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High School Connections IV Program

High School Connections IV Program. Presented by. Our Mission. “ To prepare all students to attain their full potential as life-long learners, critical thinkers, and productive citizens of our diverse community and global society. ”

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High School Connections IV Program

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  1. High School Connections IV Program Presented by

  2. Our Mission • “To prepare all students to attain their full potential as life-long learners, critical thinkers, and productive citizens of our diverse community and global society.” • Five years ago the District committed to completing the Connections program K-12.

  3. Connections IV is the Final Piece • Connections IV completes this service delivery model for students with a primary diagnosis of Autism Spectrum or Non Verbal Learning Disability. • In which services are delivered effectively through specialized programming and support. • Connections IV prepares students for successful post secondary education, employment and independent living.

  4. Why Connections IV? • Public commitment 5 years ago. • Superintendent, SC, ABRHS principal & Dir. of Pupil Services • Connection IV continues to be an “unmet need.” • Director Huber and Principal Callen • Proven, successful education model for students with complex learning needs. • Preschool – 8th Grade • Reduces overall education spending. • SMART Goal #2 – Reduce costs through program development • FinCom – Looking to reduce recurring expenses

  5. We Value our District’s Strengths • Our thanks to a strong Central Office Administration • Dr. Mills has demonstrated great educational leadership over the last three years. • He’s brought an inclusionary leadership style as well as greater transparency and discipline to the budget process. • He and the Central Office have successfully maintained high quality education through difficult financial times.

  6. We Value our District Staff • We thank Liza Huber for her vision, transparency, commitment to student needs, and leadership. • Maintaining student services during difficult budget cycles • Establishing a pilot summer program with Community Ed. • We thank Alixe Callen and Liza Huber for working collaboratively and creatively to reallocate resources. • Completing the Hayward Center & Learning Center 5 • Beginning the Connections IV program in FY ‘13 with a Transition assistant and .2 Counselor. • We also thank Principal Callen and Director Huber for setting up a committee to pursue the completion of Connections IV.

  7. We Value our School Committee • We want to thank Paul Murphy and Mike Coppolino for being School Committee reps to the SpEd PAC this year. • Their guidance and advocacy has been enormously appreciated.

  8. Where We Are Now • We know it’s late in the budget process and that options are limited at this time. • We know that the Finance Committee is pushing back hard on school budgets. • We realize it’s too late to add FTEs to the FY ‘13 budget. • We recognize that funds are limited and that there has to be a balance between funding of educational needs and town services.

  9. This Year • We prepared a cost analysis of Connections IV for the School Committee. • Analysis shows recurring net savings to the District. • The School Committee requested additional information about financial benefits to the District. • Analysis shows projected net savings of approximately $900,000 over the next four years. • We hope to receive feedback soon.

  10. This Year • We’ve sat through the budget process as it unfolded month to month. • We’ve watched level service budgets be defined in a way that reduced services for special education students with no School Committee discussion or analysis of the consequences. • We’ve watched the School Committee accommodate the ever changing and increasingly costly Lower Fields project. • We’ve watched as Don Aicardi noted a $540,000 over budgeted reimbursement in Circuit Breaker without public discussion.

  11. This Year • We’ve heard about artificial turf, hot dogs and T shirts but we didn’t hear how these things compare to the unfunded educational needs prioritized by building leaders. • We’ve sent letters requesting public dialogue on important special education issues, but no public discussion has occurred. • We didn’t hear a discussion of the Connections IV Program. And now it’s too late.

  12. Our Hopes • In the past you’ve found creative solutions to provide necessary services. • At the end of FY ’12 we hope you’re able to find a way to reinstate the special education assistant cuts or expand Connections IV. • We hope that more can be done for this vulnerable population of students in need.

  13. Looking Forward • For five years we’ve worked very hard to change the tone of the PAC and District’s relationship to one based on respect, mutual trust and transparency. • We’ve had successes together, but this year we feel the process hasn’t adequately supported Special Education students’ needs. • We are committed to making next year better. • We look forward to talking with you in September.

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