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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jolene Gunther-Doherty, Director of Guild for Exceptional Children's 4410 Preschool Special Education Program
11:25:44
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119 sec
Jolene Gunther-Doherty, Director of the Guild for Exceptional Children's 4410 preschool special education program, testified about the importance of continuing funding for preschool special education programs. She emphasized the need for $55 million in baseline funding to prevent significant cuts and potential classroom closures.
- Highlighted the risk of preschool special education teachers and assistants resigning without continued funding
- Warned of the potential closure of hundreds of 4410 classrooms across the city
- Stressed the devastating impact on preschool students with disabilities and their families if funding is not secured
Jolene Gunther-Doherty
11:25:44
Good evening.
11:25:45
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
11:25:48
My name is Jolene Gunther Doherty, and I am the director of the Guild for Exceptional Children's four thousand four hundred ten preschool special education program.
11:25:58
I'm here today to talk about the importance of finding funding to continue to support our 4,410 preschool special education programs.
11:26:08
We appreciate that last year, mayor Adams and the city council made significant investments in the fiscal year twenty twenty five budget to continue essential education programs.
11:26:21
While the city baseline many of these programs, the city continued other programs for one year only, meaning the funding will expire at the June unless extended in the fiscal year twenty twenty six budget.
11:26:36
Unless the city acts, programs at risk of significant funding cuts include preschool special education classes for hundreds of young children with autism and other disabilities.
11:26:51
We need that $55,000,000 baselines and other support as well.
11:26:57
The failure to act to save this preschool special education funding will result in many preschool special education teachers and teacher assistants resigning.
11:27:09
There is a potential for hundreds of 4,410 classrooms being closed across the city.
11:27:16
The impact on preschool students with disabilities and their families would be devastating, causing thousands of children, preschool children with disabilities who have a legal federal right to special education services to sit at home waiting for a seat once again.
11:27:36
Thank you for this opportunity to testify, and I invite you to come see our work.
11:27:42
Thank you.