Parent Wants Change for “Cookie Cutter” Sewanhaka School District

After the Board of Education finished their first regular meeting of the year full of administration duties and swore in its members, a few parents raised concerns over the special education programs for autistic children in the district and welcomed new superintendent Dr. Ralph Ferrie.

Cammi Spillane was the first to voice her distress to the board about the English as a Second Language program at H. Frank Carey High School, which she and other Franklin Square parents have been reaching out looking for help over the past seven months with no resolution.

“We are only looking for fairness,” Spillane said. “We would also like the opportunity to visit the idea to build an autistic program for Carey to follow the very successful autistic program that the Franklin Square School District has already in place.”

Spillane asked Ferrie to keep in mind that although Sewanhaka is one very large district, there are five separate schools and communities, each with different needs.

“Aside from the commonality of being under one district, there is no other tie or union that bonds us and we should all be treated accordingly, not as a cookie cutter school,” Spillane said.

Inga Krevatas, parent of three children, two of whom are autistic, backed up Spillane’s comments as she was next to address the board.

“It was brought to my attention that there is not a program at Carey High School," Krevatas said. "My children participate in the Autism program at John Street School; have been there for seven years. They have one more year, they will do the natural progression of moving on, however as it is right now it may not be Carey High School."

Krevatas’ children have developed friendships and said that transitioning from one school to the next is hard because of the loss of those familiar faces.

“It’s not just about academics, it’s about the social and community part that they play in their lives every day,” Krevatas said.

An advocate for her children, Krevatas is a current member of the PTA, co-president of John Street School, chartered the SEPTA and created the first SEPTA State Child Awareness sign.

“As Cammi Spillane said, we are a community, and that’s what is important now,” Krevatas said. “Children with autism are very capable of learning; the natural progression for our children is to keep them together. I am asking the board tonight to open a program at Carey High School.”

Pat Friedman, who was once president of the school board, followed up with, “I no longer have children in the district, but that does not mean I will not come up here and fight for our children because it is falling on deaf ears. I implore you, appoint a committee…I find it very interesting that New Hyde Park and Floral Park know not to participate, it always comes back to Carey High School and the people that are representing Carey High School, right now, had better start representing our school and our children.”

After an uproar of supported applause, Ferrie jokingly said, “Thank you, I thought you were all coming out to meet me tonight.”

The next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 8:00 p.m. at Sewanhaka High School.