Special Education

Meeting Minutes

As a result of a Consent Agreement, the Board of Education approved a contract with Dr. Daniel Cates to assess the District’s special education compliance with best practices. Dr. Cates brings a wealth of experience, having served as a school psychologist, administrator, director of special education, associate superintendent, and superintendent.

Dr. Cates shall obtain and consider input from District stakeholder groups willing to participate including, but not limited to Guardians, CU Able, CU Autism Network, Linda Tortorelli, Special Education Parent Group, students (if appropriate and with the consent of parent/guardian), support staff, certified staff, and administration staff.

Dr. Cates shall submit an initial report by March 1, 2025, but that final completion of the audit may extend as Dr. Cates finds appropriate to complete the full scope of the audit. At the conclusion of the audit, Dr. Cates will publish a public report on best practice findings and recommendations and will provide the public with a presentation on these findings at a board meeting. The District has permission to facilitate a dedicated webpage of Dr. Cates’ findings.

Dr. Cates shall review the implementation of recommendations within two years of his final report and will produce a written document and public report regarding the District’s implementation of final audit recommendations or lack thereof.

• September 18

  • Multiple meetings with stakeholders identified in the agreement

  • Including several local community special education advocates

    
    

• September 17

  • Multiple meetings with stakeholders identified in the agreement

  • September Special Education Advisory Meeting

    
    

• September 25

  • Meeting with community special education advocate

  • Meetings with union leaders of CESP and CFT

  • Meetings with Unit 4 special education administrators

  • Walk-through observation at elementary school

  • Meeting with special education parent

    
    

• September 26

  • Multiple meetings with Unit 4 administrators

  • Including transportation, facilities, special education, and human resources

    
    

• September 30

  • Walk-through observations of a middle school, high school, Young Adult Program

  • Meeting with professional development administrator

  • Meeting with coordinators of federal Title grant programs and funds

  • Attended quarterly meeting of Unit 4 special education faculty

    
    

• October 1

  • Meeting with Board Members and legal counsel to be directly involved in the audit

  • Meeting with coordinator of students served in alternative programs

  • Meeting with executive director of special education

    
    

• October 7

  • Meeting with consultant providers and previous employees

  • Meeting with CESP president

  • Introduced audit to Unit 4 special education teacher assistants at quarterly gathering

  • Spoke with multiple special education teacher assistants

  • Meeting with special education parent

    
    

• October 8

  • Meeting with special education outplacement coordinator

  • Meeting with local provider of Larkin’s Place and previous faculty member

  • Meeting with superintendent and executive director of special education

    
    

• October 21

  • Visits to Stratton and Booker T Washington to observe classroom environment

  • Meeting with Unit 4 student data managers and staff 
    

• October 22

  • Visits to Dr Howard, RISE, Bottenfield, International Prep Academy, and Early Childhood Center to observe classroom environment
    

• November 4

  • Meeting with Essential Skills, Functional Life Skills, and other self contained staff

  • Meeting with Young Adult Program staff to discuss post-secondary programming

  • Meeting with school psychologists 
    

• November 5

  • Meetings with various community members and special education parents
    

• November 6

  • Meeting with transportation department

  • Meeting with director of SEL

  • Meeting with Occupational and Physical Therapy staff

  • Meeting with Early Childhood Center teachers
    

• November 12

  • Meeting with Central High special education teachers

  • Meetings with parents and community members

  • Meetings with various middle and elementary school special education teachers
    

• November 13

  • Meeting with Social Work staff

  • Meeting with various elementary school special education teachers
    

• November 18

  • Meeting with Centennial High special education teachers 

  • Meeting with Garden Hills and International Prep special education teachers

  • Meeting with chief financial officer
    

• November 19

  • Meeting with Speech Language Pathology staff

  • Meeting with Social Worker staff

  • Meeting with district lead nurse

  • Meeting with director of data
    

• November 25

  • Meeting with director of special education

  • Meeting with various special education designees

  • Attended and led Special Education Quarterly meeting
    

• December 2

  • Meeting with various special education designees

  • Meeting with Vision and Hearing staff

  • Meeting with Special Education Teacher’s Aides from across the district

  • Attended and led district SEAC meeting
    

• December 3

  • Meeting with various special education designees and teachers

    
    

• December 12

  • Meeting with Centennial High special education teachers

  • Meeting with parents to discuss Dyslexia in the district
    

• December 13

  • Meeting with district Board members

  • Meeting with high school co-teaching staff

  • Meeting with Teaching and Learning department heads
    

• January 13

  • Meeting with District Special Education Advocates

  • Meeting with school psychologists

  • Meeting with MLL parents at City View

Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Meetings:

• Tuesday, April 15th