Special Education Policies to Get Update

February 22, 2010

The Chambersburg Area School District’s special education department’s policies and procedures will be getting updated in the near future.
The school board unanimously approved the hiring of William J. McNelis to serve as a consultant for the development of a special education policy and procedure manual.

McNelis will compile current procedures for special education, gifted and protected handicapped students, while reviewing them to make sure they are compliant with state and federal guidelines. McNelis will also work on developing any new procedures that are necessary. </p&gt ;

According to Assistant Superintendent Eric Michael, the manual is expected to be complete by the end of the school year and the cost is not to exceed $4,000. Funding for the project is being provided by economic stimulus money, which the district is receiving through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

"It will allow us to operate in the most efficient way and in the best interest of our students and staff," Michael said.

Michael said some sections of the guidelines have not been reviewed in several years and the manual will allow the district to update its protocol for staff and faculty. He said an increase in special education advocacy groups recently makes having policies in place that mirror federal and state laws imperative.

"If these policies are not followed by the letter of the law, there could be consequences," Michael said.

Michael said about 15 percent of the district’s student population currently falls under special education guidelines.
McNelis has 36 years in public education, with the majority of those years in special education. He retired in 2008 after 12 years as assistant superintendent for elementary education from the Hempfield School District in Landisville. Prior to that, he worked as director of curriculum and instruction and coordinator of elementary and special education at the Spring Grove Area School District for six years. He was the supervisor of special education for the Lincoln Intermediate Unit for 10 years and instructional adviser to special education for the LIU for 18 years.