New D99 Schedule - Special Education/504 Plans
Dear Families,
As you now are aware, District 99 has announced that it is implementing a new schedule starting Monday, March 16 due to the COVID-19 crisis. You may see all messages sent with details of this information at www.csd99.org/updates.
We want to help explain this new schedule as it relates to our students receiving special services through an IEP or 504 and address any of your concerns.
District 99 has established an e-Learning program. E-Learning, or remote learning, is learning that takes place at home to provide the continuation of learning in students’ coursework without interruption, with both digital AND non-digital items.
Our e-Learning Program includes a specific plan for our students with special needs. Now with the extended e-Learning time frame, our staff members are busy collaborating with one another and sharing resources to design lessons that relate to the individualized needs of their students.
We recognize this form of learning may not be ideal for some of our students. Here are the steps we are taking to ensure we are individualizing this experience for your child:
- Special education teachers are working in collaboration with general education teachers to modify online assignments and activities
- Related service providers are designing lessons and activities that address their students individual needs outlined in the student’s IEP or 504
- Both special education teachers and related service providers will be available virtually (email, google hang out/classroom) to further support learning. Each staff member will communicate directly with their students on time frames and expectations.
If your student has a scheduled IEP or 504 meeting between March 16 - March 27, we are planning to hold the meeting via a conference line and include all applicable staff. We will provide you with a link/phone number to the teleconference, or a staff member may call you directly. Draft documents of your student’s IEP or 504 will be sent home in advance of the meeting for your review. If you would prefer to reschedule your student’s IEP or 504 once students are back in school, please let us know and we will reschedule. NOTE: if we reschedule you are agreeing to hold your student’s IEP or 504 outside of the required timelines for annual reviews and evaluations.
If your student receives educational services at a school other than DGS/DGN or T99, we are working with this provider to closely monitor it’s school closure plans. If your school will be open on days that D99 is not in session, we will continue to provide transportation to your child’s school. As always, you have the choice as a parent to not send your child to school if they are ill or you would prefer for them to stay home during this time. If your student will stay home while their school is in session, please contact the school and transportation company to let them know. If your child has an IEP meeting during the closure time, we will work with staff from their school to either provide a tele-conference IEP or re-schedule.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s special services during this time, please initially reach out to their case manager (IEP) or counselor (504) at their school. They will have the most current information as they have been working with your child and their other teachers. If you have further questions or concerns, please reach out to one the following staff listed below.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we work through this unprecedented time. We will continue to evaluate our work and do our best for all of our students. We will update you as needed.
All the best,
Lisa Bollow, Director of Student Services
Scott Wuggazer, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services
Special Education Staff
Alyssa Gunderson (Special Services Dept Chair, DGS) agunderson@csd99.org or 630 795-8641
Jorie Burtnette (Special Services Dept Chair, DGN) jburtnette@csd99.org or 630 795-8041
Carolina Schoenbeck (T99 Coordinator): cschoenbeck@csd99.org or 630 795-2702
Lisa Bollow, Director of Special Services (Privately Placed Students)
lbollow@csd99.org or 630 795-7118
504 Administration
Dr. Vince Walsh-Rock (Asst Principal at DGS) vwalsh-rock@csd99.org or 630 795-8505
Erin Ludwick (Asst Principal at DGN) eludwick@csd99.org or 630 795-8405