Montreal parents complain about school cuts to programs for students with disabilities

From The Montreal Gazette in Canada:

As much as officials of the Lester B. Pearson School Board say they have done everything possible to make up for a shortfall in the special-needs budget, parents say they are already noticing a difference in the level of service for their children.

Nancy Boyle, who has a son with special needs at St. Paul Elementary School in Beaconsfield, said she was in tears on Sept. 13 because she is so frustrated with the situation at her son's school.

"The board is saying this is what we have and you have to accept it, but I can't," Boyle said. "I believe my son's success in school depends on him having the same time with an integration aide as he had last year."

Her son, Evan Wright, 11, is in Grade 6 and is coping with Asperger's syndrome, ADHD and a reading problem. Last year, there were four integration aides in the school. This year, there are three. But Boyle said there's been an influx of new kids with special needs, so the aides are busier than ever.

"One aide stops by my son's class periodically to ask Evan if he's okay, which I really do appreciate," explained Boyle. "But he needs more than that. He'll fall behind if he's not reading the material properly."

When her son did poorly on a spelling quiz, she realized that his year is in jeopardy if he doesn't get some extra help.

Bob Mills, director general of the Pearson board, has been scrambling to find money for special-needs students despite a government cutback this year of about $1.2 million in the overall special-needs budget. Last week, he was able to add $750,000, and this week he found another $200,000 to inject.

"I'm optimistic and hopeful I'll be able to add another $200,000," Mills said in an interview. "I would love to meet the levels we attained last year."

One big setback is that the board has lost about 700 students since last year, which means less overall funding. Despite that, the level of special-needs students hasn't changed.

Nan Beaton, chairperson of the Central Parents Committee, said she knows the board usually finds a way to put money into the special-needs program.

"I'm hoping they'll find the money to meet the needs," she said.

It's a problem without an answer, according to Marcus Tabachnick, chairperson of the Pearson board.

"People are never going to believe there's enough service," he said this week. "I wish we could give everyone what they want. But we can't keep taking funds away from the rest of the system."

But for Boyle, it's not about numbers or budgets. It's the reality she's living with.

"No one seems to be concerned," she said. "But what will happen to my son when the works starts getting more demanding?"