Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Special‑education director outlines supports, behaviour plans and safety training amid trustee safety concerns
Summary
Special Education Director Jeremy Owen told the board the department is focusing on a continuum of supports, least restrictive placements, and behavior‑intervention planning; trustees pressed for clearer safety metrics and plans for crisis prevention/restraint training.
Jeremy Owen, director of Special Education, presented the department’s priorities and a continuum of services the district uses to support students with disabilities, stressing the aim "to maximize opportunity" and to prepare students for life after high school. He described tiers of intervention — environmental adjustments, specific goals and services, progress monitoring, functional behavior assessments, and behavior intervention plans — and outlined plans for professional development for general and special education staff.
Trustees repeatedly pressed on safety and staffing. Owen and district counsel explained that restraint and crisis prevention training is provided to relevant staff and noted legal protections when behavior is a manifestation of disability. On the need for stronger predictive and preventive approaches, Owen said that teams must "be thoughtful and knowledgeable" and that the district will continue to refine its predictive, preventive practices and communication among staff and families.
