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Proposal for a Study of the Pre K-12 Milton School District Student Services Organization

Submitted by Zelda Zeleski, Ed.D. Date: January 30, 2010

Phase I: Program Audit What is the current status of the Milton Support Services Organization? (Documents, facts & figures, policies, procedures, programs and practices in place) Review of documents including, but not limited to:

• Any Special Education and Section 504 policies and procedures • Existing mission statement, core value statements • School discipline policy and procedures • Existing special education organizational chart • Existing special education administration, teacher and para-educator job

descriptions. • Student Services manual • Existing special education and remedial program descriptions • Parent/student handbook(s) • Staff handbook(s) • School Action Plan • Special Education data (child count data, graduation, dropout and

suspension data, assessment & performance data, budget, etc.) Interviews:

• Superintendent • Director of student support services • Assistant director of student support services • School Principals • A sample of special education and regular class teachers K-12

Phase II: Program Inquiry How do people think and feel about the Milton Student Services organization’s work? Does it meet the needs of students eligible for special education and/or protected under Section 504? What is the approach used or philosophy held about working with parents? Is there a district-wide philosophy regarding the education of students with disabilities? How is discipline of students eligible for special education handled? What is the impact, if any, on other students and teachers in the school? What’s working? What isn’t? What is causing the turmoil? (Perceptions, beliefs, values, feelings, relationships)

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Interviews:

• Parents (up to 12, including those who have expressed concerns and potentially some who are satisfied/or have not expressed a concern with student services. May include parents of children who are not eligible for special education).

• Superintendent • Director of Student Services • Assistant Director of Student Services • Principals (6) • Classroom teachers, special subject teachers, remedial teachers and

guidance counselors (up to 10 as needed) • Special Educators (up to 6 as needed) • Para-educators (up to 4 as needed)

Phase III: Analysis, Writing and Reporting Deliverable: Written report presented to and reviewed with School Board Sub-Committee and Superintendent. Estimated Hours, Cost and Timeline Maximum Hours: 82 Maximum Cost: 82 hours X $125 pre hour = $10,250 Other Expenses: travel time will be billed an hourly rate of $75.00 Timeline: Final report completed by May 14, 2010 With projects such as this one it is difficult to estimate the number of hours needed because little is known about what will be found once interviews begin. Every attempt will be made to complete the work in less time than the maximum hours stated. The school board will be billed only for hours worked. Estimated hours for interviews were based on individual interviews. Group interviews will be held if possible and appropriate. If more time than the maximum hours stated is needed to complete the project the school board will not be billed for that additional time and the project will be completed by May 14, 2010 at the latest. Confidentially It is not possible to promise interviewees that the information they share during interviews will remain confidential. It is likely that some information will need to be shared in order to verify facts and understand how others perceive certain situations that have led to the current dissatisfaction. Discretion will be the rule. Personally identifiable information about parents and students will not be used in written reports in order to comply with the Family Rights and Privacy Act. Finally, it is my understanding that Central Office will arrange space for interviews, provide contact information and collect documents for review as needed. I also

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understand that I will have access to the superintendent when needed and will discuss matters involving personnel only with the superintendent. In all other matters related to this project I will report to Doug Stout and Mary Knight who are serving as a sub-committee of the school board. Respectfully Submitted, Zelda Zeleski, Ed.D. Efficacy In Action, LLC