CD obo TD v Warren Hills BOE | Case 04683-20 | 2021-03-31
New Jersey special education due-process decision
- Case number
- 04683-20
- Date
- 3/31/2021
- Parties / district (official listing)
- CD obo TD v Warren Hills BOE
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Decision text
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New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity Employer
State of New Jersey
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
FINAL DECISION
OAL DKT. NO. EDS 04683-20
AGENCY DKT.NO. 2020 31493
C.D. ON BEHALF OF T.D.,
Petitioner,
v.
WARREN HILLS BOARD OF EDUCATION,
Respondent.
____________________________________
Ester Canty-Barnes, Esq., for petitioners (Rutgers Law School Education and Health
Law Clinic, attorneys)
Margaret Fiori, third year law student appearing pursuant to R. 1:21-3(b) and Marissa
Kindberg, second year law student appearing pursuant to R. 1:21-1(f) (8) for petitioners
Marc Mucciolo, Esq. for respondent (Methfessel & Werbel, P.C., attorneys)
Record Closed: March 24, 2021 Decided: March 31, 2021
BEFORE KIMBERLY A. MOSS, ALJ:
Petitioner, C.D. on behalf of her child T.D. (T.D.), requests respondent, Warren
Hills Regional Board of Education (District) determine that T.D. is eligible for special
education and related services, place T.D. in an out of district placement and provide T.D.
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with compensatory education for failure to provide a fair and appropriate education
(FAPE).
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On May 13, 2020, the Office of Special Education Programs transmitted the matter
to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) under Docket No. EDS 04683 -20. Petitioner
filed a motion for emergent relief on September 21, 2020. Respondent filed opposition
on September 28, 2020. Petitioner filed a reply to respondents’ opposition on October 5,
2020. Petitioner’s motion was denied on October 7, 2020. The hearing was held on
October 21, 2020, November 24, 2020, December 3, 2020, December 21, 2020,
December 22, 2020, and March 24, 2021. After which time I closed the record.
FACTUAL DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS
Testimony
Mary Louise Rowlin
Mary Louise Rowlin (Rowlin) is the supervisor of special education in Warren Hills.
She was previously a special education tea cher. She has the following certifications:
elementary school teacher, special education teacher, supervisor, principal, and a
certificate of eligibility. She is not trained to administer tests to students. She participates
in some determinations of eligibility. In certain situations, she is involved in IEP meetings.
T.D. was brought to her attention in July 2019, when she received a letter from
C.D. stating that T.D. had been court ordered to Bonnie Brae. T.D. was suspended in
March 2019 for substance abuse. At that time T.D. had not been in the district long. In
March 2019, T.D. was placed on home instruction. T.D. had a 504-Plan. T.D. had been
home schooled through the seventh grade.
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An Identification and evaluation planning (ID and Planning) meeting was
scheduled for August 16, 2019. T.D.’s case manager Kimberly Tomasino was also at the
meeting. This was the second request for eligibility for T.D. T.D.’s eligibility was
discussed as was the 504-Plan at the March 2019 ID and planning meeting . Rowlin did
not attend the March 2019 meeting.
At the August 2019 meeting C.D. stated that T.D. was drug free but no
documentation was provided to verify that fact. Prior to being placed in Bonnie Brae, T.D.
had substance abuse problems according to C.D. Prior to the August 2019 meeting, T.D.
attended Daytop Village (Daytop) but he left that program. He next went to the New Hope
school then Bonnie Brae.
T.D. went to school in Phillipsburg prior to coming to Warren Hills. The District
relied on the evaluations from Phillipsburg. Those evaluations, and not knowing whether
T.D. was drug free was the reason the District decided not to evaluate T.D. for special
education services. This decision was appropriate because T.D had been in the District
for too short of a time to determine if the 504-Plan was working. The 504-plan information
came from the testing at Phillipsburg. T.D. was only in district for nine weeks.
After the August 2019 meeting, T.D. was placed on home instruction at which was
done at Bonnie Brae. He was given ten hours per week of home instruction.
In January 2020, there was a third ID and planning meeting held for T.D. Petitioner
provided evaluations of T.D. done by Balaban and Associates. The evaluations were
psychological, educational and speech and language. These were considered by the
District. At this meeting C.D. stated that T.D. had been drug free since October 2019.
Petitioner consented to the District doing a psychiatric and social assessment
evaluations. The psychiatric evaluation was to be done by Dr. Fennelly. The decision to
evaluate T.D. at this time was appropriate because there was new information including
the home instruction notes and evaluations presented by petitioner.
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C.D. came in for her part of the social assessment evaluation but did not give
permission for T.D. to be evaluated for the social history assessment. Rowlin does not
do the social history assessments. Students are typically interviewed for the social history
assessments.
Rowlin just recently was informed that T.D. was released from Bonnie Brae. He is
currently enrolled in the online education program at Warren Hills. She was not present
at the October 2019 meeting where petitioner’s request for an evaluation was rejected.
The January 2020 meeting was a planning meeting. The District did not want to solely
rely on the Balaban reports. Rowlin was not part of the creation of the 504 -plan for T.D.
His eligibility for the 504 -plan was due to his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHA). The revised 504 included the diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
in addition to ADHD. Petitioner did not agree with the 504 -plan. T.D. was not in the
school building when the 504 -Plan was revised. The 504 -Plan was put in p lace to
determine if T.D. is eligibility for special education.
Rowlin did not receive a report from the Children’s Specialized Hospital regarding
T.D. She did receive the evaluation of T.D. from Gregory the Great School. It stated that
T.D. did not start work on his own and his homework was spotty. He lacked effort and
had a lack of attention. T.D. was intelligent but lazy. He did not like school and lacked
discipline. At Gregory the Great, preferential seating was part of the 504-Plan.
Rowlin had access to the evaluations done by Phillipsburg. The educationa l
evaluation stated that T.D. completed little independent work, did not turn in his
homework, and struggled with class skills. Reading comprehension and writing was a
challenge for him. It stated that his ability to listen and learn was limited, which could be
due to auditory processing difficulties. T.D.’s computational skills are limited, his abi lity
to solve basic math facts is limited. His expression ability is limited as is his ability to
quickly read and write. The Phillipsburg educational evaluation recommended T.D. have
lower grade level reading, reading guide, graphic organizer, assistance with spelling. His
math should be systematic and explicit. Rowlin did not review all the recommendations
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of the Phillipsburg educational evaluation. T.D. was taking college prep classes. His
processing speed was lower than his typical peers. The Phillipsburg evaluations did not
find T.D. eligible for special education services. No one from Warren Hills was present
for the Phillipsburg evaluations.
From September 2019 to March 2020 , T.D. was receiving home instruction. The
tutoring log does not show that T.D. receive ten hours of instruction weekly. The classes
could have been cancelled because T.D. refused to attend. It appears that he received
instruction in certain areas.
T.D.’s course summary at that time shows that he was exempt from forty -four of
forty-nine assignments. Exempt means he was not in class.
On June 3, 2020, petitioner sent a letter to the District requesting an appropriate
consent form for Dr Fennelly’s evaluation. Rowlin was not aware that this was an issue.
Petitioner did not receive a response from the District until July 2020. The District cannot
alter Dr. Fennelly’s consent form.
The social assessment evaluation is commonly done by interviewing the parent
and the student. At the January 2020 planning meeting, petitioner was informed that the
social assessment evaluation required an interview of her and T.D.
Earl Clymer
Earl Clymer (Clymer) is the Superintendent of Warren Hills. He was previously a
principal, assistant superintendent, and special education teacher. His job is to ensure
the effective and efficient operation of the District. He rarely gets involved with students.
He became familiar with T.D. in the summer of 2019. At that time T.D. had been placed
at Bonnie Brae. Clymer ensured that T.D. had instructions while he was at Bonnie Brae.
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Clymer was told that Bonnie Brae would not allow T.D. to have a Chromebook
supplied by the District. Home instruction at Bonnie Brae was arraigned for T.D. An
instructor was to go to Bonnie Brae and give T.D. home instruction fifteen hours per week.
The District offered to have T.D. transported to Warren Hills and Back to Bonnie Brae for
instruction, but that offer was rejected. The District offered to pay T.D.’s tuition at a high
school near Bonnie Brae, but that offer was rejected.
In the spring or summer of 2019, petitioner met with him to discuss an out of district
placement for T.D. The November 2019 meeting with Bonnie Brae and petitioner was to
determine what would be best for T.D. Grades and academics were discussed. He does
not recall the results of the meeting. Bonnie Brae believed that T.D. should have been in
its school. T.D. was isolated academically from the other students at Bonnie Brae.
Clymer was made aware that petitioner believed that the con sent order for Dr. Fennelly
was overbroad.
T.D. was suspended for drug related matters. It is not typical for a student to be
on home instruction for one year. Clymer did not know that there was no meeting to
discuss T.D.’s placement after he was discha rged. There was a schedule in place for
T.D. to begin remote learning once he was released from Bonnie Brae. He does not know
when the letter for virtual learning was sent to the parents.
Clymer knows that T.D. has ODD which can impact a child’s learning. He was not
directly contacted by the New Day School. Clymer would get sporadic updates about
T.D. at Bonnie Brae.
Petitioner was not satisfied with the 504 -plan. Once T.D. was released from
Bonnie Brae they would meet to discuss the 504 -plan. There were concerns about the
time T.D. spent with the home instructor. Clymer was not informed when T.D. was
released from Bonnie Brae. It was anticipated that Bonnie Brae would do a behavior plan
for T.D. Behavior plans can be used for special education or general education students.
