Parents: School district's weak special education program is depriving children

MARS, Pa. — Parents in the Mars Area School District say the lack of special education services is hurting their children.

We're at the meeting and will have a recap, on Channel 11 News at 11 p.m.

Julia Konitzki’s young sons are living with special needs. Matthew is 6, and Alex is 5. Both need special education services, but Konitzki says the district is not providing it.

“We don’t have learning support, emotional support,” she said. “We don’t have autistic support. So now I’m scared, I’m frightened for Alex and Matthew, because I thought these were going to be in place when we came here.”

Konitzki is not alone. Dana Briggs’ 5-year-old son, Rocco, is on the autism spectrum. She is so fed up with not receiving the proper federally mandated education for her child, she may move districts.

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“I just want the option to not pick up and move (from) a house that we built and we brought our kids home to,” she said. “I want to stay in the district and I want my kids to have the same opportunity everyone else in Pennsylvania gets.”

State audits from 2012 and 2017 found the Mars special education program had a pattern of deficiencies. Specifically, children not being taught in the least restrictive environment, meaning keeping them in the district learning with neuro-typical children. The district is also out of compliance with parent and staff training in emotional and behavioral support.

The district brought in a consultant and says it is working on these issues.

That’s not good enough for the mothers who say every day the district is out of compliance is a day their children are missing out.

“The only the only way to go is up from here, because for so long it’s been given noncompliant, like we’vr talked about with the audit,” Konitski said. “I mean, that’s just bare minimal state requirements – we’re not even talking about beyond.”

The district met with upset parents on Monday night to lay the groundwork for fixing the program, which would include tailoring education to specific students’ needs and offering more services in district buildings instead of sending students for outside help.

"We're looking to make some dramatic changes to our special education program," Superintendent Wes Shipley said. "I think everybody's passionate about their own children and they want to see the best possible outcome for their own children.

"I think what's important to note is we're all passionate about children and want to do the right thing."

Cox Media Group