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24 ¦ MARCH 22, 2021 NEWS

¦ From LEGAL SERVICE on PAGE 23 staff people who are there to make a school system
at Wilbur Cross School, Melissa Cordova-Spoto, or run.”
from the school system administrators, the com- “CCA and CLS are compelled to file this formal
plaint alleges. complaint in order to obtain relief and remedies on
The two cases underscore bigger problems with behalf of the complainants and other similarly-situ-
both communications and with understaffing in ated children with disabilities whose needs are not
Bridgeport schools, Meyer said. “We can’t talk about being met by BPS,” the March 11 letter states. “The
the quality of the program when they don’t have a complainants are representative of any Bridgeport
human being there to implement child who has been denied FAPE
services,” she said. “They may say a due to BPS’ failure to appropriate-
teacher is covering, but that teach- ly staff its schools.”
er is already overbooked. Not only The complainants seeks rem-
are they supposed to be providing The goal of this latest edies from the state, including an
services, but they’re supposed to audit of compensatory hours due
be case-managing.” complaint is not to to special education students, PPTs
Meyer said complaints such as for all students, the implementa-
penalize Bridgeport’s tion of a staffed, specialized hotline
the one lodged March 11 do some public schools, but to shed for parents to get their questions
of the problem-solving on their
light on problems

own by getting the state to ac- answered and the development of
knowledge problems. “This case a corrective action plan within 60
is unfortunately emblematic of days.
many kids in the district who are Legal representatives for the
facing the same situation,” she said. “We partnered state’s Department of Education did not respond to
with Connecticut Legal Services, who have a simi- requests for comment.
lar client situation, and it’s really to draw attention ¦

to the staffing deficiency. We’re focusing on spe- Michael Marciano is bureau chief of the Connecti-
cial education-certified teachers but there are also cut Law Tribune. He can be reached at mmarciano@
deficiencies in other areas, including paraprofes- alm.com or call 646-957-3022. On Twitter: @Break-
sionals. Bridgeport doesn’t have a lot of ancillary ingCTLaw

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