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T.D.’s 504-plan did not have a behavior plan. It did not have one to one assistance. The
behavior plan was to be done due to issues T.D. had with instruction at Bonnie Brae.
Kimberly Tomasino
Kimberly Tomasino (Tomasino) has been the high school psychologist in Warren
Hills for the past four years. She does psychological evaluations, frequently using the
Wexler, Vineland and BASC 3 tests. She does not do educational testing in Warren Hills.
Tomasino became familiar with T.D. in February 2019, one month after he enrolled
in Warren Hills. She was the case manager assigned once the referral for T.D. was
received. She briefly met with T.D. She communicated with the guidance counselor and
requested updated 504-Plan. T.D. had a typical nineth grade program with general level
and college prep classes. She knew that T.D. had been home schooled for a time and
went to private school. He was diagnosed with ADHD.
The ID and eligibility meeting was on March 13, 2019. A plan for T.D. was created
at this meeting. The plan considered teacher information, student information, parental
input, grades, conduct and attendance. T.D. was suspended because of drug use two
days prior to the date of the meetin g. The Child Study Team (CST) determined that
evaluations were not warranted due to the prior evaluations of T.D. done by Philipsburg
in 2018. At that time, petitioner was concerned with whether T.D. had dyslexia. The
Phillipsburg evaluations did not re flect any concern with T.D.’s reading. Since T.D. had
been in Warren Hills for a short time the CST felt monitoring him in the general education
classes was appropriate. After the March 2019, meeting T.D. did not return to Warren
Hills.
Tomasino reviewe d the psychological assessment done by Phillipsburg. The
Wexler test was administered to T.D. His IQ score was ninety -one, which is in the
average range. His verbal ability and problem solving were in the average range. His
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processing speed was seventy -five, which is a lower score. Base on the testing, T.D.
would need additional time for testing and material broken down for him.
Tomasino reviewed the educational evaluation with the LDTC. T.D.’s scores for
this evaluation were in the average range, a few scores were in the upper limit of the low
average range. T.D.’s diagnosis of ODD was discussed at the March 2019 meeting.
The district was concerned because T.D. left Daytop. Tomisano did not follow up
with Daytop, but she did receive a grade report from them for T.D. She had not seen the
Daytop discharge summary which requested T.D. have a psychiatric follow up. The CST
believed that T.D.’s problems were related to substance abuse.
Tomasino reviewed the psychological evaluation done by the Child ren’s
Specialized Hospital prior to the August 2019 meeting. Petitioner was at the meeting with
a person from a care management organization (CMO). CMO’s work with families in
crisis or there are mental health problems. The August 2019 meeting was in response to
petitioner’s request for evaluations. At this time the District knew that T.D. had been in
Daytop and Carrier Clinic for substance abuse. T.D. was in the process of being placed
at Bonnie Brae. No evaluations were done. The District wanted to determine if the
behavior crisis of T.D. was related to substance abuse. Bonnie Brae seemed to be the
appropriate place for T.D. It was determined that T.D. did not have a disability that
affected his educational performance. T.D. was placed with a home instructor at Bonnie
Brae.
A representative from Bonnie Brae was present at the August 2019 meeting.
There was initially follow up with Bonnie Brae after the August 2019 meeting. There was
a call with petitioner, a call with Bonnie Brae staff and a home instructor was sent to
Bonnie Brae to work with T.D. Tomasino did not look at the tutoring log for T.D. but she
was aware that he was not cooperating. She became aware that T.D. was not meeting
regularly with the home instructor. The home instructo r’s report is part of T.D.’s record.
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Tomasino did not know that petitioner asked for evaluations to be done while T.D. was at
Bonnie Brae. Tomasino does not know of any 504-plan meeting after March 2019.
Prior to the January 2020 meeting petitioner provi ded a psychological evaluation
to the District, which was evaluated by the LDTC. The evaluation was discussed by the
CST. The evaluation showed that T.D. had a disability. The CST wanted to sort out the
academic need from substance abuse. At the Januar y 2020 meeting, petitioner
requested the psychological evaluation be accepted and an eligibility determination be
made for T.D. Information from T.D.’s teachers at Gregory the Great and Warren Hills
and parental concerns were reviewed to determine if the 504-Plan was not meeting T.D.’s
needs. T.D. was at Bonnie Brae at the time of the meeting. The CST proposed full
evaluation updates for T.D. It was agreed that T.D. would have a psychiatric evaluation
and a social history assessment. Tomasino was not a ware of a mental assessment of
T.D. done by Bonnie Brae. Tomasino knew that petitioner requested T.D. be educated
at Bonnie Brae. She had not seen the letter from the District to Bonnie Brae.
Tomasino reviewed the consents for the evaluations in Februar y 2020. She did
not arrange the psychiatric evaluation until she had the parental consent.
The Psychiatric evaluation was not done. Dr. Fennelly was scheduled to do the
psychiatric evaluation. Dr Fennelly cancelled the evaluation because petitioner would not
sign his consent form. Tomasino received this information regarding the consent in June
2020. She forwarded the concern to Dr. Fennelly. He wanted his consent form used.
She did not know that Dr Fennelly’s consent form included treatment. Petiti oner re-sent
the consent that she signed to the District in June 2020. From June 2020 to August 2020,
the District had no communication with petitioner. In June 2020 and July 2020, the District
tried to resolve the consent issue with Dr. Fennelly. The D istrict lost contact with Dr.
Fennelly.
The Phillipsburg educational evaluation showed that T.D. was average in most
areas. T.D. has low processing speed. The Warren Hills CST did not suspect an area of
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disability. The evaluation shows that T.D. struggled to use class time effectively, following
through on assignments and expressing his ideas in writing. Tomasino did not speak to
the 504 -plan coordinators. The Warren Hills 504 -plan did not provide supplemental
service for T.D. T.D. scored 85 on academ ic fluency on the educational evaluation.
Tomisano does not consider T.D.’s academic fluency limited. In writing, T.D. has limited
ability on task that require the ability to convey ideas in writing. The evaluation
recommended that math instruction be sy stematic and explicit which can be done in a
general education class. Cumulative review is done in general education math classes.
Reading, a study guide, story plot and graphic organizer were recommended which can
be done in a general education class. T.D. would be in Algebra I class. His math scores
are not consistently low.
At the time of the referral, the CST looked at the impact of learning disabilities and
ADHD. The 504-Plan was based on his ADHD. There was no evidence of T.D. having
ODD at Warren Hills. Toni Loffredo sent Tomasino an email regarding T.D.’s 504-Plan
which included T.D. having a tutor from the National Honor Society, after -school peer
tutoring, and two sets of books. Tomasino does not know if this was implemented.
Tomasino met with T.D. He kept his head down and did not make eye contact.
T.D. had mis sed assignments but that was not unusual for a student who had
changed schools in the middle of the school year. A student’s suspension does not mean
that he has a disability. T.D. was on home instruction based on the length of his
suspension. On Februa ry 21, 2019, petitioner requested a behavioral assessment for
T.D. because of his behaviors at Gregory the Great and at home. There was no evidence
of erratic behavior at Warren Hills. Tomasino does not know if T.D. had an I&RS plan.
Petitioner appeared for the social assessment. Social assessments include
interviews with the student. This was not specifically stated to petitioner at the January
2020 meeting. Petitioner did not give her consent for T.D. to be interviewed for the Social
Assessment. The Social Assessment was not completed, although it could have been
done entirely from petitioner’s perspective.
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Tomasino agreed not to evaluate T.D. in March 2019. His ADHD and ODD were
addressed in the 504 -plan. The decision not to evaluate T.D. in Augus t 2019 was
because the concern was that his issues were related to substance abuse.
The independent psychological report of Dr . Plasner was reviewed with the CST.
His report is extensive and used tests that the District does not typically use. The District
did not agree with his diagnostic impression that T.D. had a social communication
disorder or specific learning disorder. Plasner stated that T.D. meet the criteria for
Multiple disabled. The District disagrees. The District does not disagree that T.D. has an
adjustment disorder and a complex background, but it does not believe these meet the
criteria for classification for special education services. Dr Plasner recommended direct
services for T.D. The District felt that the mental health supports instituted in August 2019
was enough. There were inconsistencies in Dr. Plasner’s report. Much of the information
came from petitioner. The District denied petitioner’s request for evaluations on two
occasions. Dr Plasner sent a form to the home instr uctor for information regarding T.D.
he did not receive a response.
Tomasino knew that T.D. was at Bonnie Brae but did not know when he was
released. Tomasino was not present for the October 2019 meeting with petitioner. She
was not aware that petitio ner requested T.D. be evaluated at that meeting. The District
did not place T.D. at Bonnie Brae.
While a student at St Philip and James school (SPJS), T.D. received Title One
services in reading, writing and math. The 504 -plan for Warren Hills states tha t as of
February 19, 2019, T.D. was failing CP Algebra1, CP Env. Sci and Sales and marketing.
T.D. had been a student at Warren Hills for a short period of time. During that time, he
had been tardy, and the school had weather related closings.
Tomasino knew that T.D. had been suspended from his prior school for disciplinary
reasons but does not recall reviewing nursing records for him. T.D.’s financial literacy
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teacher wrote that in vocabulary, T.D. defined four of twenty words and did four out of
thirty study guides, but he had a seventy-eight on his quiz.
On his Genesis report for the week of March 4, 2019, T.D. had a 10.10 percent in
CP Algebra, a 15.70 percent in CP Environmental Science, 55.60 in Sales and Market
and 66.30 percent in Financial Literacy. T.D. had been in Warren Hills for seven to eight
weeks at that time. At the time of the report, T.D. did not have any attendance or discipline
issues.
