Where is the help these children and parents need? I know it is easy to criticize from outside - but something is not right here! Dollars spent now for our schools (and the proper services) will more than save our futures - financially and quality of life. Administrators willing to take the same cuts?

It is an absolute crime to reduce the hours (and the benefits as a result of cutting the hours) of those very needed 11 certificated staff. The students have very special needs that require more staff not less.
And you can be sure that there is not 1 administrator who would cut their salary. Some of them even feel that it is just fine to use the time they are paid for to find romance.
Let's just hope that the district can clean house very soon and make some really great choices as opposed to the kinds of choices that are currently being made. It seems that applicants aren't even screened properly (and whose job is it to do that Ms Totter?).

"It made more sense to have a social skills group when there are normal kids around," she said, as opposed to a group with only autistic students."

Did she really say "normal" ? This is our district's assistant superintendent? This is the district's spokesperson?

I agree that the money for administration's salaries never gets cut, but anything that affects our students directly is up for budget cuts. I've seen this district cut too many of the lower level jobs and then "spread" the workload among the rest that are left too many times. The top management's perks, etc. never are cut back.

Why isn't Ghysel's weighnig in on this issue? Is he too busy job hunting on our dime? An announcement about the Crittenden Vice Principal came out and it was issued by Ghysel's administrative assistant. Shouldn't he be making the annoucement? Where is our overpaid Assistant Superintendent of Instruction? They drew straws and it is Totter's turn to dole out the bad news?

I agree with "reader", to sooner this district cleans house of the overpaid top management, the better for all of us.

Special Ed runs in the red because of unfunded federal mandates, but cutting care services and staff is no solution. This sighted solution typical of our school administrators. They have top loaded management in Special Ed with 3 Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs) who do not teach, they just make teachers, parents, and staff miserable by following Mrs. Totter's agenda of providing the least services possible, -to the point that they are out of compliance with the law.

It is only a matter of time until parents mount successful legal challenges. How much do you suppose that will cost?

It is time for change at MVWSD and Mrs. Totter would be a good place to start. -Poor legal advice, out of compliance temp teachers, arbitrary layoffs, pension questions, low staff morale and keeping the Board in the dark is not my idea of a good job.

-and where is the Director of Special Ed in this?

-has Mrs. Totter acquired another title?

The lady has too much control and has demonstrated time and time again a lack of vision and understanding of staff and the community. She should go.