Sterk To Hold Public Meeting On Saturday

State Rep. Mark Sterk will hold a public meeting Saturday to discuss education, crime issues and his plans to propose legislation on special-needs students and domestic violence.

The two-hour meeting will begin at 3 p.m. at the Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main.

The Veradale Republican, who has anounced that he plans to run for Spokane County Sheriff in 1998, is seeking citizen input on mainstreaming, the practice of including disabled students in regular classrooms.

He also wants to know if citizens agree that teachers need more training in working with students who have disabilities.

“My concern is that we’re not giving (special needs students) all the education we could possibly give them,” said Sterk, who is skeptical of the success of mainstreaming.

Sterk also would like to increase the understanding of domestic abuse by police and judicial officials.

He supports compulsory training for these groups, and wants to know if the public agrees with him.

Sterk also wants to prohibit convicted domestic abusers from being released from jail while they await sentencing.

Sterk also will use the meeting to explain juvenile justice reforms passed this year.

, DataTimes