New preschool special ed program comes with higher cost for county
NORWICH – Following a decision made by the DCMO BOCES board of education to suspend a preschool special education program offered since 1992, the Child Development Council of Broome County (CDC) announced it will expand its services to the Norwich BOCES campus during the 2012-2013 school year.
Much like the current BOCES program, CDC plans to offer two 150 minute-long sessions during the day for special education preschool students. Additionally, CDC will offer two 210 minute sessions for needier students – an option that hasn’t been available with the BOCES program. Special needs preschoolers will be evaluated by their respective school districts to determine which course they should be enrolled in.
But longer class times and potentially higher tuition rates proposed by CDC are alarming county officials. Tuition and transportation rates are approved by the New York State Department of Education while county taxpayers are responsible to pay.
It’s unsure whether or not the state education department will approve an increase in rates for the CDC program, but if rates are raised, county officials estimate that costs could increase by as much as $35,000-$45,000 for the school year, which they say would exceed the two percent tax cap.
Several students in the BOCES preschool special education program require occupational and speech therapies that takes away from time spent in a classroom setting, said Patti Gallaher, BOCES director of special education.
“Those students would benefit from a longer program, but it’s also important to maintain the current option,” Gallaher said. “I think the state education department has made efforts to assess the needs before moving forward ... at this point, it’s still in review.”
In a letter written to NYS Commissioner of Education John King, Jr., Chenango Board of Supervisors Chairman Lawrence Wilcox, R-Oxford, expressed concerns regarding the length of the program, its effect on transportation costs and the impact it will have on the county’s budget.
“This is a difficult time for the county and not an opportune time to increase the level of preschool special education services,” wrote Wilcox. “The county must comply with the two percent tax cap while also paying for other state mandated services such as Medicaid and Early Intervention ... The recent 2012-2013 budget enacted by the state legislature does not provide mandate relief to counties for preschool special education. Therefore, increasing mandated services would be inappropriate.”
Wilcox also stated that “there is no documented evidence that the DCMO BOCES SC/IC (special class/integrated setting) was not meeting the needs of classified preschoolers” and that “an increase in the length of the program is not warranted.”
Currently, 32 Chenango County preschoolers are enrolled in 150 minute-long courses at the BOCES Norwich campus.
From July 2010 to June 2011, the county spent more than $352,000 on transportation costs, noted Wilcox. “With a two percent tax cap, Chenango County cannot afford to see increases for preschool transportation services,” he added.
Regardless of the challenge to meet the pending financial demands of a new preschool special education program, BOCES Assistant Superintendent Doreen Rowe said the school took cautionary measures when deciding to discontinue their services.
“Our focus all along has been to meet the needs of the students in a fiscally responsible manner,” she said. “Allowing them (CDC) to use our resources was an important part of the decision.”
Much like the current BOCES program, CDC plans to offer two 150 minute-long sessions during the day for special education preschool students. Additionally, CDC will offer two 210 minute sessions for needier students – an option that hasn’t been available with the BOCES program. Special needs preschoolers will be evaluated by their respective school districts to determine which course they should be enrolled in.
But longer class times and potentially higher tuition rates proposed by CDC are alarming county officials. Tuition and transportation rates are approved by the New York State Department of Education while county taxpayers are responsible to pay.
It’s unsure whether or not the state education department will approve an increase in rates for the CDC program, but if rates are raised, county officials estimate that costs could increase by as much as $35,000-$45,000 for the school year, which they say would exceed the two percent tax cap.
Several students in the BOCES preschool special education program require occupational and speech therapies that takes away from time spent in a classroom setting, said Patti Gallaher, BOCES director of special education.
“Those students would benefit from a longer program, but it’s also important to maintain the current option,” Gallaher said. “I think the state education department has made efforts to assess the needs before moving forward ... at this point, it’s still in review.”
In a letter written to NYS Commissioner of Education John King, Jr., Chenango Board of Supervisors Chairman Lawrence Wilcox, R-Oxford, expressed concerns regarding the length of the program, its effect on transportation costs and the impact it will have on the county’s budget.
“This is a difficult time for the county and not an opportune time to increase the level of preschool special education services,” wrote Wilcox. “The county must comply with the two percent tax cap while also paying for other state mandated services such as Medicaid and Early Intervention ... The recent 2012-2013 budget enacted by the state legislature does not provide mandate relief to counties for preschool special education. Therefore, increasing mandated services would be inappropriate.”
Wilcox also stated that “there is no documented evidence that the DCMO BOCES SC/IC (special class/integrated setting) was not meeting the needs of classified preschoolers” and that “an increase in the length of the program is not warranted.”
Currently, 32 Chenango County preschoolers are enrolled in 150 minute-long courses at the BOCES Norwich campus.
From July 2010 to June 2011, the county spent more than $352,000 on transportation costs, noted Wilcox. “With a two percent tax cap, Chenango County cannot afford to see increases for preschool transportation services,” he added.
Regardless of the challenge to meet the pending financial demands of a new preschool special education program, BOCES Assistant Superintendent Doreen Rowe said the school took cautionary measures when deciding to discontinue their services.
“Our focus all along has been to meet the needs of the students in a fiscally responsible manner,” she said. “Allowing them (CDC) to use our resources was an important part of the decision.”
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