WEST MILFORD — Despite impassioned pleas from parents of special education students to hold off on a vote to hire new therapists, the West Milford Township Board of Education did indeed hire the therapists, who will be district employees, taking the place of the former therapists who were contract employees.
Parents wore black, as they did at the previous board of education meeting, and even more attended the July 30 meeting to advocate for their special needs children. Some parents said they brought their children to the meeting to show board members that their children are not just numbers, but real people with real needs.
Before they spoke
West Milford Township Superintendent of Schools James McLaughlin first addressed concerns brought by parents at the July 8 special meeting, where they were first told they could not speak because only agenda items may be addressed at a special meeting.
“At our last Board meeting a number of parents attended, and some very sincere and serious concerns were presented relative to the district’s direction in terms of related services and the decision to employ occupational and physical therapists rather than contract with independent providers, as had occurred previously,” said McLaughlin. “I recognize the critically important relationship between the therapist and child and also recognize the anxiety that a change in personnel may evoke, particularly when a student has benefitted and has made progress with a particular professional.”
The reasons supporting the board’s direction, he added, were all aimed at growing special education programs and offerings. Employing the therapists instead of contracting will allow the district to increase its therapies and implement servies not currently done.
The motivation is not money, McLaughlin added.
And the superintendent took responsibility for the failure to communicate the district’s plans in advance and in an effective manner.
“Please be assured that this type of pre-emptive communication will take place in the future.”
The board agreed to allow parents to speek on any topic at both public comments sections Tuesday night.
Parents speak for their children
One by one, parents pleaded with the board to delay the appointments of the new staff members and consider reinstating the former contracted therapists. They spoke about the need for their children to have continuity of care, expressed frustration over having the therapists “pushed out” by administrators, and voiced concerns that their children will regress during an adjustment period.
“The Special Service Department is so important for my child and others with special needs,” said Chris Rockey whose son is eight years old, blind with ADHD and sensory issues. “For them, it is the difference between college or not; being a productive member of society with a job, or living off the government in group homes. Special services for them is what will give them a normal life.”
Rockey was disappointed that his son's three former “amazing” therapists were forced out of the district.
“There have been many changes made that are not good for our children and are flat out hurting them,” he said. “Right now there are blanket decisions being made that are affecting all of our children.”
Heather Vandeweert spoke for her two children who have received special education services in the district since they were three years old.
“There’s a lot of blanket decisions being made that are not individual to the students; and that’s where my concern comes in,” said Vandeweert. “Personally I had an IEP meeting where decisions were made and I felt great after the meeting, and the next day every decision was reversed; absolutely reversed, every decision that we spent going over. It was completely micromanaged from the top down, and that concerns me."
William Stillman has a son and a daughter in the district, and his daughter has cerebral palsy. Choked up with emotion, he needed to take a moment to compose himself in order to speak. He made an impassioned plea to the board to postpone the vote to appoint new staff and to find a way to re-hire the previous staff.
“I need the board of education to do this, to try and understand what I’m going to tell you about right now and that is about continuity of care," said Stillman. “Basically what I’m asking you do to before you vote on hiring these people is to think about it…think about is there any way we can bring back these three women who rely on this town, live in this town, raising their families in this town.”
Stillman received a standing ovation from the audience.
Superintendent encourages the change
McLaughlin made his personnel recommendations, telling the board he heard the public comments but recommends the appointments be approved.
“I understand what the parents are saying; I don’t disagree, it’s not a dispute, it’s just a comment of emphasis,” said McLaughlin.
Trustee Jim Foody was the only board member to vote no on the new appointments. The remainder of the board agreed to the changes which will expand services one extra day for physical therapy and two extra days of service for occupational therapy at the same cost, according to the district.
Parents leaving the meeting were angry. Some shouted obscenities at the board members.
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