Parents worried about special education in South Country during budget cuts
Melissa Dipasquale says her three autistic daughters are not getting the help they need.
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Dozens of cuts have been made to school employees and programs in the South Country district during ongoing financial trouble.
One parent says it’s affecting her kids and their special education requirements. Melissa Dipasquale has three daughters. All of them have autism among other medical needs and have special requirements at school.
“Because of the budget cuts, they are now taking away services…” Dipasquale said. “I'm scared because I see how they're struggling right now with everything.”
Dipasquale’s oldest daughter is in second grade. She says she wears hearing aids, but the school removed her speech therapy against medical documentation. Her middle daughter did well on a test with accommodations, and the school took away all her services.
Dipasquale says she’s documented everything, and her kids still need speech, occupational and physical therapy as well as aides in their classes.
“There's not enough staff, there's not enough aides, and there's a lot more kids,” Dipasquale said. “They’re not getting the help that they need.”
After discovering a budget deficit of more than $10 million, the district cut dozens of positions and is proposing dozens more cuts. The plan also targets programs including arts, AP classes and sports.
Dipasquale says she’s going to keep standing up for her girls, no matter how hard it gets.
“I have to fight for my kids because if I don't fight for my kids, who's going to fight for them?” Dipasquale said.
A statement from Interim Superintendent John Dolan:
"While we do not discuss individual student matters, what we can say is that our special needs students have received the full complement of services their individualized IEPs have required throughout this school year. Honoring special needs students' IEPs, as determined by the CSE Committee, is not only our policy but also a state mandate. While our proposed 26-27 budget calls for cuts in staffing and selective student programs, we will continue to provide the essential support services needed to fulfill the requirements specified by an individual student's IEP, as required by District policy and the state. We will continue working with the parents of our special needs students to ensure their children have every opportunity to thrive in our schools."
