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| | Author | Messages | |
JonAndAshly
Posts:236
 | | 07/28/2008 9:00 AM |
 Alert | Ok, so I have a son that is going into his second year of special ed preschool. I was told that he may be moved to a different school if they open up their preschool classrooms in time. Well I haven’t heard anything and there seems to be no one that I can talk to! My other problem is that my daughter has been receiving speech therapy and now is at the age to start preschool. Three months ago Linda Shields set up my daughters preschool testing appointment. Well if anyone has been through this then you know how frustrating it can be to get these appointments. They book months out. So two and a half weeks ago when the appointment was supposed to be I showed up at the school and was told that Linda Shields went on vacation. The receptionist was very rude to me and told me basically that I was making things up even though Linda Shields even told my daughters service coordinator about the appointment. So now I cant get ahold of ANYONE. There is no way they will be able to get her tested and have the ISP meeting before school starts. I am so frustrated and I feel like I am just hitting walls everywhere I go. Also, can anyone tell me what the preschool tuition is for MUSD? No one at the school seems to have that answer for me.
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| | Cruzin
Posts:145
| | 07/28/2008 9:32 AM |
Alert | | Last year the tuition was $10 a day, but I think this year they have changed it to $150/mo. I have heard that Mrs. Supiot is checking her email, maybe try that route. | | | |
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| | frappucino addict
Posts:189
| | 07/30/2008 8:26 AM |
Alert | I'm actually kind of frustrated, too, and I'm not exactly sure who to be frustrated with! Towards the end of last year, we had my son's IEP through Santa Rosa Elementary and they told me he would be in the autism classroom at Butterfield, which sounded appropriate for him, as it is suppose to include sensory integration and a low student:adult (teacher/aide) ratio. I never received anything from Butterfield, but I did receive a back to school letter from Maricopa Elementary. I called the district office special education department and explained to the receptionist there (who actually answered the phone by saying "hello?" What happened to "Thank you for calling Maricopa School District Office" or something of the sort? I thought I had the wrong number!) who looked some things up in his computer and then assured me that my son was at this point registered in the autism class at Butterfield, but that I should call back a week before school starts to verify. Why would that be necessary? Why would they change his classroom when his IEP, a legal document, already states what classroom he should be attending?
Then I read that people had received back to school letters from Butterfield, which we did not receive. So this morning, I called Butterfield Elementary and spoke to the assistant principal (very nice, by the way) who said she did NOT have my son registered there, but that she would call Maricopa Elementary and see what was going on and get back to me in 20 minutes. That was about 40 minutes ago, so I guess we will see what happens. | | | |
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| | mw
Posts:128
| | 07/30/2008 3:49 PM |
Alert | i just called santa cruz to ask if the aug open house is for preschoolers as well. she was pretty rude and told me i could come and tour the school but she "doesn't know anything about anything." she said emily and one other person (the name escapes me) are in charge of the preschool and i would hear back about prices/times/start dates/etc. by august 5th or 6th and to call back if i hadn't heard anything from them by then. i did fill out all of my daughters paperwork a few days after i got the call saying she had a spot. when i did, they gave me a price sheet that said it was basically $12/class but they were charging $150 month regardless and it was just easier to go monthly. in total it would be $1350 for the year.
the other reason i called today was to make sure my daughter does, indeed, have a spot. the lady on the phone wouldn't talk about that, because she doesn't deal with preschool. i'm a little nervous about it just b/c of the posts i've read about the confusion and frustration of the musd preschool. i'd be more than pee'ved if i waited all this time and my daughter didn't go to school. when i was filling out her paperwork at santa cruz, a gentleman came in and was asking where to sign his son up for preschool and how santa rosa told him to go to santa cruz, blah blah and how he has been getting the runaround. he says he was on the wait list but didn't have any names of people who told him "this or that." he was talking more in general terms. when he left the lady told me a lot of people think they can get away with trying to trick them by saying they had a spot and somehow musd lost their childs spot, etc. and they think that will get their child enrolled. anyway, i wasn't sure whether to believe him or her as she even told me she didn't really know what was going on. so, i don't want to seem like a pain in the rear, but i'd really like to make sure my daughter does have the spot they called me about. they gave me the days and times she would be in class and they did call me, i didn't call them, so i'm assuming all is good....i hope! | |
we finally voted in a smart president! | |
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| | frappucino addict
Posts:189
| | 07/30/2008 4:05 PM |
Alert | I received a message from the vice principal of Butterfield, who spoke with both the principal of Maricopa Elementary and Amanda Buda, who is now the interim special education director (?). My son was originally registered at Maricopa Elementary, but she had him transferred over to Butterfield and into the class where he is supposed to be. My concern with this, among others, is if I hadn't called, what would have happened that first day? What a circus that would have been! How can they just disregard what is included in IEPs for placement and just enroll him in a different program? Also, why did the gentleman at the special education office tell me my son was enrolled at Butterfield when he clearly was not? Did he just not want to deal with it? What if I had just taken him at his word and shown up at Butterfield and then my son was not registered? I would have been doubly angry!
