Interview... Round 2!

What's the Solution?

In interviewing my principal with regards to the challenges he has faced in dealing with special education or students with 504's, he immediately went into a story of how he handled one of his most challenging decisions.

There was a student who was transferring into his school whose current placement was in a self-contained classroom. Unfortunately, there was not a self-contained class at his school. This meant that he would have to change the student's IEP.  A plan needed to be put into place to transition the student from a self-contained setting into an inclusive setting. A panel of twelve adults comprised of district office personnel, administrator from both schools, advocate/lawyers, and the parents of the student met to develop this plan.  Herein lies challenge number 1.

Challenge#1: How do you balance the wishes of the parents and the school's capabilities?

The student's records showed that the his problems were more social than anything.  It was believed that the self-contained setting did not work best for him. A plan went into affect where he was placed into an inclusive classroom. A shadow from the student's previous school was provided. As the weeks progressed, the student was gradually separated from the shadow. After the transition was complete, the student appeared to have transitioned well. However, one day he informed my principal that he was going to run away from school that day. The student already had  plan of escape. Herein lies challenge number 2.

Challenge #2: What do you do when you do not have the resources from the district needed to handle the situation? This student no longer had the support of the shadow, and his current state now deems it necessary for him to have someone shadow him to ensure that he does not leave the school's property.