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Board hears School & Family Supports update on special education, student services
Summary
District staff presented a School & Family Supports update covering special education administration, staffing, specialized behavioral and neurodiverse supports, preschool services, homelessness supports, mental health programs and several student support initiatives; a full report is available upon request.
District leaders delivered a broad report on special education and school-based supports at the March 23 New London Board of Education meeting.
The presentation was led by Carrie Rivera, executive director of School and Family Supports, with Jennifer Merritt, Carol Paldino and Kim Fentress outlining program areas including special education administration, continuum of supports, Section 504 processes, special-education staffing and in-district student counts, dually identified students, specialized behavioral support and specialized neurodiverse support. The team also reviewed preschool placement and services, special education exits, transition services, and supports for students experiencing homelessness and mental-health needs.
The presenters listed several district programs and initiatives that provide direct services: peer mentoring and peer mediation, Unified activities, the Start on Success program, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), swimming instruction, a Youth Leadership Conference and a new life-skills curriculum described as "The Autism Helper." The report named targeted supports and service areas used to place and transition students across programs.
Board members asked clarifying questions about staffing and resource allocation during the presentation. The meeting record notes: "A copy of this report is available in its entirety upon request."
