ARGOS — There were more than 30 people who attended this week’s Argos School Board meeting to voice their concerns that the JESSE-provided services for grades 7 through 12 were being reduced to one person for next school year.
The reduction was determined because it was reported to JESSE (Joint Education Services in Special Edication) that an estimate of 20 students would be needing special services.

Amy Overmyer, the JESSE teacher, explained to the board the numbers were incorrect. The board looked at the teacher of record, not the teacher of service.
According to her records, there will be 28 to 30 JESSE students with the possibility of more after registration in August. There will be too many students for one person’s help, Overmyer said.
She explained these are students who are at various stages of learning disabilities and that they need assistance in the class for math, reading and writing.
She said if a student has a reading disability, they can have an aide read to them questions on a test. They also are allowed extra time and help for tests such as the ISTEP and SAT.
Overmyer said, “My job is to be an advocate for these students and their needs.”
She said she is also required to maintain the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for each student, record their progress, and attend the annual student evaluations with the parents.
One of the parents attending wanted to know if it was too late to hire an aide who had been let go. Jim Burkett, school board member, said that this was a “RIF”  reduction, a  “reduction in force.”
He said after registration in August, they could re-quest JESSE for the aide.
Provided by news partner WTCA 1050am