A local parent is speaking out about the lack of consultation as a special education program undergoes review at the Greater Essex County District School Board.
Jacqueline Andersch fears the school board will sacrifice the Reaching Individual Success and Excellence, or RISE, Program as it grapples with a $9-million deficit.
"I would really hope that the school board and the trustees would consider how this affects these children and their futures," said Andersch. "It's a proven program that works, and I think budgetary reasons -- I think it's a really poor reason to remove a program."
About 800 students in the program receive one-on-one literacy and math instruction in classrooms of eight to ten students.
The review started a year and a half ago.
The school board said the research team reached out to students, staff, and families, but Andersch said she found out about the review through a friend of a friend. Since then, she's called the board trustees and emailed them. She said she's spoken with Trustee Cathy Cook.
Her son is in grade two at Legacy Oak Trail Public School in LaSalle.
His paediatrician identified his developmental delays at the age of one. He is diagnosed with a nonverbal learning disability, executive processing disorder, dyspraxia, and ADHD inattentiveness.
In grade one, he had an Individual Education Plan and was in a regular classroom where he felt lost.
"In the last three months, between RISE and tutoring, I have noticed amazing strides," she wrote WindsorNewsToday.ca in an email. He can now consistently identify the sounds and names of letters and has begun to read primary-level books. He also feels supported by his peers and teachers in a classroom where all the kids have learning difficulties.
Andersch fears her son will regress without the one-on-one instruction provided in the RISE program.
"I worry about him being left behind," she said. "He's a smart kid. He just learns a little bit differently, and he needs somebody to work one-on-one with him, and I don't really feel he's going to get that in a classroom."
While she pledges to continue her advocacy, she hopes other parents speak up too.
"I want parents to know. I want parents to be able to speak up. I want them to give their story," said Andersch. "It's not just about my son. It affects everybody."
In February, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario launched an advertising campaign warning parents of possible cuts to special education and urging them to contact their MPPs and board trustees.
Greater Essex Local President Mario Spagnuolo has launched a petition on Change.org urging the school board to leave special education programs alone but fears the writing is on the wall.
"If it does get dismantled, we're going to see kids being thrown into mainstream classrooms without the proper supports," he said. "We need to be vocal now before the decision is even made."
As of Thursday, more than 1,100 people had signed Spaguolo's petition.
The public school board said it hasn't decided the future of special education programs like RISE.
The Special Education Advisory Committee could receive the review's outcome when it meets on April 9. Trustee Kim McKinley, who is also chair of the committee, responded in an email to Andersch that speakers would not be permitted to speak at the meeting, but letters will be sent to committee members for information.
The Greater Essex County District School Board usually approves its budget for the following school year in June.