ATTLEBORO — School committee members said they are distressed by a lack of communication about changes in special education programs last spring that generated numerous complaints from parents.
The Insights program for special needs students at Willett Elementary School was partially relocated to Thacher Elementary and the Able program was moved from Brennan to Coelho Middle School in the spring. An additional special education program was created at Wamsutta Middle School in November.
School committee Chairman David Murphy said parents had as little as two weeks notice that their children’s program was being moved. He said the sudden moves prompted complaints and uncertainty among families.
“The volume and frequency of complaints was very troubling,” he said.
The changes were initiated before current Special Needs Director Linda McSweeney took over the job in the fall.
Superintendent Kenneth Sheehan said the school department’s mission is to meet the needs of all students, and that some changes were required to fulfill those needs. However, he said those changes “don’t always work.”
As a result, he said, additional changes were needed, resulting in the establishment of a separate program at Wamsutta.
Committee member Michael Tyler said that while he recognizes students’ needs, committee members need to be kept in the loop.
“There needs to be better communication to the school committee,” he said.
Committee member Bill Larson said communication with parents could also be improved, and suggested that informational sessions be held at each school aimed at parents of special needs students.
Sheehan said he approves of that idea and plans to hold sessions.