T.D. missed several assignments. Once he turned in the assignment it would be
graded. In Jan uary 2020 the math teacher stated T.D. was not turning in his work.
Petitioner asked one of the teachers if T.D. progressing. The teacher stated that since
she received so little work from him, that he was not progressing. T.D. was exempted
from class p articipation as well as other things. He had a significant amount of
exemptions.
T.D. was evaluated by Children’s Specialized Hospital. His executive function was
significantly elevated. T.D. was withdrawing verbally and having difficulty with adapti ve
skills. This information came from petitioner. The evaluation found that T.D. has difficulty
making friends and does not join group activities. He has difficulty maintaining consistent
levels of attention. T.D.’s difficulty with executive functionin g and impulse control could
be substance abuse related.
The Learning Consultant at Warren Hills reviewed the Educational evaluation from
Balaban and Associates. The CST disagreed that T.D. had a learning disability and
believed that T.D. should be eval uated. Three evaluations were provided by petitioner.
This was based on information from petitioner and the home instructor. At the time of the
January 2020 meeting, T.D. had been drug free. At the January meeting, other health
impaired and emotional di sturbance classifications were considered. The District
proposed educational, psychological, psychiatric, and social assessments for T.D.
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The social history assessment was to be an interview with petitioner and T.D.
Petitioner would not consent to T.D. being interviewed or for the District to speak to
anyone at Bonnie Brae. Petitioner consented to the Social History Assessment but may
not have known that part of the assessment was an interview with T.D.
Presently T.D. is a remote access student at Warren Hills. Remote instruction is
not the best type of instruction for T.D. Tomasino was not aware that petitioner asked
that T.D. be placed at New Dawn Academy.
T.D. was in Daytop, Carrier Clinic and Bonnie Brae due to substance abuse. T.D.
left Daytop and missed several assignments with the home instructor while he was at
Bonnie Brae. In January 2020, the District was willing to have T.D. evaluated. Petitioner
never requested a speech and language evaluation.
The Phillipsburg evaluations determ ined that T.D. was not eligible for special
education services.
Noha Soliman
Noha Soliman is a speech language pathologist. She evaluated T.D. on November
11, 2019. She administered the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF -
5) the Test of Language Development Intermediate (TOLD -4) and the Goldman Fristoe
test of Articulation, second addition to T.D. Her findings were that T.D. had age
appropriate language skills with difficulty in pragmatic language and his receptive skills.
He cannot be classified as communication impaired for eligibility for special education.
T.D.’s weakness in pragmatic language includes his ability to understand and
define homonyms. The word class test is a subset of the CLEF tests which showed a
weakness in his receptive language which impacts his comprehension in all classes. It
impacts his ability to edit, make inferences, and understand analogies in word problems.
His word class score was five he scored in the low Moderate range. His pragmatic
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language sco re was .04, which means 99.6 percent of students his age has better
pragmatic language skills. Pragmatic language is the ability to use language
appropriately, how to behave and speak in different situations. Difficulty with pragmatic
language has a nega tive impact on daily functioning. There is trouble explaining
meanings, comprehending, and respecting authority. It affects the ability to make and
keep friends. The pragmatic profile was filled out by petitioner.
A portion of the TOLD test is multiple meanings. The person is given a word with
different meanings and asked to give as many meanings as they can. T.D. scored a
seven on multiple meanings. He was in the sixteenth percentile of students his age.
Soliman’s recommendation is that T.D. will benefit from speech language therapy with a
focus on receptive and pragmatic language. If he does not get help with his pragmatic
skills, he will have difficulty in school. T.D.’s low score in pragmatic language is a major
portion of the difficulties he has academically and personally.
Soliman did not observe T.D. in a classroom setting. She evaluated him in Bonnie
Brae with his home instructor. The evaluation took place in an office at Bonnie Brae. At
that time T.D. was angry because he woke up ear ly and stated that he was only there
because his mother wanted him to be there.
Soliman’s evaluation was based on conversations with the parents as well as Dr
Plasner. Soliman had no communication with the CST. Her pragmatic language score
was based on the report from the mother and the evaluation. T.D.’s evaluation lasted for
two hours. Her report does not say that T.D. needs speech services.
Deborah Weyland
Deborah Weyland (Weyland) is a learning disabilities teacher consultant (LDTC).
A LDTC anal yses academic performance, identifies learning disabilities offers
suggestions on instructional and educational programs and provides educational therapy.
She has conducted over three hundred learning evaluations.
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Weyland was contacted to do an independent evaluation to determine the level of
achievement and assist with educational planning for T.D. The evaluation was done at
Bonnie Brae. T.D. had been previously diagnosed with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation,
Unspecified Disruptive/Impulse Control and Conduct Disorder. He takes Intuniv for
impulsivity and Lamictal for affective instability /impulsivity.
T.D. was receiving home instruction five days a week three hours per day. She
reviewed emails from the home instructor. T.D went to school until th e third grade. He
was home schooled from third to the seventh grade. He went to SPJS for the eighth
grade. T.D. struggled at SPJS. He received Title One (Basic Skills) services twice a
week in reading, writing and math.
T.D. was administered the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children fifth edition
(WISC-V). It found that T.D. had average abilities with a weakness in processing speed
and fluency speed. His fluid reasoning was average, and he had stronger visual skills.
T.D. was evaluated at Ch ildren’s Specialized Hospital in June 2018. The
Vanderbilt ratings scale was administered at this time. It found reading, written
expression problematic. He did not give attention to detail on the test or sustain attention.
He did not do the work in most subjects.
In T.D.’s nineth grade state assessment, his Language Arts and Algebra
performance did not meet expectation. He performed at level one which is the lowest
level. At Warren Hills T.D. had a 504 -plan due to ADHD. In March 2019, the 504 -plan
was revised to include the diagnosis of ODD. T.D was in an outpatient drug program in
March 2019.
Weyland’s first evaluation with T.D. was cancelled because he had been found
with cocaine at Bonnie Brae. When she first met with T.D. he declined to participate, but
he later came in and spoke to her. He was laid back in speaking to her. He would zone
out.
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Weyland’s diagnostic impression was that T.D. receive special education services
under the classification as multiple handicapped to receive specia l education. He has a
language-based disability in reading rate, reading fluency, math fluency, math calculation
and math composition. He would benefit from a small group multisensory instruction
program with verbal feedback. Lecture format teaching is not good for T.D. He needs a
word processing program to assist with punctuation, grammar, and syntax. He has
difficulty with his memory and needs repetition and practice in difficult situations. T.D.
should not be in a multiple disabled class. Weyland d id not discuss placement in her
report. She addresses the type of program T.D. needs. She does not know the type of
programs at Warren Hills. Some of Weyland’s recommendations can be done with a 504-
Plan.
T.D. had drug issues at Gregory the Great an d Warren Hills. His time at Warren
Hills was brief, January 2019 to April 2019 with two suspensions. The WIAT test average
range is wide. It showed spelling was average but other tests would be below average.
The educational assessment of T.D. that was done by Phillipsburg has many
comparable findings to her evaluation. That assessment used the Woodcock Johnson
test. It showed that T.D.’s ability to listen, remember and repeat a sentence were below
average. He needed extra time because his difficu lty with reading rate and sentence
fluency. His math calculation and math fluency were limited. He had limited ability to
convey ideas on paper.
Phillipsburg educational assessment had similar recommendations to Weyland’s
evaluation, but they involved T.D. doing tasks that would draw attention to himself. It
would be difficult to implement all the recommendations of the Phillipsburg educational
assessment in a general education classroom.
The Title One teacher, Ms. Spencer at Phillipsburg wrote th at T.D. was receiving
math, reading, and writing service twice a week, he did not comply with his assignments,
but his oral responses show that he comprehends.
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Weyland was surprised by the number of petitioner’s requests for evaluations that
were denied. The District must identify and provide service to students that live in the
District. The District has the obligation to evaluate students with disabilities.
The Phillipsburg evaluations do not indicate T.D. had a drug issue. T.D. has an
average I.Q. He has a weakness in expressive vocabulary, expansive vocabulary, and
fluency.
Weyland would not evaluate a student that was actively using drugs. Phillipsburg
did not find T.D. eligible for special education services.
Joseph Plasner
Joseph Plasner is a licensed psychologist. He also has a certification as teacher
of the handicapped. He has a master’s degree in educational psychology, and school
psychology and child development. He taught in public schools for fourteen years and
was a school psychologist in public schools for fifteen years. He case managed twenty
students a year for fifteen years. He is currently the executive director of Balaban and
Associates.
Dr Plasner evaluated T.D. to access his cognitive, emotional, social, behavioral,
and executive functioning. At the time of the evaluation T.D. was at Bonnie Brae. Dr
Plasner reviewed T.D.’s history, records and prior evaluations. At the time of the
evaluation, T.D.’s demeanor was serious, quiet, motivated and cooperative . T.D. was
asked to draw a human figure. He was asked what the figure needed most, and his
answer was confidence. The human figure T.D. drew had no face which is rare.
T.D. has school, academic, learning and processing issues. He also has difficulty
with impulsivity. He does not believe that he can affect the outcome of what he does and
that the things that he does, does not count.
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T.D. meets the criteria for special education under the classification of multiple
disabled, other health impaired, spec ific learning disabled and emotional regulation
impairment. One program could not address all of T.D.’S needs. T.D. needs direct
services with monitoring and intervention. He needs close monitoring in an educational
placement with a minimal teacher to s tudent ratio. He needs teachers who are
experienced in working with students like him. He also needs basic skill instruction in a
multisensory setting.
