DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 373 482 EC 303 250

TITLE A Blueprint for Building the Future: A Strategic Planfor Special Education Services in Colorado.

INSTITUTION Colorado State Dept. of Education, Denver. SpecialEducation Services Unit.

PUB DATE 94

NOTE 26p.

PUB TYPE Viewpoints (Opinion/Position Papers, Essays, etc.)(120)

EDRS PRICE MFOI/PCO2 Plus Postage.DESCRIPTORS *Disabilities; Educational Objectives; Educational

Planning; Elementary Secondary Education; Long RangePlanning; Preschool Education; *Special Education;*Statewide Planning; Strategic Planning

IDENTIFIERS *Colorado

ABSTRACTThis pamphlet presents a strategic plan to guide and

direct the Special Education Services Unit of the Colorado StateBoard of Education as it seeks to meet the needs of Colorado studentswith disabilities and their families. The plan was developed byparents, educators, administrators, policyinakers, advocates, andrepresentatives of other groups concerned about the well-being ofColorado's students with disabilities. The plan outlines a vision.

mission, and values. It then presents six goals, each accompanied byobjectives and strategies. The six goals focus on: (1) developing aresponsive, collaborative family-centered system of educational andhuman services based on the strengths and needs of the child withinthe context of the family, and ensuring access to and coordination ofservices: (2) enhancing knowledge and skills of Colorado's families.communities, and educators; (3) ensuring full inclusion of personswith disabilities in the life of their communities; (4) increasingcommunication and responsiveness to the circumstances of studentswith disabilities and their families; (5) developing an effective and

efficient educational system; and (6) implementing performance

standards for all students. (MD)

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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be madefrom the original document.

fA Blueprint

a for Buildingthe FutureA Strategic Plan forSpecial Education Servicesin Colorado

FI

U.S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONOffice of Education& Researrh and improvement

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATIONCENTER (ERICI_/ CENTER

document has been reproduced asreceived Iron the person or organizationorlymaltng

O Minor changes have beer made lb tmprovereproduction dually

Pamts of view or optrhons Stated in ins docu.went do not necessarily represent edictalOE RI position or policy

"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS

MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY

TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."

rc) Special Education Services Unit.Colorado Department of Education

BEST COPY AVAILABLE2

1994

Table of Contents

Page

Introduction 3

Vision, Mission, and Values Statement 9

Goals, Objectives, and Action Strategies 11

Goal One 11

Goal Two 14

Goal Three 16

Goal Four 17

Goal Five 19

Goal Six

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL INTHE SITUATION WE ARE IN RATHER THANTHE ONE IN WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO BE.

Participant in the developmentof the Blueprint

FOJEC7

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IntroductionIn 1988, the Colorado State Board of Educa-

tion adopted goals ten- improving education inColorado. Specifically targeted as being in need ofa statewide plan of action were increases in atten-dance and graduation rates, and improvements inachievement levels. At about the same time, dis-cussions began about the restructuring of educa-tion in the state, including some specific discussionrelated to the unification of the "special educationsystem- with the "regular education system:

These two eventscoupled with the needfor the Special Education Services Unit of theColorado I )(.partment of Education to be re-sponsive to its clientele in this time of changesand fiscal uncertainty----led to the idea of devel-oping a strategic plan that would help guide anddirect the Special Education Services Unit as itsought to meet the needs of its Colorado studentswith disabilities and their families.

On Jul 21, 1992, the Special EducationServices Unit called together a group of morethan 49 people in a planning process that wouldextend until the fall of 1993. Participants includ-ed parents, educators, administrators,makers, advocates, and representatives of othergroups concerned about the well-being of Col-orado's students with disabilities and their fami-lies. The group established a goal of bringing theplanning process to a close within one year. Thepassage in 1993 of House Bill 1313, which ad-dressed educational standards and restructuring,

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A f3luerriht for 5uilJihe the Future 3

added urgency to the planning process and pro-vided impetus for bringing it to a close withinthe one-Year goal established by the group.

Participants divided themselves into hourwork groups focusing on school, community, in-tergovernmental cooperation, and ramilv. Theirfirst task was to study the Colorado I >epartmencof:Education's vision, mission, and Value's state-ments, and to use these statements to developgoals and objectives that will guide special educa-tion in Colorado for the next five to ten years.Their second task was to develop timelines andaction strategies to make the goals into reality.

Seeing the need to fit special education into, thelarger overall picture of school restructuring in Col-orado. participants solicited ideas from the groupsthey represented. For example, principals contactedother principals for their input. and parents reachedout to other parents to learn their ideas and OM-( elm. In addition. one of the work groups distrib-uted questionnaires across the state to determinehow Coloradans define -community- and howconlillUilltiCS can proactively support the lull inclu-sion of students with disabilities and their families.

