Nahant SPED program under fire

NAHANT – The parents of one Johnson Elementary School student are in the process of retaining an attorney in their fight to get their child the individualized services he needs.Paul Kourkoulis, who said his son was diagnosed with learning disabilities several years ago, alleges the school failed to provide required services to his son and then tried to cover it up.”This is criminal,” Kourkoulis said. “His IEP requires individualized instruction in the classroom five days a week but he never got those services. They tried to lie to me and tell me he got them. They tried to make someone sign off saying he received the services but she wouldn’t sign off because she had never worked with my son. It’s just criminal.”A recent Department of Education mid-cycle report issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education criticizes the Nahant School District for non-compliance in its special education programs.According to the report, which was issued following an onsite review, the district failed to provide services outlined in individualized education plans (IEP), changed services some students were receiving without conducting a complete evaluation and failed to provide proper documentation.It goes on to cite an example of one student, who was supposed to receive 30 minutes of instruction per day from a resource room teacher, but the special education teacher providing the services works only two days a week.Michelle Kourkoulis said her son, who is 10, has suffered this year because he was not provided the support services required by his IEP.”It’s been a disaster,” she said. “It’s another year wasted at Johnson School. We have at least seven meetings with the SPED Department to find out why my son’s IEP was not being met. We were assured it was being met.”At a recent School Committee meeting Gregg Callahan, who has a child in the SPED program, also criticized the district for failure to provide services for his child. Callahan said he was “flabbergasted” when he learned children were not receiving services specified in their IEPs. He pointed out there are children, who are supposed to receive services five days a week, but the SPED teacher is only on staff two days a week.Michelle Kourkoulis said when her son continued to show no progress she asked for copies of logs, which documents services provided to her son.”He’s supposed to be getting a tutor in the classroom for 30 minutes a day every day and not once has he had that,” she said. “The SPED department lied to us and told us he was getting these services. I met with SPED Co-Director Anne Haskell and she told me his IEP was being met and that Gayle Billias was providing services to my son.”Michelle Kourkoulis said the log provided was not signed by Billias because she never provided services for her son.”Billias told me she has never sat with my son,” Michelle Kourkoulis said. “So she refused to sign the log saying he received services from her. (Ann) Haskell and the SPED department are lying. My child is not getting the services he is entitled to receive.”Paul Kourkoulis said he doesn’t understand how those responsible for his child’s education could blatantly lie.”It’s disgusting and disheartening,” he said. “The worst is being lied to by someone who is supposed to be looking out for my child.”Niamh Callahan said at recent SPED Parents Advisory Council meeting, there was some discussion regarding SPED teachers being asked to sign off on services they did not provide.Superintendent Joe Lisi said the district is working hard to comply with the DOE and ensure each child receives the correct services.”I guess some of the concerns that have been expressed by parents – some of them have some validity,” he said. “We’re working on all of them to try and improve the services we provide and I believe we have done that.”School Committee Chairman Jim Devereaux said the recent DOE findings are being taken very seriously by school officials and the School Committee.”We are withou