T.D.’s placement should be in a school where he can maximize his skills in the
day, afternoon and evening. Psychiatric intervention and counseling should be part of his
program. He should have social skills and individual skills counselling to remain
substance free. He also needs medication. T.D. needs special education services. He
has significant problems in all areas of functioning, which needs to be addressed with an
IEP.
Dr. Plasner reviewed the Phillipsburg psychological evaluation. He has problems
with the report. His verbal comprehension score was ninety -eight which was average,
his Fluid Re asoning Index score was 103. T.D.’s processing speed was seventy -five,
which is significantly below the fluid reasoning index and verbal comprehension score.
Students with lower processing speed have attention deficits. The Phillipsburg
psychological report does not have a social, emotional, or executive function components.
Dr. Plasner did not test T.D.’s processing speed. He wanted to take processing speed
out of the equation.
The Warren Hills 504-Plan is not adequate to address T.D.’s needs. He would not
be successful in a general education with a 504-Plan. The 504-Plan did not include
counseling or in class support. A student with ADHD and ODD should not have a 504 -
plan. They need a program with social, emotional, behavioral, and basic skills goals and
objectives are required. The discharge from Daytop is a red flag that T.D needed
evaluations.
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Students with ODD and Dysregulation disorder would be resistant to education.
That student may need to be in a self-contained class.
T.D.’s discharge from Bonnie Brae list his diagnosis as Disruptive Mood
Dysregulation Disorder, Severe Cannabis use Disorder and Unspecified Disruptive
Impulse -control and conduct disorder. They recommended continued therapy,
employment, and an appropriate academic sett ing. Dr. Plasner approves these
recommendations. Counseling in an IEP is the responsibility of the District. T.D. going
to Warren Hills as a general education student after his discharge from Bonnie Brae is
inappropriate.
Hybrid education is not appropriate for T.D. He needs to be in class every day. Dr
Plasner did an updated psychological report on T.D. The updated report included social,
emotional, and behavioral evaluations. These evaluations were done on August 31,
2020, after he was discharged from Bonnie Brae. T.D. was not attending school at the
time of the evaluation. T.D. had made progress. He was not overly agitated and had no
overt resistance. T.D. rated his anger and anxiety as less than five.
Dr. Plasner researched New Dawn Academy and spoke to its Assistant Principal.
He believes that New Dawn would meet T.D.’s needs. It has counseling, it is a small
program with eleven students with students with IEP’s.
While he was conducting his initial evaluation, Dr Plasner sent a rating scal e of
T.D. for the teacher to complete. It was never returned. T.D.’s parent provided answers
to several of the tests that he did. Dr. Plasner relied on information from the parents and
Bonnie Brae.
T.D.’s difficulties can be from lack of instruction d uring home schooling, but there
were other indications that T.D. had disabilities prior to the home schooling.
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Chris Vella
Chris Vella (Vella) is a licensed professional counselor and licensed clinical alcohol
and substance abuse counselor. He is a certified school psychologist. Vella worked at
Bonnie Brae for eighteen years as the coordinator of substance abuse policy. He did
individual, group and family therapy. He was the chair of the rehab program at Bonnie
Brae. He now owns his own company, Warren Center for Wellness and Therapy.
Vella began working with T.D. in August 2020. He was asked by T.D.’s CMO case
manager to provide individual and family counseling for T.D. Vella was involves in the
school component at Bonnie Brae while he worked there. The school at Bonnie Brae
worked closely with the clinical department at Bonnie Brae. Vella would spend six hours
a day at the school at Bonnie Brae. It is rare that students at Bonnie Brae are not involved
with the school component. He knows of only two to three students at Bonnie Brae who
did not go to the school component of Bonnie Brae. Clinical staf f were in the school at
Bonnie Brae because many students had behavioral issues. Social skills and social
development were part of the classroom component at Bonnie Brae. Bonnie Brae had
clubs in sports, art, and music that the students in the school component could participate
in. If someone was not in the school component of Bonnie Brae, he could not participate
in those programs.
It was detrimental for T.D. not be in the school program at Bonnie Brae. The school
component at Bonnie Brae worked in c onjunction with the clinical program. T.D.’s
discharge summary from Bonnie Brae recommended that he receive counseling twice a
week, seek part -time employment continue with CMO services and continue
extracurricular activities. Vella provided the counsell ing to T.D. The CMO services are
continuing. T.D. had two part time jobs but they did not work out.
After leaving Bonnie Brae T.D. had challenges with depression, anxiety, and
impulsive behavior. He feels isolated, and not protected because he is not at school.
T.D.’s emotions can be amplified during normal interactions which can result in explosive
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outbursts or feelings of helplessness. This is connected to T.D.’s problem maintaining a
job. The Adjustment Disorder occurs when he must be resilient or use adaptive behavior.
There was no indication that T.D. had a current substance abuse problem when Vella
was treating him.
Vella is familiar with Warren Hills general education. T.D.’s mental health
challenges would not allow T.D. to be successful i n a general education program. T.D.
needs an educational program connected to his mental health diagnosis, with small
classes and a staff that understands his mental health conditions.
Since leaving Bonnie Brae, T.D.’s mental health has deteriorated due to stagnation
in his life, failed work opportunities and lack of education prohibiting him from making
progress. Vella did not work with T.D. at Bonnie Brae. T.D. was placed at Bonnie Brae
for substance abuse and mental health issues. He was not place d at Bonnie Brae for
academic Issues.
T.D. had difficulty with jobs because he struggles with authority. He had difficulty
respecting the boss and the customer. He had two jobs during September 2020.
Disruptive mood disorder can be exacerbated by su bstance abuse. Substance abuse
can lead to mental health problems. All forms of mental health problems can be worsened
by drug abuse.
T.D. is not currently being educated in any capacity. Vella was not aware that T.D.
was offered virtual classes. T.D . would have difficulty with virtual classes. T.D. has a
history of difficulty in school settings.
C.D.
C.D. is the mother of T.D. T.D. was home schooled from third grade to seventh
grade. In the seventh grade, he refused to do schoolwork and was no t compliant. She
enrolled T.D. at Saints Phillip and James School (SPJS) for the eighth grade. He had
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academic problems at SPJS. He was not doing the schoolwork or the homework, he
used improper language and had an in -school suspension. T.D. received T itle One
services through the District. His Title One teacher was Ms. Spencer. T.D. had reading,
writing, math, and behavior issues. Most of T.D.’s behavior problems were at home. At
SPJS he was in danger of failing history and language arts. T.D. was evaluated by the
District and it was determined that he was not eligible for services. He did however
received accommodations at SPJS which allowed him to graduate. He took a High
School entrance exam and was below average in all areas. C.M. suspected that T.D. had
ADHD.
T.D. went to Gregory the Great School for the nineth grade. He had problems
immediately. He left the campus, did not do schoolwork, did not pay attention, and did
not turn in schoolwork. He was expelled in January 2019. He was diagnosed with ODD
and ADHD. She next enrolled T.D. in Warren Hills. She told the District that T.D. had
previously been suspended. She signed the release of records on January 29, 2019.
C.M. wanted a CST meeting. A 504 - plan was put in place while she w aited for
the CST which would take forty-five days. A 504-planning meeting was held on February
21, 2019. After that meeting, the 504 was revised to include the diagnosis of ODD. In
February 2019, T.D. was not making progress at Warren Hills. On Februa ry 21, 2019,
C.M. wrote the CST that she wanted evaluations for T.D. One of the evaluations she
wanted was a behavioral evaluation.
The CST planning meeting was held on March 13, 2019. Prior to this there was
an incident where T.D. drew a stick figure blowing the head off of another stick figure on
his desk. C.M. provided the Iowa state test of T.D. and his entrance exam both of which
reflect he was low average or below average in many areas. T.D. was not present at the
meeting, he had been suspended two days before for being under the influence of drugs.
The District determined that T.D. was not eligible for an evaluation. The focus of the
meeting was the drug related suspension. His failing classes and inappropriate drawing
should have been the focus. Prior to this meeting T.D. did little schoolwork or homework.
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T.D. was placed on home instruction due to the suspension. He went to a
counselor twice a week and had drug screenings. T.D. was again suspended on April 2,
2019. He had to be drug tested before he could return to school.
T.D. entered Daytop on April 13, 2019, the CMO and Carrier Clinic worked to get
T.D. into Daytop. Daytop is a residential placement for drug abuse and mental health.
C.M. contacted the District to inform them that T.D . was at Daytop. T.D. did not have
academic issues at Daytop. The District provided educational services at Daytop. He
was kicked out of Daytop on June13, 2019 for leaving, sexual misconduct and refusal to
attend group counseling.
After T.D. left Daytop, he took medicine that belonged to his father and sister. He
stayed at St Luke’s hospital for three days waiting for a bed at the Carrier Clinic. He was
in the Carrier Clinic for ten days. He then went to New Hope, where he was kicked out
after 20 days. T.D. was court mandated to Bonnie Brae on July 31, 2019. C.M. notified
the District that T.D. was being placed at Bonnie Brae in July 26, 2019. She provided the
District with information regarding Bonnie Brae including tuition.
After C.M. informed the District that T.D. would be at Bonnie Brae, she requested
evaluations for T.D. She provided tests that were done by at Children’s Specialized
Hospital which was a neurodevelopmental evaluation, a neurological evaluation and other
testing of T.D. A representative from the CMO attended the meeting. The meeting was
held in August 2019. The District told her that they would not do evaluations of T.D.
C.M. believed that the 504-plan was not adequate of affective and did not address
his behavioral needs. On September 1, 2019, C.M. found out that the District would not
pay for the educational component of Bonnie Brae. They would send a home instructor
to him. C.M. again requested T.D. have evaluations on September 11, 2019.
