| Student
Services |
| Welcome to the Department of Special Services |
| Our Mission Statement | Eligibility for Student Services | Preschool Special Education |
|
On July 1, 2002, the new Operating Standards for Ohio’s Schools Serving Children with Disabilities became effective. “Special Education” means specially-designed instruction used to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings. Special education services have been developed per federal and state guidelines in order to provide children with disabilities with the best conditions for learning. |
 |
Director of Student Services |
| Dr. Bonnie Berkley Pigman |
419-621-2715
|
| Welcome to the Student Services web site. |
| Whether your child has recently been referred to your school’s Intervention Assistance Team (IAT) or if your child is already receiving special services and has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), we hope the following information will be valuable to you. |
|
 |
|
| Parents are important members of the IAT and we welcome your involvement as we work collaboratively with you to meet your child’s educational needs. We realize participating in the special education process may be confusing and stressful at times. You will learn new information and may be asked to complete rating scales and/or provide background and health information.As a member of the IAT, it is important that you become knowledgeable about the special education policies and procedures so you can take an active role in your child’s education. |
| If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your building principal. If a particular concern cannot be resolved at the building level, you should contact the Department of Special Services. |
We look forward to working with you on behalf of your child.
|
| Our Mission Statement |
| To maximize with enthusiasm, purpose, and direction the educational progress of handicapped students through IDEA and State Standards for the identification and education of handicapped students, resulting in continuous improvement increased student achievement and character development with accountability for each student. |
| Eligibility for Student Services |
| The Public Schools of Ohio, Office for Exceptional Children, provides local school districts with detailed procedures for the delivery of special education services. The rules and regulations are detailed in “Operating Standards for Ohio’s Schools Serving Children With Disabilities, 2002 edition. |
| Sandusky City Schools is committed to providing special education students with opportunities along a continuum of services that offers access to and participation in the activities of the school and community environments as appropriate to the age and educational needs of the student. |
|
|
|
| Sandusky City School’s Special Service department is divided into three sections. Special Education provides instructional support to more than 875 students. Student Services provides psychological, behavioral guidance, social work and other supports to all the district students and staff. Home Schooling Program assists over 40 parents comply with state regulations for instructing their children at home. |
| During the 2006-2007 school year more than 875 students (including 76 three through five year olds) were served in special education programs. Special education services were provided in 12 out of the 14 disability categories. The school system provides a continuum of service designed to meet the individual needs of learners. Students were served in a variety of settings including the regular classroom, resource room, self-contained classrooms, county programs, separate facility and home instruction. Related services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, orientation and mobility services, speech therapy and special transportation were provided to students according to their needs and as determined by the student’s Individualized Educational Program (IEP). Students with physical disabilities and other health impairments are also provided related health services by school staff. |
| The following chart represents the 830 students who received services during the 2003-04 school year. IEP students may receive more than one service. |
|
Category |
Number of Students |
% of SY 04 ADM |
Autism (AU) |
12 |
0.00298 |
Cognitively Disabled (CD) aka (DH) |
168 |
0.04174 |
Deaf-Blind (DB) |
0 |
0.00000 |
Emotionally Disturbed (ED) aka (SBH) |
102 |
0.02534 |
Hearing Impaired (HI) aka (HH) |
4 |
0.00099 |
Multiple Disabilities (MD) aka (MH) |
50 |
0.01242 |
Orthopedic Handicap (OH) |
2 |
0.00049 |
Other Health Impaired – major (OHI-major) |
2 |
0.00049 |
Other Health Impaired – minor (OHI-minor) |
80 |
0.01988 |
Preschool Child with a Disability (PWD) |
76 |
0.01888 |
Specific Learning Disability (SLD) aka (LD) |
230 |
0.05715 |
Speech Disabled (SD) aka (SH) |
153 |
0.03802 |
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) |
0 |
0.00000 |
Visually Impaired (VI) aka (VH) |
2 |
0.00049 |
Total Students with Disability |
881 |
21.887 |
|
Legend: SY = School Year
|
ADM = Average Daily Membership |
Intervention Assistance Teams is the first step if you suspect your child has a disability
|
| The State of Ohio suggests that all students referred for Special Education Services may participate in the Intervention Assistance Team Process (IAT). This means that strategies and interventions in the regular education setting may be considered and documented before referral to Special Education. Bypassing this process requres sufficient documentation about the severity of the problem to justify the exception. Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their child’s home school for more information if they suspect that their child has a disability. |
| Preschool Special Education |
| Preschool special education services for children ages 3 through 5 are provided through a continuum which is different from that for children of school age. Services are delivered through facility-based, community-based, or home-based programs. Facility-based classes are offered four half days a week (Monday – Thursday) and are located at Kaleidoscope Center 4405 Galloway Road. Community-based services are delivered by our preschool itinerant teachers at Headstart, private day care centers or church preschool programs. Center-based and itinerant services are provided to students according to their needs and as determined by the student’s Individualized Educational Program (IEP). |
|
| Notes to Newcomers |
| If you are new to Sandusky City Schools and have a child who has been receiving special education services, contact the base school in your attendance area and provide them with documentation of your child’s special needs (i.e., a copy of the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Multifactored Evaluation Team Report (MFE)). When school is not in session, you may contact the Administration Building, 407 Decatur Street, Sandusky Ohio 44870 or call 419-626-6940. |
| Special Education Services Personnel |
Special Education Services staff is responsible for providing information and assistance to school personnel who are responsible for assuring that all procedures that apply to students with disabilities are implemented according to the intent and letter of the law, Special Education Services monitor specific school practices to include maintenance of student records, special education teacher supervision, and disciplinary polices. In addition, the staff provides training to school personnel on laws and regulations and effective classroom practice. Special Education Service personnel consult with parents who need information about specific disabilities, community resources or have concerns about their child’s education. |
| We have a professional caring staff of over 50 teachers serving school age students with disabilities. Five speech and language pathologists work with students in the district schools. Related Service providers are provided through the county educational service center. |
|
| Whom to Call |
| The persons listed below in the Whom to Call are available to answer your individual questions or meet with parent groups/community agencies to discuss general information about Special Education services and programs. |
Area |
Name |
Number (419-) |
Director of Student Services |
Dr. Bonnie Berkley Pigman |
621-2715 |
Department Secretary |
Jean Wittmer |
621-2715 |
Preschool Teachers |
Lisa Calderon |
621-2715 x1251 |
| |
Becki Camp |
626-0208 X |
|
Karen Eckert |
621-2715 x1252 |
|
Susie Sturdivant |
626-0208 X 185 |
|
Shelly Wentworth |
626-0208 X 149 |
Psychological Records Technician |
Susie Roe |
621-2715 x2209 |
| Records Technician |
Gwen Becki Moore |
621-2715 |
School Psychologist |
Dr. Bob Daniels |
626-4695 |
|
Nick Doman |
621-2835 |
|
Nick Hutlock |
621-2715 x2211 |
|
Dr. Ted Raponi |
621-2700 |
Speech & Language Pathologist |
Deb Capucini |
621-2715 x2201 |
|
Marla Higgins |
621-2715 x2210 |
Jeff Larsen |
621-2715 x2213 |
Rachel Roszman |
621-2715 x1253 |
| Leslie Zimmerman |
621-2715 x2214 |
|
|
