Glen Cove unveils phased plan to shift special-education placements, pledges to avoid uprooting students

Assistant Superintendent Bryce Klatsky presented the district’s revised plan to reorganize its most restrictive special-education program, describing a gradual transition designed to avoid moving students mid-program.

“We do believe as a department and as a district that it’s important that we find spaces for our students within our district to the extent that we can support them safely and responsibly,” Klatsky said, explaining the 8:1:1 program has grown substantially in three years and that an immediate hub model would have displaced art, music and library space at some schools. The revised timeline aims to reach the long-term configuration by 2028–29 or 2029–30, with Daisy hosting K–2 8:1:1 and Landing hosting 3–5 8:1:1, while Gribben and Connolly retain 12:1:1 classes.

Klatsky said the district discussed multiple models with teachers and families and that the chosen approach keeps current students in their existing classrooms until the end of their program. He described two specific moves for the coming year: incoming kindergarten 8:1:1 students will be assigned to Daisy, and incoming 3–5 8:1:1 students to Landing, while existing students complete their current placements. “No student will be uprooted mid program,” he said.

During board questions, a member asked whether transitions from an 8:1:1 to a 12:1:1 placement are informal tests or part of the individualized education program. Klatsky answered that shifts are coordinated with the case manager and that sustained split-programing must be documented on a student’s IEP.

The district scheduled a follow-up family meeting for June 9 (Bridal School Library, 6–7 p.m.) and invited families to contact the superintendent’s office or the Special Education department with questions.