School districts are required to provide special education services to students who require them, but a Blind Brook school district resident thinks an independent evaluator should assess whether costs are reasonable.

Dear Editor:

There have been repeated calls for the Blind Brook school district to engage an independent evaluator to review the Special Education program to assess whether students are receiving the correct services and whether those services are being provided in a cost-efficient manner.  To date, Superintendent William Stark and the Board of Education have resisted such scrutiny.
Compare Rye City Schools to Blind Brook: 

Notice that Rye City educates twice as many students as Blind Brook, and it has nearly twice the total budget, yet when it comes to Special Education, Rye City spends $1 million less than Blind Brook. Why?

Notice that while Rye City spends average of $15,600 per Special Education student, Blind Brook spends more than twice that amount ($31,700). Why?

Notice that earlier this year, Rye City Schools engaged an independent evaluator to thoroughly review their Special Education program. Blind Brook has refused to do so. Why?

It is time to stop stonewalling.  Blind Brook should promptly engage an independent evaluator.

Very truly yours,

Bert L. Slonim

Rye Brook