Marblehead student director reports on cost-saving programs

MARBLEHEAD-Director of Student Services Robert Bellucci is a glass-half-full kind of guy.Bellucci told the School Committee last week in a 51-page report that the 23 special education programs he operates in six Marblehead schools cost the town an estimated $1.8 million.However, if 115 of the students serviced by his in-house programs had to be sent to programs outside of town, the cost to the town would be $6.6 million for tuition and transportation, based on average costs.?It is more cost-effective to invest (money) to educate students in-district,” he said in his report.Bellucci bolstered his report with statements from several of his key employees.One of the spokespersons for the Therapuetic Interventions Designed for Educational Success (TIDES) program for children with emotionally disabilities, located at the Marblehead Village School was parent Nancy Horrigan.The former co-president of SEACOM, a local organization for parents of special needs children, said she took her son out of Marblehead after kindergarten five years ago and put him into a Boston program called Kids Are People.When her son outgrew that program academically she spoke with Bellucci last summer and agreed to put him into TIDES, but the decision gave her many sleepless nights as the start of school grew nearer.Her fears have proved groundless.?He loved it,” she said. “He?s included in every activity. There?s much more collaboration with the specialists now. The bar has been raised.”Both Bellucci and Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac pointed out that the students in these programs included out-of-towners who pay tuition, lowering the cost.?These programs have evolved into a model for the state,” Dulac said.Bellucci noted that he has had a call from Hastings-on-Hudson, a wealthy New York community, asking if he would be available as a consultant. The new superintendent there happens to be a former candidate for superintendent in Marblehead.School Committee Chairman Amy Drinker suggested jokingly that Bellucci charge enough for his services to supplement the cost of the programs.