If your daughter is making progress in her current day school, if there is a placement, if the day school is close to home (which it is), the CSE will have to come up with some fancy 'splaining to authorize a move further away. I'd try to get some time with the Principal of the school your daughter is currently attending (or other important people in that school) to find out the reasoning. You are right -- the school needs to be as close to home as possible. Why there would be a question about sending her further away is the answer I'd want to pursue NOW, not at the meeting.
We've had our share of ups and downs with Sachem, but the truth is the facts don't lie. We've done everything the district has asked us to in the past...complied with their suggestions, acted upon their recommendations, etc. It's taken us and them 2 years to come to the agreement that this is the best placement for our daughter. And you are totally correct in saying that her school will help guide us. They have been outstanding in communicating with us and in making suggestions. It's also amazing that their on-staff doctor is Dr. Gartner of the Cody center (I know you use Dr. Pomeroy). Dr. Gartner has been my daughter's personal psychiatrist for some years now.
Thank you for your help. Your vast knowledge has helped many people on this forum.
Phyllis
My 15 year old daughter attends a state-funded school on Long Island as a day student. We feel she needs to be a resident (the school is 15 minutes from our home) at this paritcular school at this point in time The school itself is recommending this also and they will have an opening. Our district CSE meeting is tomorrow. The principal of the school where my daughter is currently attending, said to me that the district is planning on sending out packets to many residential schools in New York and that we should go along with their plan and see the other schools so as not to "rattle" the process.
Do we have to do this? I see that IDEA 300.16 regarding placements states that the child's placement "is as close as possible to the child's home, unless the parent agrees otherwise".
Wouldn't this mean in my case that my daughter's case that her present school would be our choice anyway as opposed to a school 15, 20 or 80 miles away??
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Phyllis
Tzoya:
Well, everything went extremely well at the CSE. No roadblocks whatsoever. Since the district (Sachem) cannot send the paperwork to the state until there is an actual residential opening date, we have all consented to wait until then. The principal of the school (Maryhaven) said there will be an opening some time between January and March of 2008. Until then, the district is getting all the paperwork, psychs, and anything they need all filled out and ready.
We are both happy and sad knowing our 15 year old daughter will be living at school. But again, it's only 15 minutes away and we can bring her home any weekend we choose to. We are hoping this will help her gain the independence and training she needs to grow into a valuable member of society.
Thanks
SACHEM! WOW, if I'd known that, I would have been worried. They have the WORST reputation on Long Island in terms of giving only what they MUST. They obey the law (and are one of the few districts that makes SURE its CSE Chairs know the law), but they look more to what they HAVE to do than to how to actually help the child. At least that is their reputation and, being the largest district in all of New York State, they tend to have plenty of power. The fact that you have gotten them to see your point of view is a kudo to you! I'm sure your daughter's school will help guide you. They have a great reputation.