State Reps Still Press For Changes—

State Won’t Investigate Special Education In Newtown

By John Voket

& Eliza Hallabeck

The State Department of Education announced its decision Thursday, June 30, not to investigate complaints filed by State Representatives DebraLee Hovey and Christopher Lyddy after the two lawmakers received feedback from dozens of constituents about how they were treated during special education meetings in the district.

The Department of Education notice states there was insufficient cause to suspect systemic or widespread noncompliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act after receiving 15 calls from parents voicing those concerns. Board of Education Chair William Hart said in an e-mail to The Bee that he was pleased with the news after receiving the official notification.

Rep Hovey told the school board she is frustrated with the board’s lack of response to the complaint.

“I am further frustrated that the State Department of Education does not feel that they should at least monitor, audit, or have some direct intervention after hearing from 15 parents,” Rep Hovey told the board during the meeting’s public participation.

The lawmaker than told The Bee she was approached by several parents after she left the school board meeting saying they had contacted the state at the number provided to them to file complaints, and that their calls were not returned, leading Rep Hovey to believe there may have been more than the 15 cases referenced in the June 30 notification from Anne Louise Thompson at the Bureau of Special Education.

Ms Thompson wrote that the State Department of Education heard from 15 families after initially finding an absence of evidence to support a systemwide investigation by the Bureau of Special Education. She also wrote that some of the 15 families expressed a feeling of being treated in a hostile and disrespectful manner by Newtown Public Schools special education staff, and in some cases school district staff.

But, Ms Thompson wrote, none of the parents who came forward described experiences that amount to a violation of state or federal special education requirements, “with the exception of two parents receiving the paperwork from a PPT meeting late.”

“After reviewing our data from our general supervision system and speaking with the families of Newtown that contacted us,” wrote Ms Thompson, “it is the decision of the [Bureau of Special Education] that there is an insufficient basis to suspect systemic or widespread noncompliance with [Individuals with Disabilities Education Act] requirements by the [Newtown Public Schools].”

While the Bureau of Special Education will not initiate an investigation, Ms Thompson said it will continue to assist the families that contact it. Ms Thompson also noted Superintendent Janet Robinson and the Board of Education were notified of the ruling to perform any follow-up procedures.

Rep Hovey said she is going to move forward requesting a meeting with the Acting Commissioner of the State Department of Education, Newtown resident Dr George Coleman, and if she is not satisfied that the Department of Education is doing enough to address concerns from her and Rep Lyddy’s constituents, she will bring the issue to the attention of the State Attorney General’s Office.

Rep Hovey added that every time she called to request an update with the department’s assigned liaison on the Newtown case, she was told the individual was either on vacation or out of the office. “She never replied to any of my e-mails or calls.”

Lack Of Responsiveness

Rep Hovey said if she was subject to this lack of responsiveness as a state representative, she understood why parents or caregivers might have declined to file complaints, or never called back to file complaints if their original messages to the state were not returned.

“Rep Lyddy and I are both are very disappointed in the state’s position and are suspect of the procedures and processes they used to make the determination” to not move forward with an audit of the Newtown special education system, Rep Hovey stated.

And Rep Lyddy said he was “taken aback” by state’s decision.

“I remain deeply concerned about the issues that several families and many teachers and paraprofessionals have brought to my attention with regard to special education in our district,” Rep Lyddy said.

Rep Lyddy said he and his colleague want to ensure there is a process in place that allows parents an opportunity to express their concerns in a manner that allows those concerns to be fully vetted and not dismissed without a fair and unbiased process.

“While I am relatively taken aback by the state department’s unwillingness to examine these issues, I want to be clear that this is not a dead issue,” Rep Lyddy said. “In fact, we must bring all stakeholders together to develop an action plan to address the wide range of concerns that have been brought forth. We need to make the changes necessary, whether they be at the local level, the state level, or both, to ensure that children are receiving the services they are entitled to and that the taxpayers are getting the outcomes they expect.”

Rep Lyddy said he is hoping for “a more responsive and collaborative partnership with the Board of Education to ensure the children of this community get what they need and deserve.”

Rep Hovey was equally adamant about the issue.

“I will not let this end without the Newtown superintendent and the Board of Education making themselves open and responsive to their constituents,” Rep Hovey continued. “The issues that have been brought to my attention are significant, and if the state does not deem them investigative, then as one of the local representatives I will continue to be a squeaky wheel and ask for accountability for the best interests of our children.

“Parents want a system where they are part of the team,” she continued, “and their hopes and dreams for their children are taken into account.”

Rep Hovey also said it is her hope the school district will implement a confidential tool for parents to fill out without repercussions, and that administrative officials will be more actively involved in the process in the future.

“I’m here tonight to say to you,” Rep Hovey concluded, “you have my support and my energy. You have my advocacy. I will ask the state for consultation support, training, whatever you need. I will do just about anything to make the system better, and will stand with you to work together for the children of Newtown.”

‘Absolutely Astounding’

Rep Lyddy said he has heard many concerns from individuals that were “absolutely astounding.”

“Among other complaints, falsifying legal documents, denying services, and potential conflicts of interest were all things that were described to us,” said Rep Lyddy. “To me, this warranted further action and investigation.”

Almost every parent he spoke to, Rep Lyddy said, reported attempting to correct situations with mounting frustration and eventually a fractured relationship with the school board.

“We must keep a laser focus on what the district is doing well and where the district needs to improve based on the concerns that were brought forth by so many parents,” said Rep Lyddy.

In his eyes, Rep Lyddy continued, the issue is not dead, and he implored the school board and superintendent to look further into the situation.

Following his board’s meeting, Board of Education Chair William Hart said it is important to focus on what is best for students, not who said what or what happened in the past. The important thing, he said, is finding a better way to conduct the special education process in town.

During the meeting, Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson said a task force, comprising PPT personnel from each of the district’s schools and other special education staff, will review the situation further. The task force will report to the school board in September on what steps will be taken.

While the State Department of Education has decided not to investigate Newtown’s special education services, Dr Robinson said the district’s concerns are not over.

“If there is something we could do better, boy, do I want to hear about it,” said Dr Robinson.

Further action by the task force, as Dr Robinson specified, will focus on how to improve communication with special education parents in the district. A study will also be put together and conducted yearly in the future.

“We’re planning to make this ongoing research,” said Dr Robinson.

While there are more than 450 special education families in Newtown, Dr Robinson pointed out it is not suitable to have some of those families feel they are not being satisfied.

Further information on what the task force intends to do will be delivered to the school board for its first regularly scheduled meeting in September. Mr Hart also said he will appoint a subcommittee of his board to also research the topic.

School board member Lillian Bittman noted during the meeting that the lawmakers never came before the full board expressing any concerns, and that they only approached Dr Robinson and Mr Hart.

Rep Hovey responded after the meeting that while she and Rep Lyddy pledged to work with the school board, based on Mr Hart’s and Ms Bittman’s comments, “I do not believe they have any interest in working with us. They clearly do not want us to know too much about how the system is or is not working. Transparency does not appear to be a goal, only deflection.”

Mr Hart reiterated after the meeting, “We want to make sure we do a fair and thorough job.”

First Selectman Pat Llodra, who attended the meeting, said the issue with the special education system may be an issue of perception or practice, and that she believes the full board is now fully aware that “there is something that needs to be fixed.”

“The legislators have agreed to work with the Board of Education,” Mrs Llodra said, “and I’m hopeful the board recognizes the value of that relationship.”