Gentile backs special ed reform goals

Keeping taxable property on a town’s grand list when acquired by a non-profit college or hospital, separate local property tax bills for board of education and town budgets, requiring regional common school calendars, and incentives for towns are among the various legislative proposals put forth by Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, and the MORE (Municipal Opportunities & Regional efficiencies) Commission this year.

Linda M. Gentile

Deputy Speaker of the House Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, is particularly pleased with the goals focusing on special education in the state.

“Special education costs are particularly high in Ansonia and Derby,” Gentile said. “If we can get a handle on those costs through working cooperatively it’s a success for all involved.”

Special Education Reform goals include:

• Providing a more efficient system and providing more accessibility to quality special education by regionalizing services and programs.
• Centralizing and coordinating transition services under one state agency.
• Re-purposing Regional Education Service Centers (RESCs) into regional special education districts.

Sharkey re-established the bipartisan, bicameral MORE panel in 2013, and charged them with helping cities and towns reduce their costs and increase efficiencies, particularly through regional cooperation, with a goal of ultimately reducing local property taxes.

This post is taken from a press release on Gentile's website.