The North Colonie Central School District welcomed new Director of Pupil Personnel Services Dave Semo in July, and with the beginning of the school year approaching, Semo said he hopes to spend his time helping the district continue the great programs and services it has in place for special education students.
This year will be Semo’s fourth year with the district. Prior to his new role, Semo served as the assistant director of pupil personnel services.
He came to the district after working for over 12 years in the Galway Central School District, the town he still lives in, in various positions, including social worker and director of pupil services. His two-fold mission at Galway is much the same at North Colonie.
The first part of his mission, he said, is to help ensure that special education students are included in all aspects of their education. There are about 700 special education students in the North Colonie Central School District, he said. To the district, it is important to keep the special education students included so that they do not feel the need to seek education elsewhere.
We’re educating students in their home school in their home community, he said.
The other part of Semo’s mission is to continue the strong programs the district has received a reputation for having.
`[We] try to mainstream very strong programs that meet a wide variety of needs,` he said.
Some of these services include crisis therapeutic intervention; introduction programs where the class will be introduced to the special education student and their disabilities as to better understand how to work with the student; and `buddy` programs where special education students can buddy up with other students who help them throughout the school year.
Shaker High School Principal Richard Murphy said it is programs like these that `unify the district.`
`This district is one of the best models of inclusion,` he said, commenting that the district’s great system of support is a huge contributor. `So, it really takes a director who has a real broad view of education.`
Semo said the district was recognized two years ago for its inclusion programs and services with a state grant in the amount of about $700,000 that will run out at the end of this year. The grant was only awarded to 60 New York schools, he said.
Semo said he is not afraid that the quality of programs and services will dwindle after the grant money has run out because there are already plans in place to continue the services. This includes the district’s hiring of a transition coordinator who will work with special education students to help them transition into college, job readiness, job training and job placements.
The district is also looking into starting up a program with a nearby college or university that would have special education students spend time in college classrooms, observing and getting a feel for the college experience as to ease the transition when it comes time for the student to actually attend college themselves. Semo said this program most likely won’t be finalized and begin before the fall 2010 school year.
`I always look to, ‘How do we keep moving forward with inclusion?’` Semo said. `I’m always looking to expand and improve.`
The North Colonie Central School District does have a Special Education Parent Teacher Association, and though the SEPTA is not connected with what Semo’s office does, several times a year he does make presentations to the SEPTA about what the district is working on to ensure and improve inclusion for special education students in the district.
`It’s important for the students because it allows them to be part of the North Colonie community,` he said. `And I think that’s critical.“
