The City of Weston taking over their public schools?

[Guest guest]

A fair amount of notice has been given to the City of Weston taking

over their schools from the Broward County Board of Education. Now I

understand this may be just posturing by the City, but the members of

this list might want to consider the ramifications if this occurred for

special education programs. If the way the City handles resources for

public field space is any indication, our kids would probably get the

short end of the stick.

As has been mentioned previously, the City of Weston delegates the use

of its public fields to an organization called the Weston Sports

Alliance, Inc (WSA). The WSA is made up exclusively of the established

youth sports organizations of the City. Neither the WSA nor its member

organizations are required to create or maintain any recreational

programming for special populations, and currently only two programs

exist; 1) AYSO which groups 50 children of all disabilities in a one

and a half hour session in the middle of Sundays, 2) and a Little

League program that has a similar structure with 13 children. To my

knowledge, no child from any of these programs has graduated to any

form inclusive enviroment to play with their peers, and very little

training or development is attempted. The field time allocated is

Sundays when no other groups want the space.

Over the last three months, attempts have been made to secure field

space for a baseball program to actually teach our kids the sport, and

have them play in some form with their typical peers so that some point

in the future they can actually play the game. Continually these

efforts have been met with responses from the Mayor of the City, the

President of the WSA, and the Presidents of the AYSO and the Little

League that the current programming is sufficient, and various road

blocks have been put in place to stop putting these kids on the fields,

so more programming can be added for typical kids.

Now I don't think it is a stretch to imagine the ramifications for

Weston's public schools. A city school system would have limited

resources, as there are limited resources for recreational programs.

Would a city appointed board determine that it was enough to put all

special populations in one setting where they had no ability to

interact with their typical peers? If class space was lacking,

finding " seperate but equal " locations to warehouse these children?

Fighting McKay so they could receive state dollars to maintain subpar

programming?

If the City of Weston cannot adaquately manage sports fields for our

kids, what business do they have managing their schools?

[Guest guest]

My charity, Rainbow Guardian, is working with the YMCA in Weston to put

together an Outreach Wellness Program for our special-needs' community. The

program is looking to incorporate aquatics, nutrition, fitness, musical,

and/or stimulating, creative activities. The program is still in the

designing stages, along with a cost plan. Being we are both non-profit

organizations, we are able to receive donations and sponsorships for this

program to get it up-and-running. However, to keep it self-sufficiently

running, we will have to come up with a charge per person or per household

(depending), but we are working on making that as minimal and affordable as

possible. It's still premature, so no decisions have been finalized as of

yet.

Being there are many group-homes in the Broward County area, along with my

own, TLC Ranch, and of course, parents, which are looking for their

residents and children to have somewhere to go and do out into the

community, this program can be very beneficial. Also, we are looking to

bring these special individuals into a facility where they can interact in a

normal-type environment, while at the same time offering them unique classes

aimed for their special needs. Also, being Rainbow Guardian is a provider

for companion services, we are looking to incorporate those services with

this Outreach Wellness Program.

If you are parents and/or guardians of special-needs' children and have any

suggestions for this program, please feel free to voice them. I will keep

's List up-to-date on this program's status.

I wanted to inform you that your special children have not been forgotten

and something is being done about it. Don't give up hope yet. Keep

educating yourselves, do your homework, and attain the knowledge that does

exist out there, so you know all of your options.

Warmest Regards,

Caprio-Negret

Rainbow Guardian

Vice President/Director of PR

www.rainbowguardian.org

samantha@...

Milian writes:

> No surprise! Do you really think they want to help our kids as equals. They

just pity them because we have used that as our weakness to get them to pay

attention to us. And now what? You want them to treat our kids as equals. Why

don't we stop making them pity us or our kids. I live in Weston and If this

happens. Good! Any one wants to start a private school in the sunrise area.

>  

> Cuz I know if this happens there will be a quick enrollment of I don't know

how many students since the 2 cluster schools alone have a great number of kids.

From early intervention and in the high schools there are how autistic

kids residing in Weston alone? Not including the ones that still come here to

our schools for one reason or another.

>  

> -cat

>  

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Subject: The City of Weston taking over their public schools?

> To: sList

> Date: Monday, August 11, 2008, 10:56 AM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> A fair amount of notice has been given to the City of Weston taking

> over their schools from the Broward County Board of Education. Now I

> understand this may be just posturing by the City, but the members of

> this list might want to consider the ramifications if this occurred for

> special education programs. If the way the City handles resources for

> public field space is any indication, our kids would probably get the

> short end of the stick.

