Jonathan Burras, Mansfield City Schools special education director, looks over the district’s perfect score on the annual special education state rating. Seated with him are Brenda Bandy, IEP compliance K-6, and Tyler Lauber, IEP compliance 7-12. Standing from left are executive assistants Deb Morich and Nancy Gallaway and Bridgette Vavra, secretary and records clerk.
A perfect score on the state’s annual rating of the district’s special education services is much more than a number to Jonathan Burras.
“It is a representation that Mansfield City Schools is doing right by the community in serving our students with disabilities and those with diverse needs,” said Burras, now in his second year as director of special education/pupil services.
Mansfield City Schools received the maximum 36 points – four possible points in each of nine categories – in the report released Aug. 18 by the Ohio Department of Education.
“We have a dedicated, hard-working staff. This rating would not be possible without their daily efforts,” Burras said.
Approximately 800 Mansfield City Schools students are identified as having special needs, as are another 250 who reside within the district but are served by other entities. Those needs range from speech therapy of 30 minutes each week to extensive care for students with medical and academic needs. Within that range also are students identified as having developmental delay, a visual or hearing impairment, a specific learning disability, traumatic brain injury or autism.
Superintendent Brian Garverick said many do not realize the scope of special needs services, including those provided to students with profound disabilities.
“Our mission is to provide the best possible education for every child,” he said. “The outstanding work of our special education staff does so much to help us achieve that goal.”
Each of the approximately 1,050 special needs students has an individualized Education Plan (IEP) written by Burras and his staff in collaboration with parents. The IEP, which must be reviewed annually, addresses learning issues and sets specific education goals, including creating a plan for postsecondary education and employment to prepare for life after school.
In some cases a student may remain on an IEP from preschool through high school graduation.
Among the ODE rating indicators was the requirement that children be evaluated within 60 days of receiving parental consent for initial evaluation. Mansfield City Schools met that timeline for all 103 referrals made within the 12-month period. Children may be referred by parents, teachers or local agencies but all require parental permission and participation.
The district also had 100 percent compliance in completing evaluations of children under age 3 who were referred. If it is determined that early intervention is needed, an IEP must be completed by the child’s third birthday.
“Very young children with identified needs are served through our 5 star-rated preschool program,” said Burras, referring to the highest possible rating awarded to MCS preschool earlier this year by ODE and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The district scored 100 percent for having transition plans for 221 students age 16 and above who have IEPs.
“Transition plans are part of an IEP starting when a student is 14,” Burras said. “The plan addresses a number of questions. What classes should the student be taking? How are we assessing where the child is now? What are the student’s postsecondary goals? Employment? Education? Independent living? What can we provide to help get a student where he or she wants to be upon graduation?”
Transition coordinator Nancy Winston is in charge of transition across the district.
Among other findings, ODE said there is no disproportionate representation of racial and ethnic groups in special education and related services that is the result of inappropriate identification.
In 2017-18 the ODE ratings will change from compliance to results. It is a change Burras agrees with.
“The state will grade us on results rather than simply compliance with procedures,” he said. “We will be measured more by test scores, by performance. It will be results-driven accountability.”
The special education department includes approximately 75 intervention specialists across the district at all grade levels and four fulltime psychologists. The district also contracts with 25 related services providers for speech, physical therapy and occupational therapy and has service contracts with Richland Newhope and the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center.
“We’re a large, diverse department but we all have one goal in mind as we start every day – We do what’s best for kids to help them prepare for a happy, successful and independent life,” Burras said. “The students are what called us to this profession.”