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Special-education advocates tell Monroe board of widespread IEP problems, ask to pause staffing votes
Summary
Betty Sabarito, leader of the district’s special-education parent advisory group, told the board the district has ‘IEP noncompliance’ and alleged discrimination and documentation failures; she urged the board to rescind staffing recommendations for unified programs and delay votes until CPAG’s documentation is reviewed.
Betty Sabarito, who identified herself as the leader of the Monroe Township special education parent advisory group (CPAG), told the board during public comment that the district has persistent special-education problems and demanded immediate corrective action.
“This is unacceptable,” Sabarito said, listing what she characterized as IEP noncompliance, breaches of confidentiality and discrimination against classified students. She told the board CPAG has repeatedly raised concerns since February and “we strongly urge you to rescind the current recommendations for staffing, and we ask that the Board of Education refrain from moving forward with any vote until CPAC’s information, documentation, and recommendation are fully considered.”
Sabarito said the issues are systemic and not the result of one superintendent or administrator. She noted that nearly one-fifth of the district’s students have individualized education programs and that federal and state funding is closely tied to special-education compliance.
Board members did not take immediate formal action on staffing based on the public comment. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lehman and other administrators were asked to review the concerns and follow up with CPAG so the board can consider any documentation before votes or personnel actions are finalized.
Why it matters: CPAG is a state-mandated advisory group whose input affects district policies that govern students with disabilities. The board’s next steps — whether to pause staffing votes or to accept administrative recommendations — will determine whether those public complaints lead to formal review or corrective steps.
What’s next: The board acknowledged Sabarito’s remarks and indicated administrators would investigate and follow up; no vote was held on the staffing items during the meeting.
