Roger Schulke's Response to the CAC Questionnaire
The Community Advisory Committee for Special Education issued its own questionnaire for BOE candidates this fall. Roger Schulke's response was the first received:
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to your groups questions.
Some of your questions are too broad for a complete response, without specific examples, to give a proper answer to. As you may know disabilities will fall into four categories physical, cognitive, emotional, and learning, each has its special needs and problems. So let me say that generally I believe that children with disabilities should be included in the general population, but with the following stipulations:
But common sense has to prevail, a child's handicap cannot be too disruptive or too much a burden on the teacher or the class as a whole; and, they must be able to reasonable keep up academically with the rest of the students in the class. From by understanding of IDEA this falls within its framework.
Some of your questions are too broad for a complete response, without specific examples, to give a proper answer to. As you may know disabilities will fall into four categories physical, cognitive, emotional, and learning, each has its special needs and problems. So let me say that generally I believe that children with disabilities should be included in the general population, but with the following stipulations:
But common sense has to prevail, a child's handicap cannot be too disruptive or too much a burden on the teacher or the class as a whole; and, they must be able to reasonable keep up academically with the rest of the students in the class. From by understanding of IDEA this falls within its framework.
Questions from SFUSD Community Advisory Committee for Special Education
1. Do you believe that children with disabilities have a right to a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment?
Yes, but common sense has to prevail, a child's handicap cannot be too disruptive or too much a burden on the teacher or the class as a whole; and, they must be able to reasonable keep up academically with the rest of the students in the class. From by understanding of IDEA this falls within its framework
2. Are you close to anyone who has a child with disabilities?
Yes, in the past but not currently
3. How familiar are you with the basics of The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act ?
Yes
4. What steps will you take to see that the federal government fully funds IDEA and that the State of California directs all of the money to school districts for special education purposes?
There is only so much a local school board member can do, however, I am very good at getting things accomplished and have work in government bureaucracies before. I spent four years in the US Air Force, and several years as a Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) annalist.
5. How will you ensure that appropriate services are provided for our children, particularly our most vulnerable children, in the reality of meeting budgetary demands?
6. What qualifications and experience are you bringing to the board that will help enhance new vision and positive academic achievements for all students despite a continuing lack of necessary funding sources?
I have an MBA in Finance and have worked with large budgets for several major San Francisco corporations. I also disagree that there is a continuing lack of necessary funding.; What SFUSD and the City as a whole has is a unnecessary spending problem. Too many special interest groups get too many worthless or unlawful grants or programs.
7. What is your experience with Special Education?
Besides helping a family friend with there challenged child, I have worked with children in a hospital setting and as a volunteer at Edgewood Children's Center.
8. Please tell us what you think about the full inclusion of children with disabilities in general education classrooms. Do you think that all schools in SFUSD should allow children with disabilities to be educated in classrooms alongside their non-disabled peers?
Yes, but common sense has to prevail, a child's handicap cannot be too disruptive or too much a burden on the teacher or the class as a whole; and, they must be able to reasonable keep up academically with the rest of the students in the class. From by understanding of IDEA this falls within its framework
9. What are you willing to do and how far are you willing to go to ensure every child in this district, with or without an IEP, learns to read, write, problem solve, and use math to a level where they will pass the graduation requirements and help them have a successful life?
Besides willing to work as hard as possible to ensure that every child has the tools to achieve a high quality education, there is only so much a school can do without parental involvement. I advocate a similar method that is being done in San Jose, where problem students and their parents are required to come in on a Saturday and spend several hours in counseling, good parenting, and study skills. For the average child that is performing below grade level the problem is either motivation or study habits. But of which need parental involvement.
10. How will you deal with entrenched bureaucracy if it interferes with service delivery to students?
After being in the Air Force and working for the FHLB that regulates Saving and Loan institutions, I have a great understanding of bureaucracies. While working at the FHLB I was the only person able to get Warren Buffet (a hard nose billionaire) to have his S&L meet its regulatory requirements. This taught me that much can be accomplished with good people skills.
Roger E. Schulke MBA
Roger E. Schulke MBA
