November 28, 2007

Dear SEPTA Members,

We on the SEPTA board of officers are very aware of the attention that arose in the media in the last day or so, regarding the “Quiet Rooms” at Knight and Kilmer.  Because this attention raises so many questions, I believe it is beneficial to communicate to everyone what we have done and continue to do on this issue.

Shortly after the rooms came to our attention in an October 2007 Parent’s Forum, I summarized all of the concerns that were discussed at the forum in an October 22^nd letter to Ms. Franklin.  Shortly thereafter, two SEPTA board officers viewed the rooms and met productively with district staff. 

The following communications ensued: (Attached for review)

• I sent Ms. Franklin another letter on October 29^th requesting specific information and offering SEPTA assistance in fashioning district policies regarding such rooms
• Ms. Franklin sent me an email addressing issues I raised in the October 22^nd SEPTA correspondence, but lacking the specificity sought, and not addressing the issue of policies and the creation of policies
• Ms. Franklin responded in a November 6^th correspondence to the SEPTA letter of October 22^nd, and referenced her October 30^th email regarding the rooms

Agreement was met that SEPTA and the district would meet on November 26^th to address how issues were to be submitted for resolution with the district.  I attended that meeting with Lynette Howard of Zone PTA.  The district was cordial and generous with their time.  It was agreed that SEPTA’s remaining issues would be submitted to the protocols outlined in that meeting. 

The following day, I fielded a number of media inquiries regarding the rooms.  I articulated for the media, so that SEPTA would not be misunderstood, the following:

• We found out about the rooms in October and undertook a fact finding effort;
• We sent representatives to view the rooms and discuss them with staff;
• We corresponded with District and they corresponded with us;
• We met with District yesterday and came to an understanding on how issues/concerns should be presented to District, and intended to submit this issue to that process;
• We have not reached any “agreement” with District on the rooms and we are not satisfied with the amount of information we have received;
• We are seeking the policies, procedures, practices, records, related to the rooms and the training of the staff utilizing them;
• We cannot know how many kids were in the rooms due to non-verbal students, emotional distress, etc.;
• We question the degree to which any consent by parents to have their children use the rooms was informed consent;
• We are opposed to the use of aversives, to include isolation;
• We take the position that any room that a child is removed to should be similar in its appointment, conductivity to learning, level of instruction; and equally appropriate in meeting the child’s IEP as the room he/she left.

 Please understand, as members of SEPTA, the following important points:

·        SEPTA values transparency in all of our dealings.  That is why we post our correspondence on our website at http://www.chlive.org/septa.

·        SEPTA values membership privacy.  We were not responsible for this issue being in the media and we took no role in the media’s coverage.

·        SEPTA values relationships.  We have sought to deal with the district face to face, in a respectful, cordial, and collaborative manner.

·        SEPTA values fair play.  Once we understood how the district wanted issues addressed, we respected and followed the policies.

·        SEPTA values the welfare of special needs children.  Our focus remains on their interests and welfare.  Not ours, not the district’s.

We know the last day or two have been stressful on our membership.  We plan to move forward and re-double our efforts to bring resolution to the issues that concern our membership.  We look forward to the district’s continued goodwill and cooperation, and we are optimistic that good things can come from these recent events.

Sincerely,

Bob Bourbon
President - SEPTA
Robert.A.Bourbon@hotmail.com