This B/w /vim for Building the Future summa-rizes the best thinking of not only participants inthe process. but those they represent. It shouldnot be viewed. as final and unalterable. Instead.after careful consideration, participants deter-mined that what began as a plan should become a"blueprint;' because while it provides goals forpolicy-makers, its objectives and strategies can hemodified as conditions and needs change.

A Blueprint for Building the Future

5

In the coming months, participants and staffof the Special Education Services Unit %\ ill meetwith groups across the state to present the Blue-print and to encourage their participation in mak-ing its dream a reality.

darticipants who spent many long hours todevelop the Bitreprint are listed below. The (:ol-orado :)epartment of Education k grateiid tothem for their time, caring. and commitment:

Beth Alseike, Special Education .h.'ainLeader. Cherry Creek Schools

Jane Amundson, Consultant, Special Educa-tion Services Unit, Colorado I )epartment ofEducation

James Bader, Superintendent, Roaring ForkSchool I )istrict

Ken Brown, Superintendent, Hayden SchoolDistrict

Cyndy Burd, Parent and Coordinator,Parents Encouraging Parents

Chuck Cassio, Consultant, School Effec-tiveness Unit, Colorado Department ofEducation

Kay Cessna, Consultant, Special EducationServices Unit, Colorado Department of Ed-ucation

Henry Claypool. University ofRobert Conklin, Consultant, Regional Edu-

cational Services Unit, Colorado Department of Education

PPOJEG411111,

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A blueprint for building .,;he Future 5

6

Joan Diedrich, Director of Special Educa-tion, Arapahoe School I )istrict #1

Henry Dryden, Parent Member, State Advi-sory Committee

Bill Evans, Administrator. Western Academy,Residential Cl»lci Care Facility, Rifle

Royce Forsyth, Member, State Board ofEducation, 1)istrict

Lorrie Harkness, I )irector of Special Educa-tion, El Paso School District #2(1

Janice Hartmangruber, Deputy I )irector,Colorado Association of School Executives

Laura Huerta, Teacher, Adams School)istrict #271

Marilyn Jaitly, Superintendent. ColoradoSchool for the Deaf and the Blind,(:olorado Srings

Beth Johnson, Parent and Member, Board orEducation, Thompson It 2-.1 School Dis-trict, Loveland

Frank Johnson, I)irector, (:olorado Educa-tion Association

Ray Kilmer, Executive Director, Pikes PeakBoard of (:ooperative Educational Services

Elizabeth Kozleski, Assistant Professor ofSpecial Education. University of:Coloradoat 1 )(lier

Kristen Kutz, Attorney, The Legal CenterRebecca Lamb, Advocate. Colorado Associ-

ation of Family Child Care

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A Nuepritit for Building the Future 6

Patty Lee, Ashtant Prole\sor ot-Special Edu-cation, UniverItv of Colorado

Tom Macs. Superintendent, Adams CountySchool I >istrict 1

Lorene Marez. Hementary "Feacher, LamarSchool I )i.triet R

Ann Maynard. Parent and I )irector, EfIectiveParent Project

Jim Melhouse. Principal. Arvada HighSchool, Jefferson County Schook RI

Ray Peterson, l egislator, Colorado GeneralAembjv

Karen Pielin. I hrector of Special Education,1 arimer (*minty School District

Terri Rogers Connolly, Consultant, SpecialEducation Services Unit, Colorado I>epart-men: of l'Alikation

Janet Rountree, Parent, Cherry CreekSc hook

Ken Seeley, I )n-ector, Colorado FamilyPreservation Project

Dave Smith, I )vector, HiJ:h Risk InterventionUnit. Colorado I )epartment of Education

Fred Smokoski, 1)irector, Special EducationServices Unit, Colorado Department of Ed-ucation

Jeff Strully, Executive Director, Colorado As-sociation for Community Living

-0111011.0a.gralimpre

A blueprint for buIJing the F

Myron Swize, Consultant. Special EducationService; Unit, Colorado Department of Ed-ucation

Jane Toothaker, Director of Special Educa-tion, Northwest Colorado Board of Coop-erative Education Services

Kent Willis, Attorney, & Willis, Frisco

John Wooster, Executive Director, Centenni-al Developmental Services, Inc., Evans

Christy Yoshinaga-Itano, Assistant Professorof Speech and Language. University ofColorado

PROJECT.101.1.1=1.....1.1.11.11.1.M.M

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A Blueprint for Building the Futw e

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Vision, Mission, andValues Statementsof the Special Education Services Unit,Colorado Department of Education

Vision

We envision:An education system in which all students are

valued as learners who experience success and areprepared fOr community living and participation.

