Why SEAC had to remind HDSB they serve all children

Why was it necessary for SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) to have to remind the Halton District School Board (HDSB) that they are to serve all children?

Why did SEAC have to remind them that all children are equal, have similar issues and risks psychologically and academically as the young Gifted children in need?

Why did SEAC have to remind them that other children have waited years and continue to suffer while they show bias delivering programming for only some?

Why did SEAC have to state that all children can become learning handicapped when intervention finally arrives years late stating that a learning disability may not have occurred if those same children had services provided when it was first identified?

Many in our community believe they know why the needs of only one group at that table last night were considered when they took services away from one in order to make sure the needs/rights of another took priority.

Superintendent of Special Education, David Boag seemed to go on the defensive when he tried to justify the rationale, morality and methods used to push the new Primary Gifted program for grade 1 children starting this September.

If it was not for the fact that our children’s education and in some cases their very lives were at stake, it would have seemed comical. Unfortunately, it was draining, depressing and infuriating as we heard the spin, excuses and I guess for them, the rationale for the debate they cannot control.

For many last night the discussion just confirmed the ‘bankrupt morality’ of the HDSB. Now for HDSB…it is now out there for the entire world to see.

We all heard the concerns and issues raised by many representing the other exceptionalities.  We have not been able to confirm officially whether or not SEAC had been fully consulted on this new program. How this program ever got pushed through or approved (other than the trustees final vote) still needs clarification.

It did, however, become obvious to many in the room last night that SEAC members questioned the validity of the program rollout based on a 2 month pilot. SEAC stated that the children they advocate for were just as worthy and needy. 

Why was it even necessary for them to feel they had to defend their position or the rights of the children who are supposed to be served and protected equally?

HDSB ends a very sad chapter in its existence. Many believe they need to hang their heads in shame.

SEAC (as posted on the HDSB website) is comprised of member representatives from:

• Autism Society Ontario – Halton Chapter
• The Association for Bright Children
• Canadian Mental Health Association
• The Halton Down Syndrome Association
• Easter Seals Society
• Halton Council of Home and School Associations
• Tourette Syndrome Association of Ontario
• VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children
• Learning Disabilities Association of Halton
• Halton District School Board (Trustees)
• Members at Large

All of these are serious and deserve equal representation.

Accused by many in our community as being an elitist board catering to the special interests of only some, Superintendent of Special Education, David Boag admitted once again publicly that the rest waiting on the list (now approximately 700) had in fact been jumped ahead of by this group. What did become evident to many by information provided by Superintendent of Special Education, David Boag, however, was the failing infrastructure for reporting and producing needed information to develop a sustainable model going forward and that these appalling wait lists had existed for years (with exceptions noted e.g. when extra funding was provided for a pilot/study).

How could a board knowing they had this dismal record at assessing children in a timely fashion allow a program to jump the queue not only in testing but in actual intervention (i.e. services)?

Many in our community believe there is no justification for the HDSB behaviour or accountability at the Ministry of Education.

Yes, we were told that some emergency short term solution during tonight’s board meeting will come. It will be too little too late.

Let the board know, however, that when they finally come up with money for clearing up the assessment testing backlog issue (we predict that is their band aid solution) that many believe it was done because they were embarrassed into serving the very children who are under their care.

Let them know that many in their community believe they did not morally protect these children because they wanted to ….they were forced to because of community outrage.

Let them know that many in their community resents their decisions once again pitting us against each other begging for services and budget dollars we should be entitled to.

Let those who voted to pass the controversial program for only 1 group at that table last night without any apparent concern for those having services/testing delayed – know that many believe that their demands now to help/service those left behind is simply ‘damage control’ .

Let them know that for many in this community they have forever lost respectability because it has been reported on nationally as well as locally that this community believes that they do not serve us or protect us.

Many in our community believe that the HDSB has not properly represented us or invested in services, infrastructure, policy or processes because they have been too busy serving the needs both in passion, policy and funding for their ‘pet projects’ of French Immersion and now Gifted Primary Programming.

The cats out of the bag…..they can never put it back.