-comment period closed after more than 30 minutes of testimony; callers asked the board to redouble outreach, provide clearer communication to families and reconstitute the CPAC to address recurring special-education concerns.
The board did not vote on any policy changes at the meeting; the most recent procedural votes covered routine minutes and consent-agenda business.
