Knox County Schools announces new special education councils

Knox County Schools announced more reforms are coming for the district’s special education program.Assistant Superintendent of Student Success Jason Myers unveiled the launch of a standing special education council at Monday night’s school board meeting that will provide input and perspective to the work that is already underway to improve special education. The district is inviting each member of the recently created special education task force to be a part of that council, along with general education teachers, special education teachers, and district leaders.Myers also announced the launch of a success leadership council made up of school principals to provide insight through the lens of school leaders around the district.“We recognize also that meaningful change cannot happen in a vacuum, nor can we go at this alone. Real cultural change takes time and willingness to build a coalition around the project,” said Myers. “These groups will not operate in silos and will play a vital role in our work as we move forward.The councils will act as a sounding board for ideas that come from different internal working groups and provide the district with tangible and actionable feedback on improving special education. Myers said that the goal is for both councils to have their first meeting in early December.Superintendent Jon Rysewyk expressed his support for the councils and the ongoing work Myers’ and his staff have done to help reform the district’s special education program.“He actually came to me saying we don’t want to just do the minimum we need to so people feel like we’re moving forward. We’re willing to go down to the core and get this done and I think the steps that he’s talking about are ones that are going to make that happen. So, we look forward to that work because it’s gonna help us serve kids better,” said Rysewyk.