Glenwood City board of education learns about Special Education process
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By Amber Hayden
GLENWOOD CITY — The Glenwood City Board of Education met on Monday evening, September 9, and were given an update for how the referral process works for Special Education.
Nicole Brite explained she had sat in on both the high/middle school and elementary school staff meetings before the start of the new school year to let teachers know that anyone can make the referral.
“The referral timeline doesn’t stop at the end of the school year,” Brite stated. “I let teachers and staff know that they should get it to me by March 1 though.”
The process in depth starts with the first 15 days when letters of consent are sent to the parents to let them know about the upcoming testing of their child as well as getting the approval to do so.
Once the forms are sent back, the school district has 60 days to perform the evaluation and set up a meeting with the parents to explain what happened during testing, after which the school then has 30 days to set up an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) for the student.
“An IEP doesn’t mean an automatic pass for a class,” Brite explained. “But it also means that not every student who has an IEP has a learning disability either.”
Any staff member can send a referral as well as intervene on the student’s behalf.
The Parent Teacher Connection (PTC) will be looking at holding a tailgate party on September 27, possibly, on the playground before the Hilltoppers take on the Mondovi Buffaloes.
“It’s just a way to reach more families and get to know them better,” said elementary principal Betsy Haltinner.
PTC has also opened their sponsor grants to teachers to help fund a special project, the grant is in the amount of $500.00 and last year it paid for a participant from American Ninja Warrior to speak to the fifth graders.
Patrick Gretzlock discussed the number of students participating in athletics this fall with cross country seeing the biggest numbers between the high school and middle school.
There are currently 56 students in cross country and Gretzlock has proposed the hiring of a second assistant coach for the program.
Matthew Schutz, head coach, broached the idea of the third coaching staff member so that the middle school athletes would not be alone while he and his assistant coach were on the course letting the runners know times and being supportive.
“We want there to be someone at the finish line for each runner that crosses to tell them they did a great job,” Schutz said to the board.
Gretzlock let the board know that there is already a candidate in mind for the position and that they would have the recommendation for the next board meeting.
During the meeting the Board of Education:
• Approved the resignation of Ann Borgenheimer as elementary teacher at the close of the 2019-20 school year.
• Approved Taylor Bergmann as a volunteer volleyball coach.
• Approved the Class of 2024 Fund 60.
• Approved overnight travel for the National FFA Convention (October 29 – November 1).
• Approved a $5,000 donation to Topper Partnership Foundation from Larry and Eleanor Mousel.
• Approved a scholarship – SF Insurance Group.
• Approved Theresa Shackett as a regular route driver.
• Approved the posting for a part-time Hilltopper Hangtime/Tiny Topper staff member (as needed).
• Approved the revised long-term capital plan.
The Board of Education will meet again on Monday, September 23, with a 5:30 p.m. committee meeting and a 6:30 p.m. board meeting.
