MARK-ALAN WHITTLE
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EA CUTS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR STUDENTS

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Mountain News (Hamilton)
As a parent of a less able student attending Ridgemount Elementary School, I take exception to the school board's recommendation to cut eight desperately-needed Education Assistants from the classroom.
I have had many long discussions with the ministry of education, and their goal has always been to ensure that funds are available to provide a quality education to every special needs student.
Under the Special Education Act the province has set a clear definition for classroom spending and increased the funding allocated to go directly into the classroom. Unfortunately for special needs students in Hamilton, this is not happening, as it rightly should be.
What school board chair Judith Bishop has conveniently failed to mention is that the ministry of education has allocated over $36 million to the HWDSB in 2001/02 to help the board meet its special education commitments.
In addition, the Board's total funding allocation for 2001102 is projected to increase by 0.7 per cent over 2000/01, while enrolment growth is expected to remain unchanged.
The HWDSB will also have access to $5.6 million in flexible funding that it can use to meet local priorities, including special education.
Through this enhanced funding, the board should be well-equipped to maintain supports for the students it served last year, and to respond to any new needs.
One should rightly ask where the money went since the province has never turned down a documented funding request to allow another child less able to get an education like the rest.
An Individual Education Plan (IEP) for each student is the key element that will allow students less able to be in class. IEPs are developed with teachers, principals, and parents working together to prepare documents that give parents a clear picture of the types of programs and services that boards will be providing to their children.
Clearer information means a stronger voice for parents in planning and guiding their children's education.
It is the responsibility of the board to provide each and every student with special needs with the program service levels outlined in the student's IEP.
Parents with special needs kids should take heart in the fact that the ministry of education cares about their kids and intends to improve the education they receive by clearly defining program standards for each exception.
When this work is completed, there will be provincial standards for assessment, identification, and programming for students with autism, and all other exceptionalities.
My less able son Logan and I know that the actions the ministry of education has taken are making a difference for students with special needs, but there is still more to be done.
As caring parents we need to do whatever it takes to ensure our less able students receive the services and programs they deserve.

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