At least a dozen parents have signed up for the new special education parent teacher association in the San Mateo-Foster City School District.
Horrall Elementary School parent Tony Aguerre discussed starting the new PTA with district Superintendent Pendery Clark two months ago, and the district supported him.
"We want to have communications in both directions," said Susan Silver, associate superintendent of administrative services.
At Laurel Elementary, parents like Coryne Wong-Whittington said children have not been receiving speech therapy since the school year began, but Silver said those parents can hire the speech therapists from an outside contractor and bill the district.
"They're pushing the burden on us but it's their responsibility," Wong-Whittington said.
Parents at Laurel are considering filing a class-action lawsuit against the district for not providing speech therapy services, she said.
Full-time speech therapists have been hard to hire, Silver said, because schools cannot compete with the $90 an hour they can receive from private agencies.
Therapists are paid less in the district but are given better benefits than at agencies, Silver said.
Higher-priced contractors have cost the district $1.38 million this year, according to contracts approved by the district Jan. 6.
Parents looking for a list of private contractors can call Jim Cox, the director of student services and special education, at 312-7777, ext. 7780.
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