Dist. 95 makes official split with special ed cooperative

Lake Zurich school officials have appointed a state-approved director of special education services as a final move toward withdrawing from the Special Education District of Lake County.

Nancy Rosenfeld, Lake Zurich Unit District 95's assistant superintendent for special services, was given the new title to comply with state regulations for withdrawal from SEDOL. Her responsibilities within the district will not change, she said.

Beginning July 1, District 95 will be independent from SEDOL, the agency that provides educational programming for more than 2,000 students in 36 districts across Lake County.

The district decided to withdraw from SEDOL because it wants to have greater control over its services for students with special needs, Rosenfeld said. It knows the needs of its students better than an outside entity, she said.

"For us as a unit district, it doesn't really make sense for someone not part of the district trying to provide services for our district," she said.

In SEDOL's 50 years, only two districts have left: Barrington Unit District 220 and now District 95, SEDOL Superintendent Bill Delp said.

Overall, District 95's withdrawal has not had a great effect on SEDOL because there weren't many Lake Zurich students using its services, Delp said.

Rosenfeld said the district has been developing its own services for special education students during the past six or seven years, and it had been planning to leave SEDOL for two years.

In leaving the cooperative, District 95 will be able to keep all of the funds it receives from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act grant, about $1.2 million a year, Rosenfeld said. Previously, the district had to give about 60 percent of the grant to SEDOL.

The break with SEDOL is not just about the money, but it does give the district more control over its finances, Rosenfeld said.

"We know that this is without a doubt the best thing for Lake Zurich," she said.

About 14 percent of the district's approximately 6,400 students receive special education services, Rosenfeld said. That number includes students with speech or vision impediments, among other lower-risk needs, she said.

Eleven Lake Zurich students were recommended to continue in SEDOL programs, Rosenfeld said. District 95 will continue to pay tuition for these students, but at an elevated rate. Nonmember tuition is about $45,000 a student, whereas member tuition was about $30,000 a student, she said.

The district owes about $2.4 million to SEDOL for construction projects on Laremont School and Cyd Lash Academy because these were begun before Lake Zurich withdrew, Delp said. All members of the special education district must pay toward such projects, he said.