Communities that are respecfil of diversityand proactive in support of the bill inclusion ofindividuals and families in all aspects of

life.

A health and human services system that is re-sponsive to the unique circumstances of individu-als Ind families and respects their rights to makechoices.

A society in winch all individuals are valuedand active participants.

MissionThe mission of the Colorado Department of Ed-ucation, Special Education Services Unit, is toprovide the leadership that ensures and promotesa dynamic and effective system of education forstudents with disabilities in Colorado.

011111=0.

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A blueprint for building the Future

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9

Values

The Colorado Pepartment of Education. SpecialEducation Services Unit, adopts values in which:

N Students \vi:h disabilities are active participantswith their non-disabled peers;

III Support is available within the schools andother settings to enable students to benefit fromtheir individually determined education;

111 A full range of services is available to each stu-dent and family;

U Parents are informed partners with profession-als in planning and ensuring the delivery of edu-cation and related services;

Each student has the opportunity to gainknowledge and skills; and

Each student leaves school ready to contributeto society.

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A Dluepririt for Building 'c,he Future

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Goals, Objectives, andAction Strategiesfor the Special Education Services Unit,Colorado Department of Education

GOAL 1: Colorado will.develop aresponsive, collaborative family-centeredsystem of educational and humanservices that is based on the strengths,needs, and unique circumstances of thechild within the context of the family,and that will ensure access to andcoordination of services..'Objective 1. To develop a system that ensuresthat service providers work in partnership withfamilies to identify and address the comprehen-sive needs of students with disabilities. (Targetdate: July 14)96 and ongoing)

Strategy A. Create or utilize existing inter-agency councils to promote integrated serv-ices (for example, include Part H, preschoolcouncils, special education advisory com-mittees, or Social Service Placement Alter-natives Commissions).

Strategy B. Require meaningful family repre-sentation on local interagency councils.

Strategy C. Assist in the development and im-plementation of local interagency agreementsto meet unique community circumstances.

.1111=1111ff-

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Objective 2. To involve families in the develop-ment and implementation of collaborative serv-ice plans that provide tbr all the needs of chil-dren and families. (Target date: July 1999 andOngoing)

Strategy A. Assist Local Education Agencies(LEAs) in identifying and utilizing a varietyof and resources to support families,including, support in the areas of respitecare, nutrition, emergency funds, before-and after-school care, recreation, transition,transportation, and specialized equipment.

Strategy B. Obtain commitment of resourcesfrom multiple agencies through contractsand reciprocal agreements.

Strategy C. Identify flexible funding thatcan be used to establish and maintain newservices.

Strategy D. Establish a student follow-up sys-tem to monitor both the provision of serv-ices and family satisfaction.

Objective 3. To promote fnily-centered serv-ices models in communities across the state. (Tar-get date: July 1997 and ongoing)

Strategy A. Develop a family-centered serv-ices model.

Strategy B. Assist local interagency groups todevelop action plans to implement thefamily-centered services model.

Objective 4. To assure that participation of fam-ilies is representative of the diversity of the com-munity. (Target date: July 19% and ongoing)

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A E3futi9ririt for Dui !ding the Future ,10ow

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Strategy i. Assist LEAs to identif the de-mographics of the community.

Strategy B. Promote selection of diverse par-ent representation on local planning groups.

Strategy C. Assist LEAs to provide acce.s toinformation and services in a variety or for-mats designed to meet diverse family needs(language, literacy, culture).

Objective 5. To promote individual and familywellness. (Target date: July 1994 and ongoing)

Strategy A. Cooperate with other units ofthe Colorado I )apartment of Education andall local, state, and regional education andhuman services agencies to develop a modelfor a comprehensive wellness educationprogram.

Strategy B. Model individual wellness ac-tivities within the Special Education Serv-ices Unit and encourage the extension ofwellness activities to employees' familymembers.

Strategy C. 1)uring the Individual Educa-tional Planning, process, encourage the con-sideration of all the needs of the child andfimilv (including physical and emotionalwell- being, and fultiihnent of such basicneeds as food, clothing, shelter, and in-come), and refer to community resources ifnecessary.

A Blue )ririt for Building the Future

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GOAL 2: The knowledge and skills ofColorado's families, communities, andall educators will continue to 6eenhanced.

Objective 1. To ensure that training efforts ad-dress identified needs of families, communities,and educators, and to deliver training in geo-graphic areas when appropriate. (Target date:September 1994 and ongoing)

Strategy A. Conduct surveys to discovertraining needs.

