Education governors should be putting all our children first

MARK-ALAN WHITTLE
Embrace change … make it work CONTACT MARK
EDUCATION SHOULD PUT OUR KIDS FIRST

Mountain News (Hamilton)
As an executive member of the Assembly of School Councils responsible to 19 elementary schools on the Mountain, I'm committed to the notion that those who govern education should be putting the children first with respect to the quality of education they receive, including children less able who have special needs.
As a concerned and caring parent I find it very hard to accept the notion that declining provincial funding is the reason the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) has failed to provide an education for the students who need it most, like my less able son Logan.
The Special Education Grant provides funding for students with special needs. Each school board receives this grant. In 1998-99, funding was increased for students who need intensive supports in the classroom by $127 million. In 1999-2000, another $32.5 million to special education funding. In 2000-2001, school boards will receive over $140 million in new funding for special education.
The Hamilton-Wentworth District school board receives an equitable amount of funding based on the total number of students it serves through the Special Education Per Pupil Amount (SEPPA). They also receive Intensive Support Amount (ISA) funding, based on its proportion of students who need very costly special education services, including equipment, teachers, educational assistants and other supports. The board applies for this funding by showing specific students' needs and their individual education plans. The Ministry of Education provides funding to each board in proportion to the number of students whose needs meet the ISA funding standards. How can the board expect funding if they don't apply for it in a timely fashion?
The HWDSB has flexibility in how they meet the special education needs of students with this funding.
The HWDSB uses the Special Education Grant to meet the costs of special education teachers, education assistants, and other professionals (such as psychologists or speech-language therapists).
For all students who need special education supports, the HWDSB combine's the funding from the Foundation Grant, SEPPA, and ISA to provide individual programs that meet the specific needs of each student.
ISA submissions from the board will result in an additional $43 million in funding for special education in 2000-2001. If a board's validated ISA submission makes it eligible for higher funding than in 1999-2000, the board will receive additional funding. As a transitional measure in 2000-2001, no board will receive less ISA funding in 2000-2001 than it received in 1999-2000.
The Special Education Grant also includes $2.5 million for students with extremely high needs, through a Special Incidence Portion. This funding will provide up to $27,000 for an eligible student in addition to other available special education funding.
Knowing all this, Trustee and school board chairman Ray Mulholland is correct when he states that, "responsibility for a shortfall of EA's in the system is the direct responsibility of the board. Trustees struck the budget."
Only a line by line accounting by the board will explain where all the special education funding went. Under the Special Education Act it must be used directly in the classroom for the special needs kids it was applied for or be put in reserve for new special needs students that enter the system. The legislation is unequivocal in this regard and rightly so.
As an Assembly of Schools member, I challenge School Board Chairman Ray Mulholland to come clean with respect to special education funding and explain to the hard working parents of special needs kids where their funding went, if not in the classroom with their kids? They have a right to an education like the rest.

| HOME | NEXT |