Parents Hope To Help Shape New Program

Sat., Aug. 6, 1994

Margaret Taus Staff Writer

Some parents of East Valley special education students want to be deeply involved in their children’s education, especially since the school district’s program will be independent this year for the first time.

Rondy Alexander and David Brien are two parent officers of the new Special Education Parent Advisory Council. They’d like to see a lot more parents involved.

“We’re working from the ground up,” Brien said. The group formed last October but went through rough times when the former special education director resigned.

“Parents and guardians from the start of East Valley taking on the special education program have had apprehensions,” Brien said.

“None of us like change,” said Alexander, chairwoman of the group. “But special ed kids hate it even worse.”

The goals of the group are to encourage a healthy relationship with special education professionals, support special projects, receive training on child growth and development and take part in adopting curriculum, Alexander said.

So far, about 50 families are involved in the parent group, Alexander said. That’s small, considering roughly 400 special education students are in the district, representing 200 to 300 families, she said.

“We’d like to reach all - that’s ideal,” Alexander said. “Bringing the program home may make parents feel like they belong.”

The group will meet monthly starting Oct. 3, when parents will be invited to meet new director Larry Busse and staff and hear about plans for the newly independent program.

Subsequent meetings will have a different informational program, Alexander said.

Officers for the advisory council recently met with Busse for a picnic. “He ended up getting bombarded with questions,” Brien said.

“We’re really optimistic about Larry coming on board…. He’s very willing to work with us.”

While EV was in a cooperative with Central Valley and Freeman schools, the district didn’t have an advisory group.

Now school officials are looking for parents and guardians with ideas.

“We’re also a source of support for each other,” Brien said.

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