Dear Editor,
I’d like to share with you my experience as a Tiny Tots parent amid the current cyclone of events. My intent in writing is not to cast blame or bad-mouth the BOE in its recent decision to close the program. I am sure they are trying to do the right thing. The problem as you will see from my experience is that they are not and I would like to take this opportunity to implore them to find a more appropriate solution than they have.
Parents were told that they would be placed in an identical program as what they had in Tiny Tots. We went in to the open house last night with an open mind to try and make this work. What I saw concerned me not only for myself and other Tiny Tots parents but for all children in the district. If we could be victims of such a bait and switch, than all parents in Lakewood should realize that the same risk applies to them. What was touted as a bright alternative with an identical program has proven to be nothing more than a shadow of its predecessor, and a poor one at that.
The greatest irony in my opinion is that this whole thing started when the state came in to ‘inspect’ the Tiny Tots facility. After they ‘deemed’ it unsuitable and the program has been closed, one would think these kids would be placed at a superior location. Think again.
Our kids were used to going to a school with high ceilings, spacious classrooms, clean floors and plenty of window space. The replacement trailers are severely inferior and bear not a bit of resemblance to what we had. Now before anyone jumps on me that I am just looking to get the best for myself and that I am coming in with a misplaced attitude of entitlement, I’d like readers to understand that special needs kids and specifically those with sensory or multi-sensory issues do not acclimate as well to new environments as regular ed kids. These are kids that fall down on well built stairs in their homes, and have a hard time getting dressed by themselves. While the average kid may not have a tough time with it, the stairs to get in and out of the trailers is a veritable obstacle course for kids with PT, severe sensory and OT issues . For some parents who came to view the facility, it was clear that their child simply could not attend because they physically could not make it through the door. Apart from the physical challenges with getting kids to and around in this setting, people need to understand the delicate equilibrium of a special needs kid. When the physical environment of such a child is upset, it will take them much longer to acclimate than a new one, than a regular ed child.
Apart from this, the population of the inclusion class which is being developed was severely misrepresented to us. Again, we were told it would be the same program, but at a different location. In inclusion classes, special kids are taught how to relate on a peer level. The makeup of the projected class is likely going to be 14 regular ed, with four special kids. Of the regular ed, all 14 are expected to be native Spanish speakers. Two of the special kids will also be Spanish speaking. While the teachers are bi-lingual, the goal of the program is to facilitate PEER to PEER interaction. How are we supposed to achieve PEER to PEER interaction with the majority of the class speaking a different language than 50% of the special kids, and NO REGULAR ED KIDS AT ALL SPEAKING THEIR LANGUAGE!
Lastly, and most alarmingly, even if the program would have stayed the same, as we were told it would, there are serious changes in the administration which will affect its overall function. Teachers deal with the day to day of a kids development, but the administration is the one that sets the child’s overall goals. This plan is crucial in their development. I inquired who would be setting the goals and I was told that the state would be doing that. I responded that these children need individualized goals and program planning or they will not achieve. The answers I got were far from reassuring. The bottom line is that without any true oversight, they want to leave our kids to be measured with a state yardstick that will provide no insight into how the child is doing and what more they can achieve.
Again, I have taken great concern not to present this as a ‘bash the BOE’ letter. The question here is not blaming, but how to move forward. As people who were elected to lookout for the concern of the entire kehila they need to understand that this ‘solution’ is not going to work out for the benefit of all children in the district. Perhaps they should at least take on the administration that ran the Tiny Tots program and rent the Tiny Tots location. This will help maintain the equilibrium of the kids; their safety and accessibility to the facility, and ensure that their goals are appropriate. I believe that this is what must be done, at a minimum, to provide direction to the teachers and achieve programming that will truly challenge and bring out the best in our kids.
Sincerely
A disillusioned TT parent
Well written letter and great solution! Hopefully the BOE Members will come up with a solution
GREAT IDEA Why isn’t the boe renting the space and hiring their teachers. Then they can promise it will really be a similar program.
Maybe you should go with this plan. My kid will actually be able to walk in the river avenue facility because steps are not an option.
As another parent of a TT special ed child I thank you for writing this letter.
Why didn’t anyone think of this before? Sounds like we actually have a solution to this crisis – keep the building, hire their management, teachers and staff and you’ll have an amazing program run by the district.
This parent hit it on the nail.