C.M. met with the District on January 13, 2020. At that meeting the District agreed
to evaluations. C.M. had previously provided the District with the evaluations that she
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had done for T.D. At that meeting C.M. requested an eligibility meeting to have T.D.
classified.
C.M. had issued with the authorization that Dr. Fennelly wanted her to sign before
the psychiatric evaluation. The consent allowed Dr. Fennelly to have access to all of
T.D.’s records for a year. She was concerned with the documents that he wanted.
Petitioners’ prior attorney sent a letter to the District to address the issue with the
authorizations. The District scheduled the evaluations with Dr. Fennelly for March 30,
2020. The evaluation was cancelled by Dr. Fennelly because C.M. did not sign the
authorization.
C.M. was never told that the Social History evaluation would include an interview
with T.D. As part of his evaluation, Dr. Plasner gave C.M. forms for the home instructor
to complete. C.M., emailed the forms to the District but did not receive a reply. C.M. tried
to schedule an observation of T.D.’s home instruction at Bonnie Brae but the District
cancelled the home instruction on the day of the observation.
T.D. was discharged from Bonnie Brae on August 3, 2020. Bonnie Brae
recommended that T.D. attend school, work and become involved in the community.
C.M. did not inform the District that T.D. had been discharged at that time. She informed
Tomasino of the discharge on August 7, 2010. There was no transition meeting for T.D.
to go back to Warren Hills. In March 2020, C.M. received a list of the proposed classes
for T.D. in his junior year. She was not informed that T.D was to be a virtual student. She
was told upon T.D.’s return to the District, she would be contacted to set up a 504 meeting.
She has not reached out to the District about T.D.’s lack of instruction. She has not given
T.D. at home drug testing.
C.M. and T.D. went to see New Dawn Academy to discuss the program and tour
the school. The District needed to authorize payment to New Dawn Academy before T.D.
would be accepted.
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T.D. is having difficulty at home. His condition is deteriorating. He has depression
and anxiety.
FACTUAL DISCUSSION
I FIND the following FACTS:
T.D. was home schooled from the third grade through the seventh grade. In the
seventh grade he refused to do schoolwork and became non-compliant. He was enrolled
in SPJS school for the eighth grade. While he was a student at SPJS, T.D. received Title
One (Basic Skills) services in reading, writing and math twice a week. T.D. was evaluated
by Children’s Specialized Hospital in June 2018. The Vanderbilt Ratings Scale was
administered at that time. It showed that T.D. had difficulty with reading and written
expression. He did not give attention to detail or sustain attention. T.D. had academic
problems at SPJS. T.D. was evaluated by the District of Phillipsburg while he was at
SPJS. The educational evaluation done by Philipsburg stated that T.D. completed little
independent work, did not turn in his ho mework, struggled with class skills. Reading
comprehension and writing was a challenge for T.D. It stated that his ability to listen and
learn was limited, which could be due to auditory processing difficulties. T.D.’s
computational skills are limited, his ability to solve basic math facts is limited. His
expression ability is limited as is his ability to quickly read and write. The Phillipsburg
educational evaluation recommended T.D. have lower grade level reading, reading guide,
graphic organizer, assistance with spelling. His math should be systematic and explicit.
It also found that T.D. was average in most areas.
Phillipsburg also did a psychological evaluation. T.D.’s verbal comprehension
score was ninety -eight which was average, his Fluid Re asoning Index score was 103.
His processing speed was seventy -five, which is significantly below the fluid reasoning
index and Verbal Comprehension score. The Phillipsburg psychological report does not
have a social, emotional, or executive function components. Phillipsburg found that T.D.
was not eligible for special education services.
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T.D. was enrolled in Gregory the Great for the nineth grade. While there he did
not do his schoolwork, homework or turn in assignments. T.D. was expelled from Gregory
the Great in January 2019. At that time, he was diagnosed with ODD. T.D. was then
enrolled in Warren Hills on or about January 29, 2019. He had been diagnosed with
ADHD at that time.
C.M. wanted a CST meeting. A 504-Plan was put in place. On February 21, 2019,
a 504-planning meeting was held. Petitioner asked for a behavioral assessm ent which
the CST declined. The 504 -plan accommodations were preferential seating, provide a
second set of books, provide a copy of classroom notes write down homework
assignments in an agenda book that the teachers will initial, cue T.D. to stay on task with
nonverbal signals, have T.D. repeat directions back to teachers, break down larger tasks
into smaller units, fifty percent extended time on tests and quizzes and standardized
testing in small groups. The 504-plan was based on T.D.’s ADHD diagnosis. It was later
amended in March 2019 to add the diagnosis of ODD. The 504 -plan did not include a
behavior plan or one to one assistance. The 504 -plan of Warren Hills did not address
spelling, grammar, punctuation, or math. In addition, the 504 -Plan did not address the
recommendations of the Phillipsburg educational evaluation which included T.D. have
lower grade level reading, reading guide, graphic organizer, assistance with spelling. His
math being systematic and explicit.
T.D.’s Warren Hills report car d for the second marking period had many
incompletes. At that time T.D. was failing Algebra 1, CP Env Sci and Sales and
Marketing.
In March 2019, there was an incident where T.D. drew one stick figures shooting
the head from another stick figure on the desk. On March 11, 2019 T.D. was suspended
from school for being under the influence of drugs. A CST meeting was held on March
13, 2019. At that time, the CST determined that evaluations were not warranted because
of the prior Phillipsburg evaluations. The CST wanted to monitor T.D. in general
education classes since he had not been in the school for a long period of time. The CST
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believed that T.D.’s ADHD and ODD were addressed in the 50 4-Plan. T.D. did little
schoolwork or homework at that time.
The Student Assistance Counsel (SAC) does interventions and gets assistance for
students with substance abuse issues. There is no indication that SAC was involved with
T.D.
T.D. was placed on home instruction as a result of the suspension. He went to
counseling twice a week and had drug screenings. On April 2, 2019, T.D was again
suspended due to drugs. T.D. did not return to Warren Hills. He was physically at Warren
Hills from January 29, 2019 to April 2, 2019. On April 13, 2019 T.D. entered Daytop with
the help of the CMO and the Carrier Clinic. The District provided educational services to
T.D. while he was at Daytop. On June 13, 2019, T.D. was kicked out of Daytop for leaving
the campus, sexual misconduct and refused to attend group counselling among other
things.
After leaving Daytop, T.D. stayed at St Luke’s hospital for three days, the Carrier
Clinic for ten days then he was admitted to the New Dawn Program which he was kicked
out after twenty days. On July 31, 2019, T.D. was Court mandated by Judge Haek Young
Suh, J.S.C. to enter Bonnie Brae. Petitioner informed the District that T.D. was in Bonnie
Brae.
A CST meeting was held on August 1, 2019. A representative of Bonnie Brae as
well as a representative from CMO was present . C.D. requested evaluations for T.D.
She provided the CST with a neurodevelopmental evaluation of T.D. from Children’s
Specialized Hospital and a neurological evaluation of T.D. The District declined to
evaluate T.D. The District wanted to determine if T.D.’s behaviors were drug related.
On September 1, 2019, C.M. became aware that the District would not pay T.D.’s
tuition at Bonnie Brae. The District’s offered to have T.D. transported from Bonnie Brae
to Warren Hills and back where T.D. would be in a general education program with a 504-
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Plan. This plan was rejected. The District propose T.D. use a Chromebook, but Bonnie
Brae does not allow Chromebooks. The district agreed to provided home instruction for
T.D. at Bonnie Brae for three hours per day five days per week. On September 11, 2019,
C.D. again requested evaluations for C.M.
On September 17, 2019, Judge Haek Young Suh, J.S.C. amended his order
placing T.D. at Bonnie Brae to include that since T.D. is a flight risk and there is a
substantial risk of substance abuse, two hours of home instruction is inadequate and T.D.
should attend the school program provided at Bonnie Brae. The District did not comply
with the Judges’ Order. The District agreed to provided home instruction to T.D. at Bonnie
Brae for three hours per day. The 504 -Plan accommodations would be implemented in
the home instruction. T.D., in the beginning, would rarely comply with home instruction.
He refused to attend the home instruction at Bonnie Brae specifically September 2019
and October 2019. He appeared more regularly for home instruction at Bonnie Brae in
mid-November 2019. Although the District agreed to provide T.D. with home instruction
three hours per day five days per week, on the days that he participated he never received
three hours of home instruction. On the days he complied, he did not ever receive two
hours per day of home instruction at Bonnie Brae. According to the tutoring log the
longest time that T.D. received home instruction at Bonnie Brae on any given day was
one hour and thirty-five minutes.
Another meeting was held on November 18, 2019 with C.M., a representative from
Bonnie Brae, a representative from the CMO, and the District. The discussion included
the fact that T.D. did not have a Chromebook, he w as isolated, why he should not be
bussed to Warren Hills from Bonnie Brae. C.M. again asked that T.D. be evaluated. The
home instruction was not effective. T.D. was behind on the home instruction, he did not
always attend, and he did not do many of the assignments. He had multiple incompletes
on his second period report card. The report card shows that he was exempted from
forty-four of forty-nine assignments.
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Weyland is a LDTC. She interviewed T.D. at Bonnie Brae. He first scheduled
interview was c ancelled because T.D. had been found with cocaine. When she
interviewed T.D. he declined to participate, but he later came in and spoke to her. He
was laid back in speaking to her. He would zone out.
She administered the Weschsler Individual Achievement Test- third edition (WIAT-
III) which focuses on performance academically compared to students his age and grade.
