75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4096 Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
October 22, 2012
Daniel G. Durgin, Superintendent
Wales Public School
320A Brookfield Road
Fiskdale, MA 01518
Re: Wales Elementary School Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Durgin:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in May 2012. During the Mid-Cycle Review the
Department monitored selected special education criteria to determine your district’s compliance with special education laws and regulations. The review consisted of information gathered from one or more of the following activities: interviews, review of student records, examination of documentation, and classroom observation(s).
The Department determined that one or more of the criteria monitored in your district was
“Partially Implemented” or “Not Implemented.”
In all instances where noncompliance was found, the Department has prescribed corrective action for the district. This corrective action must be implemented as soon as possible, but in no case later than a year from the date of this report. You will find these requirements for corrective action included in the enclosed report, along with requirements for submitting progress reports using the enclosed form.
Please provide the Department with your written assurance that all of the required corrective action will be implemented by your district within the timelines specified in the report. You must submit your statement of assurance to Darlene Lynch, Director, Program Quality Assurance
Services, by November 7, 2012
1

Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have questions about this letter or the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact Suzanne M. Shaw at 781-
338-3727.
Sincerely,
Suzanne M. Shaw, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services cc: Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Elizabeth Y. Ahern, Ed.D., Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Karen Blasco, School Committee Chairman
Brenda Looney, Local Program Review Coordinator
Richard Zinkus, Principal Brookfield Elementary School
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Wales Public School
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: May 17, 2012
Date of this Report: October 22, 2012
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
SE 7
Transfer of parental rights and student participation and consent at age of majority
Not
Applicable
Wales Public School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.
Wales Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 22, 2012
Page 1 of 5
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements

Criterion
SE 8
IEP Team composition and attendance
SE 18A
IEP development and content
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)


Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
A review of student records and interviews with staff members indicated that the district maintains procedures consistent with the requirements for Team attendance at each IEP meeting.
Team chairs have received training and are implementing the excusal process that includes parental agreement and a written report from the absent required Team member.
Interviews with staff members and a review of student records showed that the IEP Team considers and addresses the skills and proficiencies needed to avoid and respond to bullying, harassment, or teasing for students identified with a disability that affects social skills development or when the student’s disability makes him or her vulnerable to bullying, harassment or teasing, as well as for students identified with a
Wales Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 22, 2012
Page 2 of 5
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements

Criterion Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
SE 25
Parental consent

Basis of Determination about
Criterion disability on the autism spectrum.
Interviews with staff members and a review of district documentation indicated that the district has procedures in place to address when a parent revokes consent to special education services in writing.
The file review demonstrated that the district acts promptly and provides written notice to the parent/guardian’s written request to discontinue services based on the revocation of consent, as well as information on how the parent can obtain a copy of his/her procedural safeguards before the district discontinues the services.
Wales Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 22, 2012
Page 3 of 5
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements

Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
SE 32
Parent
Advisory
Council
PI
Document
Review
Parent
Interview
Staff
Interview
A review of district documentation and interviews with parents and staff members demonstrated that each individual school district within School Union 61 has not established a separate Parent Advisory
Council (PAC) for each entity; however Tantasqua
Regional and School Union
61 has established a unified
PAC with parent representation from the member schools. These six districts maintain separate organizational codes, school committees, and budgets but do share the resources of a regional middle and high school.
School Union 61
Since the district is participating in the regional Parent Advisory
Council (PAC), which was established by the six districts that comprise School Union 61, each individual district within the Union must request a waiver from the
Department seeking approval to implement a regulation in an alternative manner, specifically in this instance, satisfaction of 603
CMR 28.07 (4) Parent Advisory
Council for Special Education. A request for a waiver for alternative compliance may be found at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/for ms.html
. Please include all applicable forms and documentation, including the cover letter found at the above listed link.
The district must work with the
Tantasqua/Union 61 Parent
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s) and Required
Elements
The district must submit their request for a waiver for alternative compliance, along with all applicable forms to the
Department for approval by
November 26,
2012.
The district must provide a copy of the plan developed in conjunction with the
Tanatasqua/ Union
61 PAC. Please provide this to the
Department by
November 26,
Wales Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 22, 2012
Page 4 of 5

Criterion Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s) and Required
Elements administrators maintain that the regional PAC supports the alignment of services between the districts as well the needs of the parents and students.
Interviews indicated that the Tantasqua/Union 61
PAC has by-laws, meets regularly and conducts an annual workshop on the rights of students and their parents and guardians under state and federal special education laws.
However, interviews also indicated that the district does not have a clearly defined process for the
PAC to participate in the evaluation of the school district’s special education programs.
Advisory Council (PAC) to develop a written plan that ensures
PAC participation in the evaluation of the district’s special education programs. This plan should include a narrative description of the procedures that will be put into place, the name/role of responsible district staff member(s) and a timeline for implementation.
2012 .
Please provide a written narrative that update’s progress made on the plan and steps taken to ensure that PAC members participate in the evaluation of the school district’s special education programs. Please provide this to the
Department by
May 24, 2013 .
Wales Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 22, 2012
Page 5 of 5

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Wales Public School
M I D – CY C L E P R O G R E S S R E P O R T
Date Prepared: ____________________________________
Prepared by: __________________________________________________________________
(name and title)
Criterion: _______________________
Topic: ________________________________________________________________________
For each criterion for which you prepare a progress report, please
 make a copy of this cover page,
 fill in the information requested above, and
 attach a complete description of the corrective action taken and any accompanying documentation.
(Description of corrective action for each criterion and any accompanying documentation should include all of the
“Progress Report Required Elements” for that criterion in the Mid-cycle Report.)
Send the whole set of completed progress reports to:
Darlene Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906
Rev. 6/30/08