Answer to Emails

By Jill E. Case

Just because I choose to see the good in people does not mean I am naive. See paper on respect and moving forward.

""This came through to me today via e-mail. I thought it was interesting. I know many here won't consider it food for thought because their minds are made up. However, I have to say it made me think - am I allowing my baseline point of view to be altered? I've heard the allegations and have found myself questioning CUSD even though my and my children's experiences with CUSD have been, on the whole, positive. I urge others who are still not sure what to think to give this some thought.

I applaud Jill Case for coming on this forum (thread, blog, whatever) and standing up to have her say. In all honesty, Ms. Case, I believe you are viewing the problems and solutions of the district through rose-colored glasses. I've sat through IEP meetings (with my child), attendance boundary meetings, school board meetings, PTA association and board meetings - the problem is rarely that people are discussing "apples and oranges." It's usually that what CUSD or the principal or the PTA President is saying is not being well-received by the audience - whomever that is.

The problems with special education, I believe, are CUSD's biggest problem. How do we balance the needs of the needy with the rest of the population? Diagnosises of autism are being recorded at epidemic levels today. How do we provide a supportive environment that allows for learning for these very special students (and the many other special education children) without seriously impacting the funding for regular education children? I don't believe there is an easy answer. My questions could go on and on, but there is not enough space to articulate them here.""

RESPONSE FROM JILL CASE

I appreciate the chance to answer the above point of view. I think that there has been a distortion (surprise!) of the facts and my stance and I will take the opportunity to clear it up now.

The "apples and oranges" comment was made, I believe, in response to the teachers negotiations. Don't hold me to that since it was a long time ago and I honestly do not remember my exact answers to all the questions. It was the best way I could think of at the time to express a message in a one minute time frame. However, I think it fits here with special education also.

I am no fan of CUSD administration. I did not stand every weekend day for 2 to 4 hours collecting recall signatures and then for another 2 to 3 hours completing petitions at night because I loved the direction of CUSD administration.

No one knows more than I the problems with Special Education. If you read my website you would know that I have a special needs son. I had to face one of the best law firms in the county without an attorney through the due process hearing stage fighting for my son's right to a FAPE (free and appropriate education.) Getting rid of the attorney fees will go a long way in solving the financial problems within special education.

All the administration would say is "We don't have to provide the best education" and I would respond "You have to provide an education that meets his needs." (Apples and Oranges). They had an attitude of fight everything requested at all costs. Find reasons to deny all requests. Overwhelm and exhaust the parent so they will finally give up. Dr. Fleming convinced many in general education that the special needs children were the sole cause of the school district's financial problems.

What is the purpose of protest? It is to bring attention to a problem to force a solution. I sat in the administration's latest attempt to solve the Special Education problem on October 19th, when they presented the first in a series of "The Win-Win IEP". I heard Barbara Smith state things that made my blood boil. She said that we needed to work together to find the best solution for each child. The attorney actually stated that they DO need to provide the best education available. Barbara Smith spoke of many conciliatory gestures that the administration was now willing to do. While angry at the apparent denial of the past, I recognized that her words were now public and she now had to hold true to them.

If I was like the recall campaign, I would now say, "yea, but that's not what you said before." I would continually bring up the past and not let us move forward. Would that rhetoric really help? Is pointing out blame the most important part of the solution or is recognizing that now there is an openness to change? What would be the best response to help the children? What is the best response to start a new policy? Do I believe that everything will now be fine and our problems are over? No, I do not. However; now I have words that I did not have before that I can refer back to when discussing the situation.

The problem of autism education in this school district is a symptom of a larger overall policy that needs to be addressed.

1. It appears the district's response to most functions is to "contract out" the solution to a problem. From facility maintenance to autism education and many things in between I suspect, they have chosen to use outside providers rather than develop their own programs.

This policy might have been appropriate many years ago. We were an under-populated district then and contracting out was probably a better solution. Because we have a "reactive" management style, rather than "proactive", no one ever addressed the changing face of the school district and the changing needs. We never developed a program because no one in administration ever identified its necessity.

In any entity, if it does not have a program to address change, it will suffer and problems will become greater rather than disappear. Change is the one constant that must be anticipated. It appears that our School District administration and board never created a system to anticipate change and so, was caught with major problems for their failures.

2. School Board members have said that they are not "allowed" to address specific problems, such as special education. They have said that the administrative staff is the only entity responsible for implementing policy. Perhaps this reasoning is the cause of the "rubber stamp" board. The Board did not know that they are the ultimate responsibility for oversight.

I have read the Special Education code (both federal and state versions) cover to cover; an unfortunate necessity when facing an attorney without representation. No where in it does it state that the School Board is not allowed to attend an IEP meeting, nor does it state who is allowed to represent the district, other than outlining qualifications. In fact, Congress used specific wording to encourage cooperation between the parents and the school district and specifically stated their intent was toward reconciliation and cooperation in the best interests of the children.

Could you imagine the Chairman of the Board of AT&T relinquishing all authority to its President? Far from having no authority, the Board is the final say and authority. Perhaps our problems have been as simple as the Board just didn't know that they were supposed to step in and stop the nonsense. Perhaps, but I doubt it. I believe that their attitude is an excuse and nothing more.

3. I have stated that attitude comes from the top and works its way through the ranks. Management sets the tone and the policy and the staff follows. If management encourages cooperation, then the company will be cooperative and provide excellent customer service. If management conducts its business behind closed doors, never includes its staff in major decisions or reasons and presents an attitude of only helping its friends and supporters, then that atmosphere is exactly what the staff will demonstrate.

Rose-colored glasses? I lost my rose colored glasses over 10 years ago when I spent my entire New Year's Day cleaning a disabled woman's house after she had been rushed to the hospital. I took in her three children (all under the age of 5), hired my neighbor to help me and scrubbed her house clean. I mistakenly thought that she just needed a starting place to keep the house neat. Those glasses shattered one month later when her house was back to the pit that it was before and all my work was for naught.

I am no Pollyanna. Realistically assessing a situation and recognizing the best course of action is not looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Just like our students probably would not appreciate their school being called "toxic high," their pride in their schools shows on every campus. My recognition of that pride is not naïve. To the contrary, I believe it is showing them the respect they deserve. The students and parents have all put a lot of energy and effort into their schools.

The irony of this observation is that I thought my reputation as a fighter would detract from my message. Anyone who knows me and my work knows that I do not back down when I believe in my cause. However, I also have the knowledge that only experience can bring that sometimes the best means to a desired end is finding the common ground. One must always keep their eye on their mission and not allow emotion or the past to cloud the issues. Only by remaining focused can a solution that suits everyone be found.

I have personal experience with things that are wrong in the school district. I have knowledge of specific issues that create serious questions that need to be answered. I have been given access to data previously denied, but I am still not certain of its validity.

Unlike others in politics, I refuse to make unfounded accusations simply because they serve my purpose. I like to find the good in people; but it will not stop me from exposing the bad if I find proof. Put me on the Board and I will find that proof, regardless of who it helps or hurts.

There is no question that poor management decisions were made; but compounding those poor decisions with more poor decisions based on reactive circumstances will not improve the situation. Moving forward with recognition of past mistakes, providing better management and better oversight is the only answer.

All I will promise is honesty and I will be an unbiased voice for the truth on the Board. The appropriate education of our children is my only agenda.

Jill Case