>

> As has been mentioned previously, the City of Weston delegates the use

> of its public fields to an organization called the Weston Sports

> Alliance, Inc (WSA). The WSA is made up exclusively of the established

> youth sports organizations of the City. Neither the WSA nor its member

> organizations are required to create or maintain any recreational

> programming for special populations, and currently only two programs

> exist; 1) AYSO which groups 50 children of all disabilities in a one

> and a half hour session in the middle of Sundays, 2) and a Little

> League program that has a similar structure with 13 children. To my

> knowledge, no child from any of these programs has graduated to any

> form inclusive enviroment to play with their peers, and very little

> training or development is attempted. The field time allocated is

> Sundays when no other groups want the space.

>

> Over the last three months, attempts have been made to secure field

> space for a baseball program to actually teach our kids the sport, and

> have them play in some form with their typical peers so that some point

> in the future they can actually play the game. Continually these

> efforts have been met with responses from the Mayor of the City, the

> President of the WSA, and the Presidents of the AYSO and the Little

> League that the current programming is sufficient, and various road

> blocks have been put in place to stop putting these kids on the fields,

> so more programming can be added for typical kids.

>

> Now I don't think it is a stretch to imagine the ramifications for

> Weston's public schools. A city school system would have limited

> resources, as there are limited resources for recreational programs.

> Would a city appointed board determine that it was enough to put all

> special populations in one setting where they had no ability to

> interact with their typical peers? If class space was lacking,

> finding " seperate but equal " locations to warehouse these children?

> Fighting McKay so they could receive state dollars to maintain subpar

> programming?

>

> If the City of Weston cannot adaquately manage sports fields for our

> kids, what business do they have managing their schools?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

Caprio-Negret

Vice President/Director of PR

Rainbow Guardian

www.rainbowguardian.org

samantha@...

[Guest guest]

Schwartz

President

Weston Sports Alliance

Dear Mr. Schwartz:

Thank you for organization's time this evening. I was encouraged to hear the enthusiasm both the Weston Area Little League and the West Broward YMCA representatives had for expanding inclusive programming for the great kids I brought to your organization's attention. It was a great start, and if both of these organizations follow through on what was promised, I can assure enthusiastic support from a great group of parents and a lot of kids having fun. I thought Mr. Marika's idea to force all typical kids to help develop this population was a little radical, but his passion is appreciated. I look forward to your organizations follow up on this matter, and with any luck we can get some kids on Weston fields this fall.

Best Regards,

Gordon

The City of Weston taking over their public schools?> To: sList@ yahoogroups. com> Date: Monday, August 11, 2008, 10:56 AM > >

> > > > > A fair amount of notice has been given to the City of Weston taking > over their schools from the Broward County Board of Education. Now I > understand this may be just posturing by the City, but the members of > this list might want to consider the ramifications if this occurred for > special education programs. If the way the City handles resources for > public field space is any indication, our kids would probably get the > short end of the stick. > > As has been mentioned previously, the City of Weston delegates the use > of its public fields to an organization called the Weston Sports > Alliance, Inc (WSA). The WSA is made up exclusively of the established > youth sports organizations of the City. Neither the WSA nor its member > organizations are required to create or maintain any recreational > programming for

special populations, and currently only two programs > exist; 1) AYSO which groups 50 children of all disabilities in a one > and a half hour session in the middle of Sundays, 2) and a Little > League program that has a similar structure with 13 children. To my > knowledge, no child from any of these programs has graduated to any > form inclusive enviroment to play with their peers, and very little > training or development is attempted. The field time allocated is > Sundays when no other groups want the space. > > Over the last three months, attempts have been made to secure field > space for a baseball program to actually teach our kids the sport, and > have them play in some form with their typical peers so that some point > in the future they can actually play the game. Continually these > efforts have been met with responses from the Mayor of the City, the

> President of the WSA, and the Presidents of the AYSO and the Little > League that the current programming is sufficient, and various road > blocks have been put in place to stop putting these kids on the fields, > so more programming can be added for typical kids. > > Now I don't think it is a stretch to imagine the ramifications for > Weston's public schools. A city school system would have limited > resources, as there are limited resources for recreational programs. > Would a city appointed board determine that it was enough to put all > special populations in one setting where they had no ability to > interact with their typical peers? If class space was lacking, > finding "seperate but equal" locations to warehouse these children? > Fighting McKay so they could receive state dollars to maintain subpar > programming? > > If the City of

Weston cannot adaquately manage sports fields for our > kids, what business do they have managing their schools? > > > > > > > > > > > > > Caprio-NegretVice President/Director of PRRainbow Guardianwww.rainbowguardian .orgsamantha@rainbowgua rdian.org

[Guest guest]