The average range on this test is 85 -115. This is a very broad average range. In Oral
Language T.D.’s composite score was 85 which was a verage. His oral expression is
below average. His score was 83 in the thirteenth percentile. His expressive vocabulary
was also below average. His oral word fluency responses were very slow. When
sentences were more complex, T.D.’s ability to recall se ntences decreased. His total
reading score was in the lower average range. His total reading score 88 is in the lower
range of average. Basic reading is a strength for T.D. He has difficulty decoding
unfamiliar words. His word reading score was averag e. T.D.’s reading comprehension
score was average. His oral reading fluency, the speed of his reading, was below
average. It is six years below age expectation. It takes him longer to read tasks.
T.D. in written expression has consonant and vowel omissions. The more he
writes, it is difficult to determine what he is trying to say. He does not always capitalize
the first word of a sentence and he has difficulty with punctuation. His essay composition
was good but not expansive.
Math is T.D.’s greatest area of weakness. His composite score was below
average. He has difficulty using zero, division and multiplication. His math problem
solving is five years below grade level. His math fluency is below average.
A Key Math Diagnostic test was administered to T.D. This was done to get
information on his problem-solving ability. His score of eighty-nine was in the lower range
of average. Computational problem solving is a weakness for T.D.
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T.D. was also given a written language test. His score was in the low range of
average. He had weakness with capitalization of the first word of sentences, punctuation,
spelling and near point copying. In the spontaneous writing test, he was shown two
detailed pictured and asked to write about the picture. T.D. did not use the detail that was
offered by the picture. His score was below average. Weyland would not evaluate a
student that was actively using drugs.
Weyland’s diagnostic impression was that T.D. receive special education services
under the classification as multiple handicapped. He has a language -based disability in
reading rate, reading fluency, math fluency, math calculation and math composition.
Many of Phillipsburg’s educational eva luation recommendation for T.D. were similar to
Weyland’s recommendations.
A private evaluation of T.D. was done by Metha Meenal on May 1, 2019. A Wide
Range Achievement Test (WRAT) test was done on T.D. at that time. His spelling was
at a third-grade level, his math was at a fourth-grade level. In reading comprehension,
T.D. failed at levels seven, eight and nine.
Dr. Plasner is a Licensed Psychologist. Dr. Plasner evaluated T.D. to access his
cognitive, emotional, social, behavioral, and executive functioning. His evaluation T.D.
was at Bonnie Brae. Dr. Plasner reviewed T.D.’s history, records and prior evaluations.
The Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt II test showed T.D. had average motor skills but
was impulsive. The Stanford -Binet test showed T.D. had average IQ. Fluid reasoning
and visual special test results were average. The Behavior Evaluation Scale -4 (BES-4)
accesses the frequency of behaviors, the appropriateness of behaviors. He had
significant problems in all areas of the BES -4. T. D. has a short attention span makes
inappropriate comments, responds inappropriately, is easily frustrated and has extreme
mood changes. He is unhappy in his interaction with his peers. T.D.’s Social
Responsiveness scale- 2nd edition (SRS2) was completed by C.D. His score was high
on the social communication index. He avoids group activity and gets frustrated when he
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cannot get his point across. He avoids social interaction with adults and peers. The SRS-
2 was given to T.D. at Bonnie Brae. His result s were a mild social communication
disorder. Cognitive regulation, ability to initiate is a problem for T.D.
The Personal Inventory for Children 2 nd edition (PIC -2) provides estimates of
current problems in behavioral and emotional adjustment. T.D.’s sc ore was high in
emotional and behavioral regulation. T.D was given the Reynolds Adolescent Depression
scale 2nd edition (RADS-2) and the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale 2nd edition
which self -disclose his level of depression and anxiety. T.D.’s responses were not
consistent with the diagnosis. He said that he was always kind and nice which is not
consistent with other observations. He did not feel depressed or unhappy. When asked
to self-rate his anxiety on a scale of one to ten, he stated th at his score was a two and
occasionally a five when he was angry. T.D. is vulnerable to substance abuse.
T.D.’s evaluation at Children’s Specialized Hospital of May 22, 2019, is consistent
with Dr. Plasner’s observations of T.D.’s executive function and w orking memory
problems. It shows that T.D.’s adaptive skills score is low. Philipsburg’s psychological
evaluation of T.D. did not have a social, emotional, or executive function component. The
tests that were administered show T.D.’s verbal comprehensio n score was ninety -eight
which was average, his fluid reasoning index score was 103. His processing speed was
seventy-five, which is significantly below the fluid reasoning index and verbal
comprehension score.
Dr. Plasner’s diagnostic impression of T.D. was Social Communication Disorder,
which has to do with his lack of self -esteem, which impacts his ability to understand
emotions. His social awareness is problematic and problem solving is also an issue. He
has intellectual and language impairment. He also has ADHD disorder, Adjustment
Disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct, and specific learning disorder
with impairment in reading and math.
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Students with ODD and Dysregulation Disorder would be resistant to education.
These students may need to be in a self-contained class. Dr. Plasner believes that T.D.
meets the criteria for special education under the classification of multiple disabled, other
health impaired, specific learning disabled and emotional regulation impairment.
T.D.’s discharge from Bonnie Brae lists his diagnosis as Disruptive Mood
Dysregulation Disorder, Severe Cannabis Use Disorder and Unspecified Disruptive. T.D.
had made progress and was not attending school at that time.
In January 2020, an identification and planning meeting was held for T.D. prior to
the meeting, C.D. provided the District with the evaluations of Dr Weyland and Dr. Plasner
and Noha Soliman, a speech language pathologist. C.M. informed the District that T.D.
had been drug free since October 2019, the parties agreed to a psychiatric evaluation
and social history assessment.
The psychiatric evaluation was to be done by Dr. Fennelly. C.M. believed that the
authorization that Dr Fennelly required to be sig ned was over broad. A portion of the
authorization states “I further authorize the release of information in these categories for
co-ordination of care and the ongoing evaluation and treatment of myself or the above
named individual if under the age of consent.” It also states “I the undersigned understand
a full report including full disclosure of all information gained during the interview including
possibly protected health information pertaining to any of us will be sent to the school…”
The evaluation was scheduled for March 2020. Dr. Fennelly canceled the evaluation
because the authorization was not signed. On March 9, 2020, petitioner informed the
District of the problem with Dr. Fennelly’s authorization form. On May 13, 2020, petitioner
sent the District a letter requesting an appropriate authorization form that Dr. Fennelly
would accept. On June 3, 2020, petitioner sent the District’s attorney a follow up letter
again requesting an appropriate authorization form from Dr. Fennelly. The District tried
to resolve the authorization issue in June and July of 2020. The District lost contact with
Dr. Fennelly. From June 2020 to August 2020, the District had no contact with petitioner.
In August 2020, the District proposed that T.D. be evaluated by another psychiatrist.
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Petitioner agreed to a Social History evaluation. She did not realize at the time
she agreed that she and T.D. would both be interviewed. Petitioner was interviewed but
refused to allow T.D. to be interviewed.
T.D. was released from Bonnie Brae on August 3, 2020. The District was not
aware that he had been released until August 7, 2020. In March 2020, petitioner had
received a list of proposed classes for T.D. for the upcoming school year. She was not
informed that T.D. would be a virtual student. She was not contacted about the 504-Plan
after T.D.’s release from Bonnie Brae. T.D. is not presently in school.
Once he was discharged from Bonnie Brae, T.D. began seeing Chris Vella, a
professional counselor and licensed clinical alc ohol and substance abuse counselor.
Vella was asked by T.D.’s CMO case manager to provide individual and family counseling
for T.D. after he left Bonnie Brae. Vella diagnosed T.D. with Adjustment Disorder with
Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct, Inhalant Abuse with Intoxication, Cannabis
Dependence and Disruptive Mood Deregulation Disorder which is manifested in a person
who has difficulty regulation moods. Since leaving Bonnie Brae, T.D.’s mental health has
deteriorated due to stagnation in his li fe, failed work opportunities and lack of education
prohibiting him from making progress.
T.D. had jobs at McDonalds and Donkin Donuts. He was fired from McDonalds
after two to three weeks because of arguing with the manager. He was fired from Dunkin
Donuts after one and a half weeks after an altercation with another staff member.
Mary Louise Rowlin is an expert Special Education teacher. Kimberly Tomasino
is an expert in school psychology. Noha Soliman is an expert in Speech and Language
Pathology. Deborah Weyland is an expert in Special Education, LDTC and case manager
for Special Education. Dr Joseph Plasner is an expert in School Psychology, Clinical
Psychology, Case Management, and placement of students with disabilities. Chris Vella
is an expert in family, individual and substance abuse counseling.
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LEGAL ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION
N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.5(c) provides:
A student shall be determined eligible and classified "eligible for special
education and related services" under this chapter when it is determined
that the student has one or more of the disabilities defined in (c)1 through
14 below, the disability adversely affects the student's educational
performance, and the student is in need of special education and related
services. Classification shall be based on all assessments conducted,
including assessment by child study team members, and assessment by
other specialists as specified below.
1. "Auditory impairment" corresponds to "auditorily handicapped" and further
corresponds to the Federal eligibility categories of deafness or hearing impairment.
"Auditory impairment" means an inability to hear within normal limits due to
physical impairment or dysfunction of auditory mechanisms characterized by (c)1i
or ii below. An audiological evaluation by a specialist qualified in the field of
audiology and a speech and language evaluation by a certified speech-language
specialist are required.
i. "Deafness"-The auditory impairment is so severe that the
student is impaired in processing linguistic information
through hearing, with or without amplification, and the
student's educational performance is adversely affected.
ii. "Hearing impairment"-An impairment in hearing, whether
permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects the student's
educational performance.
