Update provided on special programs
The Putnam County Board of Education met Monday night and heard updates about special programs and approved Assistant Superintendent Derick Austin to take over after Superintendent Eric Arena’s retirement.
Director of Special Programs Tiera Bowen spoke about the range of special programs that the Putnam County Charter School System offers and what she and her team are working on.
They offer multiple services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, special education specialists, adapted physical education, deaf/hard of hearing services, and educational and therapeutic services. They also provide proportionate care to non-enrolled students for speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
Special programs also include gifted, social workers, English as a Second Language (ESOL), Hospital Homebound, nurses, migrants, immigrants, 504 plans, response to intervention (RTI), and multi-tiered system of support (MTSS).
Based on a graph that Bowen presented to the board, there are 424 special education students as opposed to 450 last school year, 217 gifted students compared to 214, 230 ESOL students compared to 236, 6 migrant students compared to 5, and 32 immigrant students compared to 48.
Bowen noted the main difference between migrant and immigrant students is that migrant students are from families who have moved around the states for work, while immigrant students are new to the United States. In addition, students of either category can also be in the ESOL program.
“We are making strides with the families,” said Bowen when summarizing how her team has hosted events to connect families with local services and provided translation materials and physical resources to support the migrant and immigrant families.
Bowen also reported the local school system has been deemed “not disproportionate.” The Individuals with Disabilities Act 2004 requires states to identify Local Education Agencies as having disproportionality.
They determine this by studying the significant disproportionality of students with disabilities for identification, placement, and discipline, the disproportionate representation of racial/ethnic groups in special education, all disabilities, and specific disability categories, and any significant discrepancy in the rate of suspension/expulsion of students with disabilities greater than 10 days.
The Putnam County Charter School System also met all district determinations. This is decided by evaluating a Local Education Agency’s (LEA) performance in meeting the requirements and purposes of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. After a review of the data, states determine whether LEAs meet requirements, need assistance, or require intervention.
Concluding her presentation, Bowen announced the second War Eagle Games will be hosted on March 22, from 8 a.m. to noon at Al Reaves Field, behind the middle school.
The games have been expanded this year to also include Hancock County and Bowen stressed her desire to fill the stands with support for the students who participate.
Following her presentation, the board voted on the recommendation of Austin to take over as superintendent effective June 1. His three-year contract was unanimously approved.