The Community Advisory Committee on Special Education met February 28th and March 21st at 300 Seneca. In February, Deborah McKnight, Interim Executive Director for Special Education, gave out copies of "Special Education Services: Highlighted Points." It lets us know more about the transition of the Compliance Unit to the school district's legal office, now under the direction of Louise Renne, General Counsel. Three new additions to the unit are Lenore Silverman, Special Education Attorney; Susan Marks, Attorney; and Erica Martinez, Legal Assistant. Deborah wants families to be able to resolve issues non-acrimoniously. She is bringing new ideas for involving having Resource Parents to help. She would like more families to utilize the ombudsperson, Carol Kocivar, to resolve issues that may arise. Carol can be reached at 355-7323.

At the March 21st meeting Myong Leigh, Chief of Staff at the Superintendent's Office, explained the Weighted Student Formula. In the past, schools were given an allotment of teachers matching their numbers of students. Under the Weighted Student Formula, the teachers are still paid centrally. However, all other expenses are handled by actual dollars allocated to each school: "weighted" in favor of the students that require extra resources. These categories include the very young (K-3) students, ESL-learners, and Special Education students. This is a big step toward better distribution of resources.

All Community Advisory Committee meetings are open to everyone: The April meeting will be held April 25th at 7:00 pm, at McClaren Children's Center, 2055 Sunnydale Avenue. The speaker will be Jill Wynns, Board of Education President. Come if you can.

Publications you might want: "More Than A Meeting: A Pocket Guide to the Person-Centered Individual Program Plan"; "Your IPP: It's Not Just a Piece of Paper"; and "Supported Employment". These three items are available, for a small donation, from Protection and Advocacy. Call 1-800-776-5746.