Wow! Thanks for making our kids play with the neurotypical kids. Yes it is such a radical idea. Next thing they might let our kids go to the same schools. Awww. Wait a minute. They do that ? I guess. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&TDate: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:27:51 -0700 (PDT)To: <sList >CC: Subject: Re: The City of Weston taking over their public schools? SchwartzPresidentWeston Sports Alliance Dear Mr. Schwartz: Thank you for organization's time this evening. I was encouraged to hear the enthusiasm both the Weston Area Little League and the West Broward YMCA representatives had for expanding inclusive programming for the great kids I brought to your organization's attention. It was a great start, and if both of these organizations follow through on what was promised, I can assure enthusiastic support from a great group of parents and a lot of kids having fun. I thought Mr. Marika's idea to force all typical kids to help develop this population was a little radical, but his passion is appreciated. I look forward to your organizations follow up on this matter, and with any luck we can get some kids on Weston fields this fall. Best Regards, Gordon The City of Weston taking over their public schools?> To: sList@ yahoogroups. com> Date: Monday, August 11, 2008, 10:56 AM > > > > > > > A fair amount of notice has been given to the City of Weston taking > over their schools from the Broward County Board of Education. Now I > understand this may be just posturing by the City, but the members of > this list might want to consider the ramifications if this occurred for > special education programs. If the way the City handles resources for > public field space is any indication, our kids would probably get the > short end of the stick. > > As has been mentioned previously, the City of Weston delegates the use > of its public fields to an organization called the Weston Sports > Alliance, Inc (WSA). The WSA is made up exclusively of the established > youth sports organizations of the City. Neither the WSA nor its member > organizations are required to create or maintain any recreational > programming for special populations, and currently only two programs > exist; 1) AYSO which groups 50 children of all disabilities in a one > and a half hour session in the middle of Sundays, 2) and a Little > League program that has a similar structure with 13 children. To my > knowledge, no child from any of these programs has graduated to any > form inclusive enviroment to play with their peers, and very little > training or development is attempted. The field time allocated is > Sundays when no other groups want the space. > > Over the last three months, attempts have been made to secure field > space for a baseball program to actually teach our kids the sport, and > have them play in some form with their typical peers so that some point > in the future they can actually play the game. Continually these > efforts have been met with responses from the Mayor of the City, the > President of the WSA, and the Presidents of the AYSO and the Little > League that the current programming is sufficient, and various road > blocks have been put in place to stop putting these kids on the fields, > so more programming can be added for typical kids. > > Now I don't think it is a stretch to imagine the ramifications for > Weston's public schools. A city school system would have limited > resources, as there are limited resources for recreational programs. > Would a city appointed board determine that it was enough to put all > special populations in one setting where they had no ability to > interact with their typical peers? If class space was lacking, > finding "seperate but equal" locations to warehouse these children? > Fighting McKay so they could receive state dollars to maintain subpar > programming? > > If the City of Weston cannot adaquately manage sports fields for our > kids, what business do they have managing their schools? > > > > > > > > > > > > > Caprio-NegretVice President/Director of PRRainbow Guardianwww.rainbowguardian .orgsamantha@rainbowgua rdian.org

[Guest guest]

Who is this guy? Force? You guys have your work cut out for you-

"I thought Mr. Marika's idea to force all typical kids to help develop this population was a little radical, but his passion is appreciated".

From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of GordonSent: Monday, August 11, 2008 9:28 PMTo: sList Cc: waybetterbaseball@...Subject: Re: The City of Weston taking over their public schools?

Schwartz

President

Weston Sports Alliance

Dear Mr. Schwartz:

Thank you for organization's time this evening. I was encouraged to hear the enthusiasm both the Weston Area Little League and the West Broward YMCA representatives had for expanding inclusive programming for the great kids I brought to your organization's attention. It was a great start, and if both of these organizations follow through on what was promised, I can assure enthusiastic support from a great group of parents and a lot of kids having fun. I thought Mr. Marika's idea to force all typical kids to help develop this population was a little radical, but his passion is appreciated. I look forward to your organizations follow up on this matter, and with any luck we can get some kids on Weston fields this fall.

