John Burkey, Shawn Green, Kevin Gentry, Kimberly Skaja, Don Drzal, Aileen Seedorf, Michael Skala, Paul Troy

RE: Special Services in Consolidated School District 158

It is our sincere belief that the following measures would be in the best interest of the students in District 158 who are receiving special services. We ask that you do the following:

1) Take the economic stimulus (ARRA) funding over the two year period, rather than one, to ensure that more is spent on new special services

2) Since so much of the ARRA funding is slated for a reading program that has, to our knowledge, not been tested on the students receiving special services in our district (and for whom the program is being purchased), run a pilot program with fewer licenses than currently planned of the READ 180 computer program, and test it only on students receiving special services.

3) Use more of this ARRA funding on education/further education of teachers and aides, to give them the best possible tools to work with students with special needs of all types

4) Specifically seek input on the ARRA funding as well as the future of special services in our district from parents whose children are receiving services