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STAMFORD, Conn. Children in special education at Stamford Public Schools are seeing fewer paraprofessional educators in the buildings compared with the start of the year. The reduction is a result of over-planning and students not needing them, said Wayne Holland, director of special education services for the schools.
This was a soft way to look at what the real need will be, he said of the cut. The schools hired a total of 19 substitute paraprofessional educators for 30 days at the beginning of the year to evaluate need for this school year, Holland said. That number has dropped to five because fewer were needed to cover students Individualized Education Programs.
No child will be left without the service their [Individualized Education Program] says they need, Holland said at Tuesday nights meeting of the Board of Education's Fiscal Committee. As an example, he cited two high school seniors who no longer needed a personal educator helping them get through their days, and the paraprofessionals were moved elsewhere.
Despite the explanation, board members did not like to hear that fewer paraprofessionals will be working with the special education students. Board member Jerry Pia admitted to having flashbacks of last spring when many parents who attended a public hearing on the school budget defended the special education program and fought any cuts in that area.
We need to make sure the kids needs are met properly, he said, repeating several times that he did not want any calls from parents saying otherwise.
Pia added that if there were fiscal problems, Holland should request changes in the budget to make sure the schools are doing right by the kids. Pia added, The big shadow is not the budget saying Weve got to save money, weve got to save money.'
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