Parents of special needs students in Evanston-Skokie School District 65 hope the new director of special services can heal the adversarial relationship with the district they said they’ve had in the past.
“There’s been a feeling of us against them in the district for a very long time,” said Marian Casey, director of advocacy group Answers for Special Kids. Casey said Geneva Oatman’s appointment is just another example of the district blocking parental involvement in special education. Oatman’s appointment was approved by the board of education on Monday, although some parents had expressed concern about the hiring.
“It’s not a personal thing,” she said. “We don’t even know her, we don’t know her credentials.”
Parents said the nature of special education demands a close working relationship between parents, educators and administrators.
“In the special education process, students are entitled to special services,” Casey said.
These services are guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Under the act, students with special education needs must have an individualized education plan.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all program,” parent Shirlene Ward said. “We need to make the system more responsive to kids’ needs.”
Tom Mulhern, a parent of a special needs student, said the effectiveness of these plans hinges on communication.
“(Parents) are immediately thrown into a world where you need to learn a lot of language,” Mulhern said, adding that the jargon can be overwhelming for parents.
Mulhern said parents need a strong support network, which individual schools have provided but the district has not.
“One of the big opportunities the district is missing is parent-to-parent communications,” Mulhern said.
Mulhern also said the district is being adversarial by not being open to solutions that could ultimately help both parents and the district.
“The number one thing (Oatman) could do is hold a series of conversations in the buildings,” Mulhern said. He said an open forum where Oatman took questions would be well received.
“She could create the condition for change in the district,” Mulhern said.
District 65 Communication Director Jan Roy said parents should be receptive to Oatman and give her an opportunity to strengthen district special education.
“We need to take a second look at some (special education policies),” Roy said. “She’s doing her goals and plans right now to present to the superintendent.”
Oatman has 25 years of experience as an administrator and school psychologist. She has masters degrees in special education, psychology and school administration. She is also an adjunct professor at Northeastern Illinois University and National-Louis University, where she teaches classes on special education and gifted education.
Reach Ben Clark at [email protected].