Special Education Changes Minimal Amid Concerns, Officials Say

Parents of Special Education children were worried going into last Tuesday's Bloomfield School Board meeting.

Bloomfield Schools Director of Special Services Linda Colucci was scheduled to discuss changes in special education in Bloomfield school and several parents were alarmed at what they understood the changes to be.

One parent said at the previous presentation, the district proposed moving Watsessing and Carteret children that have been identified as "behaviorally disabled" to a consolidated setting in Watsessing.

Colucci said miscommunication had created anxiety. She said nonetheless, she understood the point of view of Carteret parents. Working with Carteret Principal John Baltz, she had found a room for sixth grade students at Carteret.

“All sixth Carteret students in the BD classes are remaining at Carteret,” she said.

Colucci emphasized that the parents of students in Carteret’s BD classes had not been upset about the prospect of moving to Watsessing.

Concern had also been raised about moving Pre-K students. All Pre-K students have the option of staying in their current schools or moving to a different building if their teacher is transferred, Colucci said.

Colucci said that class sized for Bloomfield BD students would not go over eight, less than the state maximum of 12.

In addition, she said that there was a miscommunication about plans for a “quiet room” at Watsessing and said that the district was working to provide special needs students with the least restrictive environment as possible.

Noting that all students would eventually wind up together at Bloomfield’s middle and high school, Colucci ended her remarks by saying that a “street address does not define a community.” That comment that was seized upon by some parents who spoke in the comment session that followed, with one parent saying she was “insulted” by it.

Another parent worried about the future of the school district with increasingly consolidating services.

“It’s just the last ounce of blood you’re trying to take from us,” she said.