Feedback Mixed on Bloom-Carroll’s Special-Education Services (OH)

February 16, 2011

Some parents of disabled children in the Bloom-Carroll school district gave state education officials an earful at a public hearing last night, saying that district officials are not providing the proper special education that federal law requires.

But other parents of special-needs children said the Fairfield County district is doing a good job.

The Ohio Department of Education will decide.

Staff members from the department’s Office of Exceptional Children are currently on site at the district, examining records, interviewing teachers, aides and administrators and talking to parents as they conduct a "selective review" of the district’s special-education practices.

State officials said the review was prompted by complaints from parents. If the state concludes that the district is not following the law, Bloom-Carroll officials must develop a plan to show how they will correct the problems.

Superintendent Roger Mace has said the district follows federal law and does "a great job" educating children with special needs.

About 50 parents attended last night’s hearing, and many stepped to the microphone to share their experiences.

Among the district’s approximately 1,700 students, 186 have individualized education plans, the customized learning plans that federal law requires for special-needs children.

Gary Bartlett said that he and his wife fought the district unsuccessfully to provide services to which their son was entitled. They ran up against "an attitude of ‘just take your child elsewhere,’" he said, and, eventually, they did, placing their son in a Catholic school.

"We should not have to move to secure an appropriate education for our disabled children," said Angela Dawson, whose two children have cystic fibrosis.

Lisa Coppus said she fought for years for district officials to provide appropriate services to her son, who is autistic and has bipolar and attention-deficit disorders. She said she finally sent him to live with her ex-husband in California, where he is receiving a proper education.

"The district will continue to push people out the door until you fine folks do your job," she told state officials.

Melane Barlow, whose 16-year-old son has Down syndrome, said district officials have tried to "thwart" delivering the services required in his customize d learning plan. They want him in a segregated class that is for multi-handicapped children, she said, and do not want to integrate him into regular classes.

Other parents praised the district.

"I take offense when our staff is accused of being less than remarkable," said Ellie Hite, who has a disabled daughter. "You would have a hard time finding a better school (district) or a better staff for your children."

Toni Coakley, a district employee who has a disabled son in ninth grade, agreed. "I’ve had nothing but positive experiences here," she said. "It makes me sad to hear all the negativity."

The state expects to issue a report within the next several months.