Don't Scapegoat Disabled for District Budget
Woes
by Bob Witanek
As a co-founder of the NJ Student Advocacy Union
http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org , I am concerned about the way Audubon
superintendent Don Borden is presenting budget changes to the local community
there, particularly his reference to the special
education costs for two students entering the district.
To be fair, as special education students enter the system, so do they graduate
and age out of the system as well. Any fluctuation in costs from special
education should net out the savings from those leaving the system or moving out
of district, any changes in services where students might no longer need as much
support from the prior year and any special education assistance from the state
and federal government being provided. Also, a good question for districts
usually is how much is the district incurring in legal expenses to fight
parents and students instead of working with the parents in design of special
education programs? How hard is the district working to apply for extra
assistance, grants, etc., that NJ and the US provides to assist special
education provision? How much is the special education cost changing,
after adjusting for inflation and how does the change compare to that of other
items? What other items are changing by a greater amount that are not being
mentioned to the press and at meetings by the superintendent?
It seems like the superintendent’s dwelling on the costs for the two students in
question is misrepresenting the special education item and placing undue
attention on those students. Districts usually tout their anti-bullying
programs – this highlighting the costs for these two students who are obviously
severely disabled is the ultimate epitome of bullying and it is being carried
out by someone who is supposed to be the foremost educational leader in the
district! This type of rhetoric can create unnecessary animosity among
local residents and other parents who are already frustrated from high taxes,
rising costs of energy and health costs, professional compensation that does not
keep pace with cost of living increases and other economic problems. Why
not pick the weakest members of the community and make them the scapegoat? For
shame Mr. Borden!
Usually when superintendent’s scapegoat special education students and programs
around budget time or at other times, it is symptomatic of much deeper problems
in the district including mishandling of special education cases. It would
behoove
the board to quietly talk to Mr. Borden and ask him not to harp on the costs of
educating two severely disabled students in the newspapers and at meetings.
If you want to unite the community and want support from all parents, do not
create
false division between parents of disabled and typically abled students.
It is scapegoat politics and it stinks.
Hopefully, Mr. Borden and other administrators as well as the board will revise
their strategy as they advance their proposals and pursue their budget in April.
Sincerely,
Bob Witanek
http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
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