I really hope this works. I haven’t slept since I heard that TT was closing down because there’s no way my special needs child daughter will be able to function in what ps has to offer.
This is a win win solution and i’m confident our board members will work with tt to rent their space and hire their teachers and management.
Couldn’t have been said better. On the head.
Thank You!!! As always the LAC together with the BOE members have implored all options. This one would start turning our district into the yeshivish environment we would all love for it to be! Additionally, this willl lead the BOE in the direction they would like to, as to take over the administration of any funded element.
this letter was well put. the reason this is probably not an option is because the it would not be concidered ” in district” . unfortunately there are those who dont care so much about your kids needs, and rather want the power of having all programs “in district”. by looking at what is going on it would be naive to think otherwise.
Excellent idea
Nice shtick… didnt we get int this problem because te state said the facility was not accepable…. whats going on here.
Unfortunatly most of town is not paying full tuiytion or behind on tuition, & some both.
That said you cannot tax everyone in town even $75.00 a year for this program,& then another $75.00 for another program, & so on, & each is the most important.
People must provide for their own children before giving charity. The BOE has to be responsible to those who voted them in, not to cost an extra penny, in doing so, they can only provide the bear minimum the state requires.
These are vey trying times, unfortunatly even though you are great cause for tzedokah & pitty, charity begins at home & we as taxpayers cannot & will not be forced to pay charity however dire it is.
You are a great local cause & in Shulchan Aruch shcheinim are be B4 aniyei ircho, [including aniyei Eretz Yisroel] which makes you ahead of all Eretz Yisroel charities at least in your neighbourhood, you come B4 the Israelis that go around in shul,and send brochures & letters in the mail, definatly B4 the out of town kiruv Rechoikim appeals yeshivos & Chinese auctions, albeit after everyones own family.
That said: Keter Torah which catered to special needs that sephardim have, Beis Hatorah that catered to special needs of mikra based chinuch, which can’t change half way, & Betzalel which took in more modern kids who couldn’t get in anywhere else, were all closed & are also on the local of Tzedokah not taxes. Did you complain that the Township didn’t save them?
I guess not not because they are not important, because they are a tzedokah & not a tax.
I ask you parents if you feel a nescesity to keep Timny Tots in business you get it a charity status, pay what you can & raise the rest. I know how painful the extra burden on top of a child like that is, but that is unfortunatly your option. Also have bitachon that hoitzoas benoi letalmudoi isn’t min hacheshbon.
Do you read? it’s not going to be run by tt – tt closed. it will be run by the public school just using the tt facility because the ps facilities aren’t adequate to service the special needs children.
The River Avenue location was actually approved by the state. It was another location that wasn’t approved and that location wasn’t opening this year by anyone. River Avenue is the perfect location to run the program because it’s approved and has all the therapy rooms and equipment nec. to provide the services.
I still don’t quite understand why the regular Ed program had to close – tuition for those was much higher than any of the other playgroups and should be more than enough to offset the additional expenses of the building… As for the special Ed program it seems that the PS option is simply not a choice as understood from the letter writer – so why wouldnt Tiny Tots work something out to continue their program but charge privately according to the childs needs. It is unfortunate that what was once paid for will now cost but at the end of the day – if your child was not special ed you would be paying a certain amount in any case – and now you have the additional costs of the special care/therapists that can be provided in what you feel is superior environment.
Thank you for writing this letter in a very polite tone. That is how an opinion is supposed to be voiced, especially if you want it to be heard. (as you can see from all the favorable comments)
I would like to add one thing to this well written letter which is alluded to by the writer. Whenever children are placed under the care of a government run program their needs will always be put last. Due to the bureaucratic nature of the government and the over all tendency to care about implementing the rules even if it’s harmful to a child it will not help our children. A privately run program is much more lenient about following the rules and can have a greater effect on the child. But as we all say “money rules” and our taxes are more important to some than our children so I guess thats our trade off only time will tell.
Thank you for a wonderferlly polite letter! Everything was on target!
So what’s going to be with the langauge issue? You said that there wont be english speaking peers- is that going to change? (My child has a hard time with her own langauge!) Another thing I wanted to point out- that when I toured the PS facility, I noticed that a lot of the objects in the room were written both spanish and english- for axample the bathroom said BATHROOM but also BANO. How is that allowed when we cant teach ALef-Bais which is not religion- but cultural?