2. "Autism" means a pervasive developmental disability that
significantly impacts verbal and nonverbal communication
and social interaction that adversely affects a student's
educational performance. Onset is generally evident before
age three. Other characteristics often associated with autism
are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped
movements, resistance to environmental change or change in
daily routine, unusual responses to sensory experiences, and
lack of responsiveness to others. The term does not apply if
the student's adverse educational performance is due to an
emotional regulation impairment as defined in (c)5 below. A
child who manifests the characteristics of autism after age
three may be classified as autistic if the criteria in this
paragraph are met. An assessment by a certified speech-
language specialist and an assessment by a physician trained
in neurodevelopmental assessment are required.
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3. "Intellectual disability" means a disability that is
characterized by significantly below average general cognitive
functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive
behavior; manifested during the developmental period that
adversely affects a student's educational performance and is
characterized by one of the following:
i. "Mild intellectual disability" means a level of cognitive
development and adaptive behavior in home, school, and
community settings that are mildly below age expectations
with respect to all of the following:
(1) The quality and rate of learning;
(2) The use of symbols for the interpretation of information
and the solution of problems; and
(3) Performance on an individually administered test of
intelligence that falls within a range of two to three standard
deviations below the mean.
ii. "Moderate intellectual disability" means a level of cognitive
development and adaptive behavior that is moderately below
age expectations with respect to the following:
(1) The ability to use symbols in the solution of problems of
low complexity;
(2) The ability to function socially without direct and close
supervision in home, school, and community settings; and
(3) Performance on an individually administered test of
intelligence that falls three standard deviations or more below
the mean.
iii. "Severe intellectual disability" means a level of functioning
severely below age expectations whereby, on a consistent
basis, the student is incapable of giving evidence of
understanding and responding in a positive manner to simple
directions expressed in the child's primary mode of
communication and cannot in some manner express basic
wants and needs.
4. "Communication impairment" means a language disorder
in the areas of morphology, syntax, semantics, and/or
pragmatics/discourse that adversely affects a student's
educational performance and is not due primarily to an
auditory impairment. The problem shall be demonstrated
through functional assessment of language in other than a
testing situation and performance below 1.5 standard
deviations, or the 10th percentile on at least two standardized
language tests, where such tests are appropriate, one of
which shall be a comprehensive test of both receptive and
expressive language. When the area of suspected disability is
language, assessment by a certified speech-language
specialist and assessment to establish the educational impact
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36
are required. The speech-language specialist shall be
considered a child study team member.
i. When it is determined that the student meets the eligibility
criteria according to the definition in (c)4 above but requires
instruction by a speech-language specialist only, the student
shall be classified as eligible for speech-language services.
ii. When the area of suspected disability is a disorder of
articulation, voice, or fluency, the student shall be evaluated
pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.4(g) and, if eligible, classified as
eligible for speech-language services pursuant to N.J.A.C.
6A:14-3.6(a).
5. "Emotional regulation impairment" means a condition
exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a
long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely
affects a student's educational performance due to:
i. An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual,
sensory, or health factors;
ii. An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal
relationships with peers and teachers;
iii. Inappropriate types of behaviors or feelings under normal
circumstances;
iv. A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression;
or
v. A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears
associated with personal or school problems.
6. "Multiple disabilities" means the presence of two or more
disabling conditions, the combination of which causes such
severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated
in a program designed solely to address one of the
impairments. Multiple disabilities include intellectual disability-
blindness and intellectual disability-orthopedic impairment.
The existence of two disabling conditions alone shall not
serve as a basis for a classification of multiple disabilities.
Eligibility for speech-language services as defined in this
section shall not be one of the disabling conditions for
classification based on the definition of "multiple disabilities."
Multiple disabilities does not include deaf-blindness.
7. "Deaf/blindness" means concomitant hearing and visual
impairments, the combination of which causes such severe
communication and other developmental and educational
problems that they cannot be accommodated in special
education programs solely for students with deafness or
students with blindness.
8. "Orthopedic impairment" means a disability characterized
by a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a
student's educational performance. The term includes
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37
malformation, malfunction, or loss of bones, muscle, or tissue.
A medical assessment documenting the orthopedic condition
is required.
9. "Other health impairment" means a disability characterized
by having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a
heightened alertness with respect to the educational
environment, due to chronic or acute health problems, such
as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a heart condition,
tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, nephritis, asthma, sickle cell
anemia, hemophilia, epilepsy, lead poisoning, leukemia,
diabetes, or any other medical condition, such as Tourette
Syndrome, that adversely affects a student's educational
performance. A medical assessment documenting the health
problem is required.
10. "Preschool child with a disability" means a child between
the ages of three and five who either:
i. Is experiencing developmental delay, as measured by
appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures, in one or
more of the areas in (c)10i(1) through (5) below, and requires
special education and related services. As measured by a
standardized assessment or criterion-referenced measure to
determine eligibility, a developmental delay shall mean a 33
percent delay in one developmental area, or a 25 percent
delay in two or more developmental areas.
(1) Physical, including gross motor, fine motor, and sensory
(vision and hearing);
(2) Intellectual;
(3) Communication;
(4) Social and emotional; and
(5) Adaptive; or
ii. Has an identified disabling condition, including vision or
hearing, that adversely affects learning or development and
who requires special education and related services.
11. "Social maladjustment" means a consistent inability to
conform to the standards for behavior established by the
school. Such behavior is seriously disruptive to the education
of the student or other students and is not due to an emotional
regulation impairment as defined in (c)5 above.
12. "Specific learning disability" means a disorder in one or
more of the basic psychological processes involved in
understanding or using language, spoken or written, that may
manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak,
read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including
conditions, such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury,
minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental
aphasia.
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i. A specific learning disability can be determined when a
severe discrepancy is found between the student's current
achievement and intellectual ability in one or more of the
following areas:
(1) Basic reading skills;
(2) Reading comprehension;
(3) Oral expression;
(4) Listening comprehension;
(5) Mathematical calculation;
(6) Mathematical problem solving;
(7) Written expression; and
(8) Reading fluency.
ii. A specific learning disability may also be determined by
utilizing a response to scientifically based interventions
methodology as described in N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.4(h)6.
iii. The term "severe discrepancy" does not apply to students
who have learning problems that are primarily the result of
visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, general intellectual
deficits, emotional regulation impairment, or environmental,
cultural, or economic disadvantage.
iv. If the district board of education utilizes the severe
discrepancy methodology, the district board of education shall
adopt procedures that utilize a statistical formula and criteria
for determining severe discrepancy. Evaluation shall include
assessment of current academic achievement and intellectual
ability.
13. "Traumatic brain injury" means an acquired injury to the
brain caused by an external physical force or insult to the
brain, resulting in total or partial functional disability or
psychosocial impairment, or both. The term applies to open or
closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more
areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention;
reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving;
sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial
behavior; physical functions; information processing; and
speech.
14. "Visual impairment" means an impairment in vision that,
even with correction, adversely affects a student's educational
performance. The term includes both partial sight and
blindness. An assessment by a specialist qualified to
determine visual disability is required. Students with visual
impairments shall be reported to the New Jersey Commission
for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
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39
The District failed to do any evaluations of T.D. Instead, it relied on the Phillipsburg
evaluations. Weyland administered an educational evaluation to T.D. The WIAT-111 test
found that T.D. was below average in expressive vocabulary, oral word fluency, oral
reading fluency, oral reading rate, word count, numerical math operations, math fluency
multiplication. His oral reading fluency was more than six years below grade
expectations. His numerical math operations score was significantly below age level
expectations. T.D.’s math fluency multiplication score was more than six years below age
level expectations.
The psychological evaluations determined that T.D. has a Social communication
Disorder, impacting his ability to understand his emotions, ADHD as well as adjustment
disorder.
These tests show that T.D. has specific learning disability in oral reading and math.
As well as multiple disabilities of social communication disorder, ADHD and adjustment
disorder.
I CONCLUDE that T.D. is eligible for special education and related services under
the classification of specific learning impaired in oral reading and math and multiple
disabilities of social communication disorder, ADHD and adjustment disorder.
Petitioner requested the T.D. be placed in an out of district placement. There was
no testimony as to the special education programs in Warren Hills and if they are
appropriate for T.D. There was no testimony from anyone from any out of district program
about why their program would be appropriate for T.D. Petitioner and Dr Plasner testified
regarding New Day school, but no one from New Day School testified. In his report, Dr.
Plasner did not recommend an out of District placement for T.D.
I CONCLUDE that there was not enough testimony to determine if T.D. should be
placed in the special education at Warren Hills or if he should be placed out of district.
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The next issue is whether T.D. is entitled to compensatory education.
Compensatory education is a remedy not specifically provided for in the IDEA. However,
the courts have recognized that "Congress expressly contemplated that the courts would
fashion remedies not specifically enumerated in IDEA. "W.B. v. Matula, 67 F.3d 484,
494-95 (3d Cir. 1995). Thus, a student deprived of a FAPE may be enti tled to an award
of compensatory education, which is an available remedy even after the student has
reached age twenty-one. Ridgewood, supra, 172 F.3d. at 249; M.C. v. Central Reg. Sch.
