HUNTINGTON BEACH : Candidates’ Forum on Special Education

Eight Ocean View School District board candidates speaking before parents of special education students proposed ways of bringing those students into the mainstream and improving communication with the students’ families.

The candidates’ forum held Wednesday was the first ever sponsored by the West Orange County Special Education consortium, which represents five school districts in northwest Orange County.

Carolyn Hunt, a nine-year board member seeking election to an unexpired, two-year term, said she advocates “mainstreaming these children into as many activities as possible,” including lunchtime events and other extracurricular programs.

Hunt’s only challenger, Steve Buhrig, said he believes that can best be accomplished by channeling more money into special education programs and establishing a network among parents of those students.

Randy Vanderhook, one of nine candidates for three full four-year terms being contested, agreed that the special education consortium should expand interaction among parents. But, he added, given the statewide budget constraints, the group should not rely only on dwindling funds from individual school districts.

Many of the parents said that networking among themselves is difficult because districts cite privacy laws in refusing to provide names and addresses of parents who have special education students.

To help improve communication, candidate Tracy Pellman said she favored holding district forums among parents and board members--an idea proposed at a previous candidates’ forum by challenger Carolyn Kanode.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Kanode suggested that when parents agree to accept special education programs for their children, they fill out address cards to be distributed to a parents’ consortium and other advocacy groups.

Challenger Julie Engquist suggested that the district establish parent contacts at each school to deliver information to other parents of special education children.

Challengers Lottie Hobbs and Flint Morrison also stressed communication.

Hobbs, referring to her involvement in Ocean View’s debate last spring over closing three schools, said that “all parents were frustrated with the process.” When the question is addressed again next spring, she said, parents’ specific concerns will be better addressed because firm solutions will be directly proposed by district staff members.

Morrison said he supports on-site, school intervention teams to deal with special education problems.

Absent were board president Charles Osterlund, a 15-year member who is seeking re-election, and challengers James M. Ball and Randall J. Clifford.