Best Regards,

Gordon

The City of Weston taking over their public schools?> To: sList@ yahoogroups. com> Date: Monday, August 11, 2008, 10:56 AM > > > > > > > A fair amount of notice has been given to the City of Weston taking > over their schools from the Broward County Board of Education. Now I > understand this may be just posturing by the City, but the members of > this list might want to consider the ramifications if this occurred for > special education programs. If the way the City handles resources for > public field space is any indication, our kids would probably get the > short end of the stick. > > As has been mentioned previously, the City of Weston delegates the use > of its public fields to an organization called the Weston Sports > Alliance, Inc (WSA). The WSA is made up exclusively of the established > youth sports organizations of the City. Neither the WSA nor its member > organizations are required to create or maintain any recreational > programming for special populations, and currently only two programs > exist; 1) AYSO which groups 50 children of all disabilities in a one > and a half hour session in the middle of Sundays, 2) and a Little > League program that has a similar structure with 13 children. To my > knowledge, no child from any of these programs has graduated to any > form inclusive enviroment to play with their peers, and very little > training or development is attempted. The field time allocated is > Sundays when no other groups want the space. > > Over the last three months, attempts have been made to secure field > space for a baseball program to actually teach our kids the sport, and > have them play in some form with their typical peers so that some point > in the future they can actually play the game. Continually these > efforts have been met with responses from the Mayor of the City, the > President of the WSA, and the Presidents of the AYSO and the Little > League that the current programming is sufficient, and various road > blocks have been put in place to stop putting these kids on the fields, > so more programming can be added for typical kids. > > Now I don't think it is a stretch to imagine the ramifications for > Weston's public schools. A city school system would have limited > resources, as there are limited resources for recreational programs. > Would a city appointed board determine that it was enough to put all > special populations in one setting where they had no ability to > interact with their typical peers? If class space was lacking, > finding "seperate but equal" locations to warehouse these children? > Fighting McKay so they could receive state dollars to maintain subpar > programming? > > If the City of Weston cannot adaquately manage sports fields for our > kids, what business do they have managing their schools? > > > > > > > > > > > > > Caprio-NegretVice President/Director of PRRainbow Guardianwww.rainbowguardian .orgsamantha@rainbowgua rdian.org

______________________________________________________________________This email has been scanned by the Broward Health Email Security System.______________________________________________________________________

- ----------------------------------------------

Broward Health

[Guest guest]

Don't we all

> >

> > From: waybetterbaseball <waybetterbaseball@ yahoo.com

> <mailto:waybetterbaseball%40yahoo.com> >

> > Subject: The City of Weston taking over their public

> schools?

> > To: sList@ yahoogroups. com

> <mailto:sList%40yahoogroups.com>

> > Date: Monday, August 11, 2008, 10:56 AM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > A fair amount of notice has been given to the City of Weston

taking

> > over their schools from the Broward County Board of Education.

Now I

> > understand this may be just posturing by the City, but the

members of

> > this list might want to consider the ramifications if this

occurred

> for

> > special education programs. If the way the City handles resources

for

> > public field space is any indication, our kids would probably get

the

> > short end of the stick.

> >

> > As has been mentioned previously, the City of Weston delegates

the use

>

> > of its public fields to an organization called the Weston Sports

> > Alliance, Inc (WSA). The WSA is made up exclusively of the

established

>

> > youth sports organizations of the City. Neither the WSA nor its

member

>

> > organizations are required to create or maintain any recreational

> > programming for special populations, and currently only two

programs

> > exist; 1) AYSO which groups 50 children of all disabilities in a

one

> > and a half hour session in the middle of Sundays, 2) and a Little

> > League program that has a similar structure with 13 children. To

my

> > knowledge, no child from any of these programs has graduated to

any

> > form inclusive enviroment to play with their peers, and very

little

> > training or development is attempted. The field time allocated is

> > Sundays when no other groups want the space.

> >

> > Over the last three months, attempts have been made to secure

field

> > space for a baseball program to actually teach our kids the

sport, and

>

> > have them play in some form with their typical peers so that some

> point

> > in the future they can actually play the game. Continually these

> > efforts have been met with responses from the Mayor of the City,

the

> > President of the WSA, and the Presidents of the AYSO and the

Little

> > League that the current programming is sufficient, and various

road

> > blocks have been put in place to stop putting these kids on the

> fields,

> > so more programming can be added for typical kids.

> >

> > Now I don't think it is a stretch to imagine the ramifications

for

> > Weston's public schools. A city school system would have limited

> > resources, as there are limited resources for recreational

programs.

> > Would a city appointed board determine that it was enough to put

all

> > special populations in one setting where they had no ability to

> > interact with their typical peers? If class space was lacking,

> > finding " seperate but equal " locations to warehouse these

children?

> > Fighting McKay so they could receive state dollars to maintain

subpar

> > programming?

> >

> > If the City of Weston cannot adaquately manage sports fields for

our

> > kids, what business do they have managing their schools?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> Caprio-Negret

> Vice President/Director of PR

> Rainbow Guardian

> www.rainbowguardian .org

> samantha@rainbowgua rdian.org <mailto:samantha%

40rainbowguardian.org>

>

>

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

> This email has been scanned by the Broward Health Email Security

System.

>

______________________________________________________________________

>

>

> - ----------------------------------------------

> Broward Health