Anyway, I guess it is resolved (I hope!). I can see why it took much longer than the original 20 minute estimate! | | | |
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| | love@hm
Posts:522
| | 07/30/2008 5:26 PM |
Alert | Looks like I've been the lucky one.
OP - When did you set your appointment? 1st make contact with the district on the subject? They are not good at stuff like following through - Linda is the only one that does the testing - which makes it hard on her schedule, but she totally let the ball drop. Call The Board of Education at the State Department - talk with the Exceptional Services dept and report the problem - at that point you will no longer have a problem 
I was told last yr the preschool would likely be moving to Santa Cruz. I called the special ED department yesterday to see what is going on. They are still waiting on approval from the State to move the preschool - preschools have different rules than elementary and they have to have each classroom certified as a preschool. District should have been working on this last yr, sounds like they are being slow again, but what's new. I was told preschool will start on Aug 11th, and the location will depend on where the certifications are. There is NO FEE for the preschool if your child is on an IEP - any fees are for Neurotypical children only.
I have two children on IEP
My son is ASD - mainstreamed into a 1st grade classroom. I called Santa Cruz after receiving a letter stating class assignments would not be posted before meet the teacher. I explained I would need to speak with the teacher before that night to explain what she may feel helpful in regards to my son. I was told not all class assignments had been made, but that I would receive a call as soon as they knew which class my son would be in. I received a call 1 hr later. I left a message for the teacher to call me when she returned to work. I received a call yesterday - dispite the fact she is not officially back to work until Friday.
Frappucino, have you had your son in the ASD program with this district before? My son has not been, however, I have NOT heard very many good things about it. Be certain to go and sit in on a couple of classes and be certain it is what you want. Be willing to continue fighting when you feel it is necessary - this district is low on budget and the SPED seems to take the hits pretty hard - however, I have seen the parents who are willing to fight get the most out of it - NOT quickly, mind you, but the best help. . . you should have seen them jump when I mentioned they'd lost my son 2x in the 1st three days of school and that he had almost run into a busy parking lot because they had him in with the entire school - crowded into the cafeteria for dismissal.
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|  | frappucino addict
Posts:189
| | 07/30/2008 8:52 PM |
Alert | Thanks for the advice. I am looking forward to seeing the new facility and talking to the teacher. Hopefully all goes well. My kid is actually pretty low maintenance, so my main concern is that he not be lost in the cracks, allowed to stim on his own because he causes no problems. | | | |
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| | TheBoymaker
Posts:827
| | 07/31/2008 12:07 AM |
Alert | Contact these people if you need support.
http://www.pilotparents.org/services.htm
I called MUSD two years ago to request speech therapy for my son. He has an IEP from when he attended school. BY LAW, MUSD has to provide him services even though I teach him at home.
I was told that I would have to enroll him in the school system but they would let me continue to homeschool. The man that I spoke to had such a heavy accent that I could barely understand him so I had to ask him to clarify. I had heard correctly. When I told him that doing such a thing would make my son truant, he said that he couldn't help me.
Don't trust anyone to do as they say. Get names Record everything, and know that it is all on your shoulders. The school district is a tool, a service. It isn't a co-parent who cares about your child the way that you do.
Good luck. | |
Poster formerly known as Sassafrass. | |
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| | mw
Posts:128
| | 08/13/2008 6:37 PM |
Alert | | does anyone know if school for the preschool is starting on aug 18th or not? my daughter is going, and i've called several times only to be told by the person "i have no idea." i can't get an answer from anyone! | |
we finally voted in a smart president! | |
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| | love@hm
Posts:522
| | 08/13/2008 7:01 PM |
Alert | what number are you calling?
Call (520) 568-6165
School is starting on Monday. There are classes at both Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz. Paperwork etc was sent out on Thursday or Friday of last week - so *maybe* we will see paperwork before school starts.
If you don't get a person with an answer who can give you valid information, let them know you will call SPED director (who will likely be less help) From there, you will be calling the Superintendant, the State Board of Education and the media (in that order, each with an individual threat if you get nothing done). The district responds quickly (especially the superintendant) to being threatened with a call to the media.
