Forest Hills Public Schools
Student Services
(located at Northern Hills Middle School)
3775 Leonard NE Suite A
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Office Hours: M-F, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Phone: (616) 493-8660 Fax: (616) 493-8663
_____________________________________________
Jann Van Airsdale, Director of Student Services
Fred Wisniewski, Director of Special Education
Sarah Castro, Special Education Coordinator
Annette Savage, Secretary
Cheryl Bauer, Special Education Registry Secretary
Welcome to the Student Services Office at Forest Hills Public Schools.
Student Services encompasses a continuum of programs and services for students who qualify for special education.
Parent Advisors for Special Education (PASE)
The Kent Intermediate School District (KISD) has a parent advisory committee that provides input related to the improvement of special education services within Kent County. Each local school district has PASE members appointed by their local school board and the KISD Board, who serve three-year terms. Forest Hills PASE members assist our special education administrators in disseminating information and educational opportunities available to parents. The PASE members can provide information and support from a parent’s point of view.
All meetings are held at Kent ISD at the Educational Service Center (parking lot #11) at 7:00 p.m. on the following dates:
September 10, 2012
October 15, 2012
November 12, 2012
January 14, 2013
March 11, 2013
May 13, 2013
Special Needs Advisory Council (SNAC)
The Special Needs Advisory Council (SNAC) meets every other month to discuss ideas, questions, concerns, and experiences they or others have had within our schools as they relate to special education. This opportunity to explore issues through group discussion and with appropriate school district personnel allows them to serve as an advocate for many others. It is also an opportunity for Student Services staff to update parents on new information as it pertains to district special education.
SNAC is made up of a parent representative of a special education student from each school building. Parent representatives are recommended by building principals.
For the 2012-2013 school year, SNAC will meet at Kent ISD from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. prior to PASE meetings on the following dates:
September 10, 2012
November 12, 2012
March 11, 2013
Special Needs Parent Educational Series
The Parent Educational Series provides parents with information on current educational topics as they relate to special education. The Parent Educational Series is open to all parents in Forest Hills who are interested in learning more about a variety of topics. There will be a different topic and speaker for each meeting. Past topics have included Transition Planning, Common Core, Response to Intervention. Topics will be posted below once they are scheduled for the 2012 – 2013 school year.
For the 2012-2013 school year, the Special Needs Parent Educational Series will meet at Kent ISD from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. prior to PASE meetings on the following dates:
October 15, 2012: Transition Resources with Liz Ensing, Transition Coordinator for Forest Hills and Rebecca McIntyre, Supervisor of Special Education for Kent ISD
January 14, 2013: Tammy Finn, Executive Director of the ARC of Kent County and Katie Meyering, Regional Parent Mentor from ARC. Meeting will take place at Kent ISD in Grand Room A from 6:00 – 7:00. Tammy will present an overview of the services offered by the ARC including Social Security, Community Participation Initiative, Special Education, Community Mental Health, Adult Services and more. Katie will share resources and learning opportunities for families which can empower them to advocate for their child.
May 13, 2013: Lori Pitts, M.A., CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist for Forest Hills, will present on Assistive Technology and the use of Visual Supports to enhance communication for classroom access and interaction with family, friends and community.
Determination of a Specific Learning Disability
Forest Hills Public Schools identifies students under the eligibility of Specific Learning Disability by using a pattern of strengths and weaknesses. Click here for more information.
Section 504
Click here for Section 504 Procedure Manual
For additional information about Special Education, please click here to visit the Kent ISD website.
