The Council Rock School District Board of School Directors voted unanimously Thursday to approve the district's 2025'28 Special Education Plan, a three-year compliance document required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The plan, which the district posted online for more than 30 days and presented in two public discussion meetings, outlines staffing, caseloads and timelines for services to students with individualized education programs (IEPs). Supporters and several board members said the document mainly demonstrates compliance; parents and other board members said it lacks measurable goals to track improvement.

"Please do not approve the special education plan as it is written," parent Mallory Newman told the board during the agenda public-comment period. Newman said the draft lacks specific, district-wide objectives for inclusion and daily supports and urged the board to allow the new director of special services to add measurable goals before final adoption. "There is no specific information in the CRC's plan about how to best support children day to day in the least restrictive environment," she said.

Dr. Al Oberman, the district's new director of special services, acknowledged the plan's extensive drafting and said it is primarily written to satisfy Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements. "This is a compliance document and there's certain boundaries of which information we can share in there," Oberman said, adding that he plans to spend the summer working with staff and parents to identify priorities and develop more specific objectives and milestones.

Board members voiced a mix of concern and support. Ms. Ozeki and Ms. Khan thanked parents for their feedback and said they want more detailed benchmarks. Mr. Hickey said he expects measurable improvements and better communication over the coming year. Several directors welcomed Oberman and said they are optimistic about the district's capacity to follow up.

The board approved the item as part of consent agenda items B and C. Board members recorded a unanimous roll-call vote to adopt the plan.

The superintendent, Dr. Sanko, reminded the community that the plan is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and that Council Rock held additional public discussion meetings beyond PDE's basic requirements. He also noted related next steps: mandatory cyclical monitoring of special education services next year and a separate update to the district's comprehensive plan in 2026'29, which the board and staff said offer opportunities to translate compliance language into a more strategic roadmap.

The board and administration listed several near-term opportunities for more accountability: regular reporting to the board and to the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (CPAC), which meets April 30, and a summer period during which the new director will gather data and stakeholder feedback to propose measurable objectives.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve consent agenda items B and C (including the special education plan): motion by Ms. Polli; second not specified; unanimous yes vote (board recorded yea votes by Tate, Hidalgo, Roosevelt, Hickey, Polli, Ozeki, Khan, Stone, Horner).