Strategy B. Develop a plan to provide re-sources and conduct training statewide,regionally, and/or locally, as appropriate.

Strategy C. Provide support to communitiesto establish family, school, and communityeducation and training programs and part-nerships.

Objective 2. To coordinate all training efforts ofthe Colorado Department of Education. (Targetdate: September 1994 and ongoing)

Strategy A. Develop and continually update amaster calendar of all training efforts of theI )apartment.

Strategy 3. Disseminate the master calendarand information about training opportuni-ties statewide and on an ongoing basis toagencies and personnel (such as directors ofspecial education and BOCES, families, ad-visory groups, and superintendent ofschools).

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A Dfuei9rint for Building the Future 14

Strategy C. To include general educationpersonnel in staff development conductedby the Special Education Services Unit.

Objective 3. To encourage higher educationsystems involved in educator training programs toprovide training to all educators concerning fam-ily issues and collaborative service-delivery. (Tar-get date: July 1, and ongoing)

Strategy A. Encourage review of curricula toensure the inclusion c ffamily issues in edu-cator training programs.

Strategy B. Assign staff members from theSpecial Education Services Unit as liaisonsto each educator training program in Col-orado.

Strategy C. Encourage colleges and universi-ties with educator training programs to as-sign liaisons to the Special Education Serv-ices Unit.

Strategy D. Facilitate joint training efforts be-tween school districts and colleges and uni-versities with educator training programs.

A 5luerririt for building the Future"AC,E

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GOAL 3: Colorado will take steps toensure that persons with dioal7ilitiesare fully included in the life of theircommunities.

Objective 1. To increase community awarenessof persons with disabilities and issues related todisabilities and to support community agenciesand organization.. that seek to include those indi-viduals fully in the life of the community. (Targetdate:lulv 1997 and ongoing)

Strategy A. Provide --ommunitY groups withconcise information about disabilities thataffect Colorado's children and youth.

Strategy B. Develop a menu of responses tocommunity requests for additional informa-tion about disabilities, including a system bywhich communities can gain access to thisinformation.

Objective 2. To help individuals with disabilitiesand their familis make choices about their com-munity involvement. (Target date: July 1(fl5 andongoing)

Strategy A. Identify strategies that will helpindividuals with disabilities and their fami-lies involve themselves in their communities.

Strategy B. Disseminate these strategies toschool districts and interagency groups.

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GOAL 4: There will be increasedcommunication and responsiveness tothe unique circumstances of studentswith disabilities and their familiesthroughout the state's education andhuman services system.

Objective 1. -16 develop and implement aprocess that will review existing state-level inter-agency agreements to determine whether theyreflect the values of the Special Education Servic-es Unit' mission statement, and to update themas necessary. (Target date: July 1995 and ongoing)

Strategy A. Select an existing interagencyagreement to serve as a pilot: conduct hear-ings with individuals who represent differentconstituencies so as to identify obstacles toachieving the values of the mission state-ment; and revise and distribute the agree-ment.

Strategy B. -Frain the appropriate individualsto implement the updated interagencyagreements.

Objective 2. To make legislative and administra-tive recommendations to the Colorado Depart-ment of Education that %Yin make the educationand human services systems more responsive tothe unique circumstances of individuals with dis-abilities and their families. (Target date: July 1995and ongoing)

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Strategy A. Hold public hearings to deter-mine legislative and administrative issues.and analyze which of the issues can be ad-dressed administratively (regulations, poli-cies, procedures, practices, preservice andinservice training), and which must be ad-dressed by legislation.

Strategy B. Make recommendations to the(:olorado I)cpartment of Education to actupon recommendations from the publichearings.

Objective 3. Id increase communication amongstate-level agencies involved with the educationof students with disabilities and their families.tTarget date: July 1995 and ongoing)

Strategy A. Establish better communicationnetworks within the entire (:olorado I )e-partment of Education. including agreementon clear, common language between gener-al education and special education.

Strategy B. Establish and maintain a system ofcommunication with the I )epartinents ofHealth, Social Services, and Institutions (andthe new departments to be created) as thesedepartments are restructured.

A Blueprint for Building the Future 15

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GOAL 5: Colorado's educational systemfor students with disabilities will beeffective and efficient.

Objective 1. To seek full funding for special ed-ucation costs. (T..rget date: 1996 and ongoing)

Strategy A. I Lent...v adeq state revenueto fulfill Colorado's Exci ,tonal Children'sEducational Act or integrate special educa-tion costs into a new public school fundingformula.