Any idea why? Will this factor change?
I still don’t know what to do with my child, though from the meeting last night, I know one option that is off the table.
It amazes me how many parents can only point the finger at TT !!
have you ever thought about how they gave you great service for the past sveral years at some exeptional low rates?
Did you know the average day care center charges 2-3 times the rates they were charging?
where is your hakaros hatov?
#20- i agree that tt has done a gr8 job!and we all appreciate it!we r just a bit frustrated with how it was handled! and i dont know what daycare program you send to but the tuition we were paying is more than the average!!!!!!!
Why not call the state to inspect the PS service and facilities ,
Well said
to the tt parents who need help, the district is one mess, stay away and get private help. dont you see the one in charge (besides for god) in putting it in house to have more control of the money. Your not getting the help your gona need from the disctrict move on your own or get a lawyer
#13 you have no idea what you talking about please stop responding on the web if you were the parents you would realized what happen to all of the parents pains and suffering moments and the childrens too. Which they lost something very special to them… It like lossing a ball or something vauleable … You would feel the same so shame on you ..Just stop talking thank-you
thanks well voiced why didnt you ask thes questions last night i was kinda insulted that parents came in ranting & upset about a small tear in the carpet or minor asthetics I was most impressed by the supplies the boe provided & asked what kind of items we still need in order to foster the childrens growth this is unlike anything i ever recieved understood
WOW #25.. Your spelling and grammar are atrocious !!
Is there a reason my post is not being posted?
I’m not sure what my opinion is on this matter, but I’m totally floored by this intelligent and well written letter. It’s so rare to see someone who knows how to write articulately and correctly. In fact it influenced the comments. MOST of them were written better too!
What a breath of fresh air.
This letter is extremely well written, and it seems the writer has come out with the smartest thing that has been said since the whole TT fiasco started.
What the writer is missing however is the street smartness that everyone else is missing here. Try to see through the smokescreen. This is not about any of the issues. This is about the BOE attorney controlling special ed.
TT stopped playing his game. So he called the state, and now it’s being brought in house so he can control it. He finds a legal remedy to get everything he wants to go his way. I am sure that he will find some legality about a NO COMPETE clause that disallows. A district to take over the employees and location of a vendor after there contract is terminated or some other reason like that.
The only solution is that no child with special ed needs should accept anything the BOE offers. Stick together. Hire a lawyer. Ask for reevaluations on every child within the 15 days, hire a consultant, and do not accept ant IEP that is not what your child needs. Do the same shtick he did with SCHI. It will end up costing the district 5- 10 million. They will have no choice but to back down and outsource like they did with SCHI.
Please check your spelling and grammar before posting.
Doesn’t Tiny Tots hold the lease on that building?
#32 Why should we have to check our spelling and grammar before we post?! We are blogging, not writing a thesis statement, so chill out!!
By law the PS has to accommodate special needs children. If your child has a legitimate disability and 504 Plan they must adapt to your childs needs. Such accommodations may include such things as wheelchair ramps, blood sugar monitoring, an extra set of textbooks, a peanut-free lunch environment, or a tape recorder or keyboard for taking notes. Again, this is assuming there has been a diagnosis by a licensed physician.
Each diagnosed child can have an Individualized Education Plan built in association with the parent/school/child to accomodate their exact diagnosis. The IEP refers both to the educational program to be provided to a child with a disability and to the written document that describes that educational program.
Is there a case of a Wheelchair-bound child without ramp access? Or other such disabilities, as diagnosed by a licensed physician? I would suggest you all understand your child’s rights. Some things you can and should demand and expect, but you cannot expect any public school to accommodate undiagnosed conditions. If your child has such a condition, talk to your physician immediately, get them under a 504 and then get a specific IEP in place which will give them all the proper tools they need to succeed in school.
the same thing happens in the puplic school with the special ed children you can thank the board maybe if we had board member who care and had children in the system and saw for themself then thing would change thats a big maybe
iT HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN ONE BLOG THAT MANY O THE CHILDREN ARE SPANISH SPEAKING, that your child could be in this class, YOU MUST BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT LAKEWOOD IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR UNDOCUMENTED, AND IT SEEMS MANY OF the LANDLORDS have contributed to the situation.
If your child is severaly in need, then an IEP SHOULD validate this, and you should have other avenues to take. All children should have inclusion.