Dist., 81 F.3d 389, 395 (3d Cir. 1996); Carlisle Area Sch. Dist. v. S cott P., 62 F.3d 520,
536 (3d Cir. 1995); Lester H. v. Gilhool, 916 F.2d 865, 873 (3d Cir. 1990), cert. denied,
499 U.S. 923, 111 S. Ct. 1317, 113 L. Ed.2d 250 (1991).
The legal standard for the granting of such relief is summarized by the Third Circuit
as follows:
[A] school district that knows or should know that a child has an
inappropriate IEP or is not receiving more than a de minimis educational
benefit must correct the situation. If it fails to do so, a disabled child is
entitled to compensatory edu cation for a period equal to the period of
deprivation but excluding the time reasonable required for the school district
to rectify the problem.
[M.C., supra, 81 F. 3d at 397.]
Awards of compensatory education have included an additional two and one -half
years of special education where the school district had been lax in its efforts to provide
a proper placement, Lester H., supra, 916 F. 2d at 873, and payment of college tuition
where the disabled student would apply credits obtained toward acquisition of a high
school diploma. Sabatini v. Corning -Painted Post Area Sch. Dist., 78 F.Supp.2d 138,
145-146 (W.D.N.Y. 1999).
Compensatory education is a remedy not specifically provided for in the IDEA.
However, the courts have recognized that "Congress expressly contemplated that the
courts would fashion remedies not specifically enumerated in IDEA."W.B. v. Matula, 67
F.3d 484, 494-95 (3d Cir. 1995). Thus, a student deprived of a FAPE may be entitled to
an award of compensatory education, which is an available remedy even after the student
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41
has reached age twenty-one. Ridgewood, supra, 172 F.3d. at 249; M.C. v. Central Reg.
Sch. Dist., 81 F.3d 389, 395 (3d Cir. 1996); Carlisle Area Sch. Dist. v. Scott P., 62 F.3d
520, 536 (3d Cir. 1995); Lester H. v. Gilhool, 916 F.2d 865, 873 (3d Cir. 1990), cert.
denied, 499 U.S. 923, 111 S. Ct. 1317, 113 L. Ed.2d 250 (1991).
The legal standard for the granting of such relief is summarized by the Third Circuit
as follows:
[A] school district that knows or should know that a child has an
inappropriate IEP or is not receiving more than a de minimis educational
benefit must correct the situation. If it fails to do so, a disabled child is
entitled to compensatory education for a period equal to the period of
deprivation but excluding the time reasonable required for the school district
to rectify the problem.
[M.C., supra, 81 F. 3d at 397.]
Awards of compensatory education have included an additional two and one -half
years of special education where the school district had been lax in its efforts to provide
a proper placement, Lester H., supra, 916 F. 2d at 873, and payment of college tuition
where the disabled student would apply credits obtained toward acquisition of a high
school diploma. Sabatini v. Corning-Painted Post Area Sch. Dist., 78 F.Supp.2d 138, 145-
146 (W.D.N.Y. 1999).
T.D. was court ordered into the educational component of Bonnie Br ae on
September 17, 2019, by Judge Haek Young Suh, J.S.C. The District did not pay T.D.’s
tuition at Bonnie Brae. Instead, it elected to provide home schooling at Bonnie Brae for
T.D. The District knew that T.D. was not complying with home schooling at Bonnie Brae
initially and when he did comply, he never received the full three hours per day that the
District agreed to provide. The District made no attempt to change, modify or adjust the
home instruction at Bonnie Brae.
I CONCLUDE T.D. is entitled t o compensatory education from September 17,
2019 until the present.
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ORDER
Based on the above, it is ORDERED that T.D. is eligible for special education and
related services under the classification of specific learning impaired in oral reading and
math and multiple disabilities of social communication disorder, ADHD, and adjustment
disorder.
It is further ORDERED that an IEP meeting be held as soon as practicable to
determine an appropriate program and placement for T.D. and that T.D. be given
compensatory education that he is entitled, from September 17, 2019 until the present
This decision is final pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(1)(A) and 34 C.F.R. § 300.514
(2019) and is appealable by filing a complaint and bringing a civil action either in the Law
Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey or in a district court of the United States. 20
U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2); 34 C.F.R. § 300.516 (2019). If the parent or adult student feels that
this decision is not being fully implemented with respect to program o r services, this
concern should be communicated in writing to the Director, Office of Special Education
Policy and Dispute Resolution.
March 31, 2021
DATE KIMBERLY A. MOSS, ALJ
Date Received at Agency March 31, 2021
Date Mailed to Parties: March 31, 2021
ljb
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WITNESSES
For Petitioner
Noha Soliman
Deborah Weyland
Dr. Joseph Plasner
Chris Vella
For Respondent
Mary Louise Rowlin
Earl Clymer
Kimberly Tomasino
EXHIBITS
For Petitioner
P-1 Children’s Specialized Hospital Report Dated June 4, 2018
P-2 Counseling Report of Peter Kleponis Ph.D Dated February 25, 2019
P-3 Bonnie Brae Admission Evaluation Dated September 2, 2019
P-4 Psychological report of Dr Joseph Plasner of Balaban and Associates Dated October
22, 2019
P-5 Report Card of T.D.
P-6 Report of Rose Marie Spencer of Saint Phillip and James School Dated May 15, 2018
P-7 Educational and psychological evaluations from Phillipsburg School District
P-8 Warren Hills 504 -plan for T.D. Dated February 21, 2019
P-9 Email from Deana Marie Turner of Warren Hills to petitioner Dated February 26, 2019
P-10 T.D.’s Genesis Third Marking Period Report Dated March 4, 2019
P-11 Out of School Suspension Notice dated March 13, 2019
P 12 Notice of Identification Meeting Dated March 13, 2019
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P-13 Revised 504-Plan Dated March 22, 2019
P-14 Daytop School Discharge Summary
P-15 Letter from TriCity County Care management Dated March 10, 2019
P-16 Court Order Dated July 31, 2019
P-17 Children’s Specialized Hospital Report Dated May 22, 2019
P-18 St Peter’s Hospital Evaluation Dated June 13, 2018
P-19 Letter from Dr. Puja Joshi Dated July 15, 2019
P-20 Identification and Planning Results Letter of Warren Hills Dated August 26, 2019
P-21 Email requesting T .D. be Evaluated Dated September 11, 2019 and Rejection of
that Request Dated September 12, 2019
P-22 Letter from Bonnie Brae Regarding T.D. ‘s attendance Dated September 13, 2019
P-23 Family Court Order Dated September 17, 2019
P-24 Emails between petitio ner and Clymer Dated September 2, 2019 and September
26, 2019
P-25 Letter to Bonnie Brae from Clymer and Response Dated November 11, 2019
P-26 Letter between the Parties Dated November 19, 2019
P-27 Letter between the Parties Dated October 14, 2019
P-28 Due Process Complaint and Motion for Summary Decision
P-29 Speech and Language Evaluation of Noha Soliman of Balaban and Associates
Dated November 11, 2019 with CV
P-30 Educational Evaluation of Deborah Weyland of Balaban and Associates Dated
October 25, 2019
P-31 Final Decision Regarding Independent Evaluations Dated March 2, 2020
P-32 Decision of District Regarding Independent Evaluations Dated January 15, 2020
P-33 Tutoring Logs Dated September 2019 to March 2020
P-34 Teacher emails January 2020
P-35 Genesis Updates Reassignment
P-36 Emails January 2020
P-37 Report Card January 2020
P-38 Genesis Updates Assignments English 2019-2020
P-39 Bonnie Brae Discharge Dated August 3,2020
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P-40 Report of Chris Vella Dated September 9, 2020
P-41 Letter from Bonnie Brae to New Dawn Academy Dated July 31, 2020
P-42 New Day Academy Description
P-43 Bonnie Brae Report Dated June 26, 2020
P-44 Updated Report of Dr Plasner of Balaban and Associates Dated August 31, 2020
P-45 Certification of Dr Plasner Dated February 19, 2020
P-46 Certification of Dr Plasner Dated May 15, 2020
P-47 Certification of Dr Plasner Dated September 21, 2020
P-48 Certification of C.D Dated February 7, 2020
P-49 Letters regarding programs, Placement and Evaluations of T.D.
For Respondents
R-1 Phillipsburg Board of Education Educational Evaluation
R-2 Phillipsburg Board of Education Psychological Evaluation
R-3 District Enrollment Information
R-4 February 2019 504 Documents
R-5 February 25, 2019 letter from Dr Peter Kleponis Dated February 25, 2019
R-6 March 13, 2019 Identification Meeting Documentation
R-7 May 1, 2019 Evaluation of Meenal Metha
R-8 Children’s Specialized Hospital Report Dated May 23, 2019
R-9 BASC 3 Results
R-10 ABAS 3 Results
R-11 March 5, 2020 Correspondence from Petitioner’s Prior Attorney
R-12 April 16, 2020 Correspondence from Petitioner’s Prior Attorney
R-13 Gregory the Great Correspondence
R-14 July 15, 2019 Letter from Dr. Puja Joshi
R-15 Correspondence from Bonnie Brae
R-16 August 1, 2019 Identification Meeting Documentation
P-17 Correspondence from Petitioners
P-18 October 18, 2019 Correspondence from Petitioner’s Prior Attorney
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P-19 December 12, 2020 Correspondence from Petitioner’s Prior Attorney
P-20 December 13, 2019 from Rutgers Education and Health Law Clinic
P-21 Psychological evaluation of Dr. Joseph Plasner
P-22 Educational Evaluation of Dr Deborah Weyland
P-23 Speech and Language Evaluation of Noha Soliman
P-24 Discipline File
P-25 Attendance Records
P-26 Transcript/ Report Cards
P-27 C.V. of Earl Clymer
P-28 C.V. of Mary Louise Rowlin
P-29 C.V. of Kim Tomasino
P-30 Emails between Petitioner and Tomasino
P-31 January 2020 Identification Meeting Documentation
