Social worker requested for Shrewsbury schools
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

At the Dec. 12 School Committee meeting, Human Resources Director Tom Kennedy joins the School Committee in congratulating coach Terry Walles and the varsity football team for their recent Super Bowl win. PHOTO/MELISSA MUNTZ

Shrewsbury - Special Education Director Ellen Meyers has asked the School Committee to provide Shrewsbury elementary schools with a licensed social worker, saying that the schools don't have enough time or resources to handle the significant family challenges some children are facing.

In a report presented to the committee at its Dec. 12 meeting, Meyers said the number of children with aggressive or defiant behavior has been sharply increasing at the elementary level, and the district staff doesn't have the expertise or sufficient resources to provide the assistance many of these children and their families need.

"Addressing the needs of the child and family involves many professionals [including] the teacher, principle support staff , the school psychologist, the nurse and special educators," Meyers said. ""Coordinating the work of all of these people, as well as the multiple agencies that may be supporting the family, is an important and time-consuming task."

Meyers said because behavioral issues could escalate or intensify without the proper help, hiring a social worker who would serve each of the district's elementary schools is a necessary step.

The district currently contracts out the services of a board-certified behavioral analyst, who develops behavioral programming for students on the autism spectrum, as well as other students who have significant behavioral issues and needs.

According to Meyers, 17.4 percent of Shrewsbury's student population, or 1,051 students, receive Special education services. This is slightly higher than the state average of 16.9 percent.

Of the 1,051, 986 are educated in the district and 65 are educated in out-of-district programs. Boys receiving services outnumber girls two to one, a statistic Meyers said is common and to be expected.

Diagnoses of these students include autism, developmental delay, physical, emotional and intellectual disabilities, communication disorders, and specific learning disabilities.

Following her presentation, the committee thanked Meyers for her information as well as for her work over the past school year as Special Education director. There was no vote regarding the request for a social worker.