ADAMS TWP — Mars School District officials on Monday unveiled the district's plan to address issues with the special education program, many of which will be visible when school reconvenes this fall.

During a special education forum Monday, Elizabeth McMahon, assistant superintendent, presented steps the district is taking to address concerns raised in a 2017 audit of the program.

The audit showed the district was out of compliance with state rules in a number of areas, including “least restrictive environment,” which is based on a student's ability to be educated with nondisabled peers to the greatest extent possible.

Other areas of noncompliance included parent training, personnel training and a lack of documentation needed for students to make the transition from high school to college or the workforce.

Since the audit's release, state officials have met four times with district leaders to work on a plan of action, including a meeting that was held earlier Monday. Representatives from the state also were on hand to observe Monday night's forum.

McMahon shared the “living document” that will soon be submitted to the state. She said much work has been put into addressing the issues, particularly that of the least restrictive environment.

“It literally has been consuming us,” she said.

[naviga:h3]Programming support [/naviga:h3]

The district will develop a new master schedule and scheduling process in which special education students and courses are considered first. The rest of the general population and education schedule will be built around that to ensure special needs students have better placement and more equal opportunity.

McMahon said students just starting school will be placed in an inclusion classroom to start, with adjustments being made if issues arise.

The district is also adding a “multitiered system of support,” which includes the hiring of an intervention reading specialist at the grade school level. This focus allows students with issues to be identified earlier. It coincides with the district's Launchpad to Learning program at the kindergarten level.

“We do have some systems in place, we just need to broaden them,” McMahon said.

A life skills support program will be added for younger students, in an effort to bring students back to the district who had been placed in other schools. McMahon said she and other administrators have visited other schools that have such programs to learn what worked and what didn't work.

Additionally, sensory rooms will be added or maintained at every school in the district. McMahon said those rooms will be ready in the fall.

[naviga:h3]Staffing enhancements[/naviga:h3]

The district will also hire a licensed, professional counselor to meet with students who need psychological services. McMahon said this position is in addition to replacing outgoing guidance counselors and special education teachers in the district.

Most notable, however, is the district's plan to hire a new director of special education. McMahon said she hopes that person will be hired in the coming weeks. She and board member Christine Valenta, who attended the meeting as an audience member, added that while that person will be tasked with following the plan approved by the state, they hope experience and expertise will allow for the special education program to grow and prosper.

“I'm hopeful that we'll see much further advancement,” Valenta said.

The district will also focus on additional training measures for teachers, some of which will be led by the new special education director. This includes the districtwide implementation of the Rachel's Challenge program, as well as disability awareness programming.

Additionally, officials said every graduating student with special needs was given the proper paperwork this year, and a template has been created for teachers to follow in the future.

“These are baby steps in the right direction,” McMahon said, adding that the process will take time to implement.

[naviga:h3]Parents' concerns[/naviga:h3]

While parents in attendance said they were pleased to see progress being made, some raised concerns about the individual needs of their children, and shared their hesitation in trusting that the district will fully address the issues that have been presented.

Many cited a 2012 audit in which the same items were identified, while others expressed worries over funding for programs in the future.

McMahon, however, said she is confident and comfortable with the commitment she has seen from district officials.

“I can say as I stand here with this corrective action plan ... I am completely confident,” she said. “If I didn't feel confident in what we're doing, I wouldn't be standing here and saying it.”

Wes Shipley, superintendent, said while the district is working to take corrective action and lay out a plan for the future, officials are also taking steps to ensure students and teachers are not overwhelmed by changes.

“We're biting off some pretty big things this year, and we're going to continue to grow in that direction,” he said. “We don't want to muddy the waters by doing too many things, and then do them poorly.”