A recent Department of Education Coordinated Program Review of Medford evaluated our programs in accordance with regulatory requirements and found that Multicultural and Multiracial efforts, as evidenced in K-12 curriculum are regularly tracked through the work of the Medford Human Rights Commission and the Racial Balance Advisory Committee. Medford was also found in compliance with procedures to ensure that its programs and materials are free of bias and stereotypes. My personal commitment, as an elected school committee member, would be as a liaison to this group as well as to the Special Education Parent Advisory Board (SEPAC) which was newly elected in June 2007. I actively volunteered and voted in this process along with only one other school committee candidate. In reviewing the 2005 VoteMedford questions pertaining to special education, some candidates made many statements pertaining to special education and students but as was noted during many public meetings and various DOE reports, this process was not being managed or reviewed by school administration or the school committee. Currently, there is no point of contact identified from the Medford School Committee for the Parent Advisory Committee although the community has asked on many occasions. Legislation is pending for under House Bill 574 that will mandate school committees to direct, manage, and audit in collaboration with the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee leadership policies and procedures for school districts as a way to reduce expenditures and costs. Special Education is expensive. It is even more expensive when it is not managed appropriately. We must do better.