Strategy B. I )eVelOp a more uniform excesscost formula for out-of-district placementsand clarify allowable costs for providingcomparable services.

Strategy C. I )evelop written procedures orguidelines that will help staffing teams de-termine which medical and mental healthservices are the fiscal responsibility of schooldistricts.

Strategy D. Provide written guidelines re-garding staffing ratios and their relationshipto funding. and ensure that the process isequitable.

Objective 2. Expedite distribution of state fundsto LEAs. (Target date: December 1993 and on-going)

Strategy A. Assure the adequate staffing ofColorado I )epartment of Education person-nel involved in the reimbursement process.

TOJEt..1" FACFE

A blueprint for building the Future 19

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Strategy B. Assign operations personnel toeach reg.on to provide technical assistanceand solve problems.

Objective 3. To develop a process that will en-sure the availability of federal dollars to meetcontracted obligations. (Target date: Ongoing)

Strategy A. (:ontinue to streamline the ( ol-orado Department of Education's fiscal dis-tribution process to local special educationunits.

Strategy B. Ensure that the Special EducationServices UM; submits state plan revisions tothe federal gov,rnment so as to ensure theflow of Federal funds to Colorado at the be-ginning of each sthool year.

Objective 4. TO stand.:rdize and streamline thespecial education reporting system. (Target date:Ongoing)

Strategy A. Utilise discretionary dollars ear-marked for the regions to provide ongoingtraining that will assure local fiscal and ad-ministrative efficiency.

Strategy B. Streamline the data collectionsys! In to be more consistent with the gen-eral education process.

Strategy C. Ensure that a representative fromthe Special Education Services Unit serveson the Information Processing AssociationCommittee.

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Objective S. lip unpro,. and expedite the spe-(ial education licen,ure and certification appli-cation process. (Target date: July It)(17 And on-going)

Strategy A. iniplifv the .pecial education.tafi-approval prose,,.

Strategy B. Encourage the Teacher Educa-tion and Certification Unit to develop poli-cies to pprOVe itWrit...Moll at one location

uhin one department and to ensure thatcertification IN 1111.1117ed within Nix weeks 01

Strategy C. I-Incotirage the leacher Educa-tion and Certification Unit to develop reci-Foca\ policies with other state..

Strategy I). Urge the *leacher Education andCertification Unit to add the opportunityfiw candidate, in the Alternative Certifica-tion Program to Litiahly for 'special educa-tion endorsements.

Strategy E. Work with Institutions of highereducation and other state licensing agenclesto develop program. for flexible and affiird-able special education endorsement.

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A blueprint for building the Future 21

GOAL 6: Colorado will adopt andimplement performance standards forall students, including students withdisabilities, and will develop qualityindicators for the delivery of specialeducation services.

Objective 1. 0 develop performance stan-dards that incorporate both state and federallegal requirements and ensure that proposedstandards will positively affect students with dis-abilities. (Target date: House Bill 1313 time-lines)

Strategy A. Conduct a study of Colorado ad-ministrative units and other states as to howcertified diplomas would address studentswith disabilities.

Strategy B. Based on the findings of thatstudy. make recommendations regardingperformance standards to the State Board ofEducation and other appropriate policy-making bodies.

Objective 2. TO develop and disseminatequality indicators for the delivery of special ed-ucation services. (Target date: I (1)6 andongoing)

Strategy A. Gather information relating toeffective models in the delivery of servicesto students with disabilities.

Strategy B. Identify the quality indicatorswithin the effective models.

A Dlueprint for 5uilding the Future

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Strategy C. Assist districts to implement theirmodels and to use quality indicators to eval-uate the effectiveness of the services provid-ed to students with disabilities.

Strategy D. Recognize administrativeunits that effectively implement qualityindicators.

A Blueprint for Building the Future 2'

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Colorado State Board of EducationSybil S. Downing, Chairman

Member at Large, BoulderPatricia M. Hayes, Vice Chairman

Sixth Congressional District, EnglewoodGladys S. Eddy

Fourth Congressional District, Fort. CollinsRoyce D. Forsyth

First Congressional District, DenverThomas M. Howerton

Fifth Congressional District,Colorado Springs

Ed LyellSecond Congressional I )istrict, Broomfield

Hazel F PetroccoThird Congressional I )istrict, Pueblo

Colorado Department of EducationLead Agency

William T. Randall, Ph.D., Commissioner

Lead Agency Staff--Special Education Services Unit

Brian A. McNulty, Ph.D.Executive Director of Special Services

Fred Smokoski, Ed.D.I )irector of Special Education

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printed on recycled paper

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