By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
4/14/11
The Parent Advisory Council, a watchdog group for special education in the public schools, is pleased by a turnaround in communication from Superintendent Mary Gormley’s administration this year.
The council’s report comes a year after the parent group called on the administration to include it more in the special-education planning process. The Times reported last year that PAC members told the School Committee, “We feel left out of the planning, developing and evaluation of special education programs as required by law.” That statement was made by then-PAC Co-Chair Kimberly Zieselman.

But the PAC’s presentation last week to the School Committee sounded a much different tune. PAC Vice Chair Jerry Vitti told the committee that things have changed for the better.

“The communication between the PAC and administration … is very positive. We have ongoing discussions,” he said, as he thanked Gormley personally for addressing the council’s previous concerns.

This year, the administration has collaborated with the PAC to host a series of roundtable discussions on special education. Vitti said the meetings, which are open to the public, are geared toward educating parents on the various special-education programming and support offered at each level of the Milton public schools.

He added that the meetings, which he described as Gormley’s “brainchild,” are positive steps and help clear up questions parents may have.

Additionally, Gormley and Dr. Patricia DelVal, the school system’s director of special education, have drafted a 36-page parent guide, outlining every special education program that is available in the Milton schools. It can be found at www.miltonpac.org, the PAC’s Web site.

Also new this year, Vitti said, is a PAC-led support group for parents of special-needs children. Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at the Milton Public Library, he said.

Vitti, who has three children in the public schools – including one with special needs – spoke of the importance of establishing a support network for those families who may share similar experiences.

“You don’t always feel connected to other families. The kids might not be as socially active. [The support group] is an opportunity to connect with other parents. It’s an opportunity to get together with friends,” he said.

Vitti said the PAC has upcoming meetings Thursday, April 14, at Collicot Elementary School and Thursday, May 12, at Pierce Middle School, and a parent support group meeting Thursday, May 19, at the library.

Also during the meeting, Gormley announced that the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has released its report on Milton’s special-education compliance. Last November, representatives with the DESE conducted an audit of the town’s special education, civil rights, English language education and Title 1 practices. The state review happens every six years, with mid-cycle reports coming every three years.

Gormley said Milton received a “great report card,” adding that she would give a full presentation at a future School Committee meeting.

“This report could not have been as positive without the support of the Milton School Committee and the town’s Warrant Committee, who worked to ensure that we were able to address some of the issues with our special education programs,” said School Superintendent Mary Gormley. “We are very proud of these results and we appreciate that it was considered a priority.”

During the last review in 2005, several flaws in Milton’s SPED and ELE programs were identified. Those issues have since been addressed and the subsequent improvements were reflected in the 2011 review.

DelVal said the state uses three ratings indicators for compliance, judging whether a program is fully implemented, partially implemented, or not implemented. She said Milton did not receive a single “Not Implemented” rating. Of about 270 special education programs that the state examined, only 12 were partially implemented. In the civil rights category, out of 64 items, all but four were implemented. In English language education, out of 59 items, all but eight were implemented.