Whatever you threaten - give a deadline for when you expect the action to be done, and then follow through if they do not. (I usually give an extra day or two before calling the State Board of Education or the media - I have called both)
GL | | | |
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| | love@hm
Posts:522
| | 08/13/2008 7:02 PM |
Alert | | The Teacher at Santa Cruz is Mrs. Buchburger. I have not spoken with her, but I hear wonderful things from other teachers whom I respect. | | | |
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| | mw
Posts:128
| | 08/13/2008 8:20 PM |
Alert | i called santa cruz, where my daughter is going. i went in july and filled out all of her paperwork, bought the uniforms, etc. but now i can't get any answers. i called santa cruz, and they told me to call santa rosa (568-5160) and was told to ask for linda. i called, asked for linda and the lady transferred me to a lady that said, "we don't even have a linda that works here." so, i called back and they took my name and number. the lady that took my name said, "well, hopefully someone will get back to you." what???????? try explaining to your child that they can't go to school b/c no one ever got back to me. this is the fifth time i've called since going in and signing the paperwork. i'm really frustrated right now b/c i took my child out of a different preschool and lost the hefty registration fee there. if santa cruz tells me they don't have her spot or something, i'm going to blow my top! everyone tells me someone will be contacting me, and to call back if i don't hear anything by aug 5th or 6th. well, i called the 6th and they said to wait. i don't want my daughter to lose a spot b/c she didn't show up for school and i don't want to take her there the day she is supposed to go in case they are pushed back and have my child hurt b/c she's ready for school and they aren't ready to go. ugh. i was told that they would start the 18th as long as they got the state liscense they needed. has anyone gotten a call from either emily or linda (the two women i was told are handling the preschool)?? maybe my daughter fell through the cracks. but, i won't worry so much if i'm not the only one who hasn't been contacted. i'm confused! also, did "meet the teacher" already happen? i wasn't told about this either. my daughter isn't in any special therapy or program with the preschool, and we will be paying the monthly fees, so does that matter as far as who i talk to? | |
we finally voted in a smart president! | |
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| | love@hm
Posts:522
| | 08/13/2008 8:53 PM |
Alert | It shouldn't matter who you are talking to as long as it is someone AT the preschool.
Call the number I listed above it is a direct line to the preschool/Linda Shields who DOES work there. The ladies that answer at Santa Rosa are pretty useless. Last year I heard, "Don't answer that! (click)" It was after hours and I was expecting voice mail anyway - but it bothered me.
Santa Cruz just BARELY got approval to BE a preschool location. They ARE opening. On the 18th. I have my daughter's class time and teacher's name (listed above) They are all pretty bad at returning calls, I simply get lucky and literally work the system - this time it was pure luck!
If you have signed papers and been told you will definitely have a spot then you should be good to go on that front. Don't bother with Santa Cruz - they are a good school for the most part, but the preschool is a new thing over there and I doubt they have much information as the preschool will be headed up from Santa Rosa (think corporate office).
You are not the only one who has not been contacted. I was told when I called on Monday that the phone had been ringing off the hook with parents requesting information. Because the paperwork went out so late we may not even see it until after class starts - better to call Linda Shields and ask questions. Mail around here is slow and if it goes through the Maricopa PO, it gets shipped up to PHX and then back here - it is quicker to send it via a PHX PO - however, I doubt the district does that.
Hope that helps. | | | |
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| | mw
Posts:128
| | 08/13/2008 9:17 PM |
Alert | | thanks for all of the info. it helps A LOT! i will definitely call that number tomorrow. why someone from santa rosa couldn't just give me that number in the first place is beyond me. i hate feeling like i'm stirring up trouble or anything, i just want to know if my child is going to school next week or not. like i said in a post at the beginning of this thread. a gentleman came in and said his kid should be signed up, but had no info or names. the lady told me i was fine b/c emily had called me directly. so, i felt good that my daughter has a spot. she gave me the days and times to bring her to school. but they also said to only come after we were contacted b/c of the approval situation. and i don't know where to take her, which class, etc. hopefully i'll be able to talk to linda tomorrow. thanks!! | |
we finally voted in a smart president! | |
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| | ajnmjsmom
Posts:16
| | 08/13/2008 9:39 PM |
Alert | Posted By love@hm on 08/13/2008 7:02 PM
The Teacher at Santa Cruz is Mrs. Buchburger. I have not spoken with her, but I hear wonderful things from other teachers whom I respect.
Mrs Buchburger is wonderful!!! I know first hand as she was my son's summer camp teacher.
I also know that tomorrow is the state licensing for the Santa Cruz preschool. If you have any questions please call Amanda Buda. Again first hand I've been in contact with her and she is wonderful and quick to respond to any questions. Best way to contact her is by email abuda@musd20.org Good  luck and know you are with a great teacher at Santa Cruz!!! | | | |
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| | mw
Posts:128
| | 08/14/2008 1:11 PM |
Alert | | i called santa rosa this morning and then i did receive a call from amanda. everything is straightened out, and school does start this coming week. luckily, i called b/c i was told class would be from 11:15-1:45 when it now is from 11:45-2pm. i have no idea where to go, as she said she wasn't sure of which classroom it's in, but she did tell me the teacher would be mrs. buchburger. i'm really excited for my daughter to start preschool! i felt confident everthing got worked out, so i told my daughter she is going to school and she is super excited!!!! thanks for all of the help | |
we finally voted in a smart president! | |
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