Home schooling, budget issues top Lew-Port agenda

by Janet Schultz
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, February 21, 2009

The Lewiston-Porter Board of Education met Tuesday and heard about policies regarding home instruction and a plan to save $1.1 million in special education costs.

Because this was the first reading of the home schooling policies, no action was taken. The presentation, led by School Superintendent Christopher Roser and special education teacher Barbara Godshall, was the result of updating of state and local policies and procedures. While most policies are set by the state, the school does have some latitude in deciding on what services can be used by home-instructed students.

The board still has to act regarding home-instructed children's use of school facilities, such as the pool, gym and library; borrowing of such items as computer hardware/software, library books and science equipment; and if home-instructed children will be allowed to take part in certain non-credited extracurricular activities.

"We don't have any problems with our home-instructed students or their parents, and no one has asked for these services," Roser told the board.

Lewiston-Porter has 12 families with 21 children being home-instructed. Their reasons for home schooling range from religious to philosophical differences.

Roser and Godshall explained what parents need to know when considering home instruction.

First, no credentials are required for a person to instruct at home. Also, proof of immunization is not required as it is for regular students.

"The IHIP (Individual Home Instruction Plan) is required so that we know the student is getting substantial equivalent education," said Roser. "The parents in this district do a very good job."

In addition, home-instructed students may not participate in an educational program offered in the district if credit is involved; state tests are not required but students may request them; and an annual assessment must be administered. The district is not required to provide remedial services, but is required to provide services for disabled children. Home-instructed students may take part in summer programs such as driver education.

In other matters:

•Looking at a $1.5 million deficit in this year's budget, Roser and Godshall proposed a way to save $1.1 million, in part by using the services of the school district for current BOCES special education students.

"These students are already on campus, but in BOCES classrooms," explained Roser. "We feel that we can service them just as well and save money."

The first part of the savings comes from eight students graduating from Niagara Academy, saving the district $331,770. Four students are aging out of the program and are returning to Lew-Port for IEP and life skills training until they are age 21. Several other students will return to Lew-Port in the consultant teacher model and others will attend the 8:1:1 class.

"The dollar saved is impressive, but we also feel we have a good staff on hand and can do this without hiring additional staff," Roser said.

"We plan to have a special class in each building. We are making sure this is best for the students," said Godshall.

Roser also said that the $75,000 earmarked for an athletic director and an assistant principal has been cut from the budget, and there is a plan to reduce the teaching staff by three.

•During the public comment session, resident Amy Witryol asked the board to consider joining with several municipalities in a resolution to oppose the expansion of Chemical Waste Management's landfill.

Board member Keith Fox brought Witryol's resolution up after asking for an amendment to the agenda.

An intense discussion took place, ending with the resolution being tabled while the board looks into the legality of taking such a position, and the issue of whether or not there is a health hazard.

"We don't have any documented information that this has affected our students," said board President Robert Weller, who has visited CWM and also checked with the Health Department and other agencies looking for statistics and found nothing that would indicate there is a health risk.

Witryol disagreed, stating that she has the facts and figures and would gladly share them with the board at a separate meeting.

Roser was asked to consult with an environmental attorney and with an attorney who can give advice on the role of school boards on such issues. The board also will research health and safety issues as they relate to the landfill and trucking issues on Creek Road.

The matter was tabled until the March meeting.

The board also:

•Received a donation from Attorney Warren Kahn of Volumes 17-47 of the state Education Department Reports (Commissioner's Decisions).

•Accepted the retirement of special education teacher Stephen Goodman and appointed Vicki Guzek to replace him.

•Passed the updated No School Bus Idling Policy, meant to protect the health and safety of students and staff and to protect the environment from harmful emissions found in bus exhaust.