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San Ramon Valley school district officials are seeking parent feedback at two town hall meetings in Danville on Wednesday as they prepare to institute new changes to special education next school year.
Superintendent Rick Schmitt is moving the special education department, which has been a standalone department, to instead fall under the education services department starting in the 2017-18 school year. The special ed program will also have a new leader then, with second-year executive director Jean Anthony set to step down after June to pursue a job in Belgium.
The departmental shift aims to enhance communication and collaboration within the program that serves 3,100 students with special needs, according to SRVUSD spokeswoman Elizabeth Graswich.
“The change stems from our goal to ensure that we are making continuous strides towards improving our special education program,” she said by email Thursday. “Education services is responsible for all other education related services in the district. Therefore, the move is a natural one to create structures that better support our students with special needs.”
District officials are also working now to find a new executive director for the SRVUSD special education local plan area (SELPA). That new leader will report to Toni Taylor, assistant superintendent of educational services, instead of directly to the superintendent.
The vacancy was created earlier this year when Anthony announced her resignation effective June 30 so she could lead the special education program at the high school she graduated from in Brussels, Belgium, according to Graswich.
Anthony joined SRVUSD at the start of the 2015-16 school year after moving from the Bellevue School District in Washington.
With department changes on the horizon, Schmitt and Taylor are scheduled to lead a pair of meetings Wednesday in Danville to engage parents and community members about the district’s special education vision, answer questions and hear resident feedback.
“As we look toward the future, we are placing increased attention on special education in the 2017-2018 school year,” officials said on the district website while announcing town hall sessions. “As part of our work, we will focus on creating structures and supports that encourage building relationships and trust among all of our stakeholders.”
The morning session is scheduled for 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the boardroom at the district administrative complex at 699 Old Orchard Drive in Danville. The second session is set for 6-7:30 p.m. that evening in the professional development center at Los Cerros Middle School, 968 Blemer Road in Danville.
