STATE OF CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Student v. Granby Board of Education - CT SDE Case No. 17-0410
Case No. 17-0410
Student and Granby Board of Education
Appearing on behalf of the Student: Attorney Phillip Cohn Goldman Gruder & Woods LLC 200 Connecticut Avenue Norwalk, CT 06854-1964
Appearing on behalf of the Board of Education: Attorney Linda L. Yoder Shipman & Goodwin LLP One Constitution Plaza Hartford CT 06103-1919
Appearing before: Attorney Ann F. Bird Hearing Officer
ISSUES:
1. Did the Board of Education offer the Student a Free Appropriate Public Education for the 2015-2016 School Year and/or the 2016-2017 School Year?
2. If not, does the Student require a residential placement?
3. If not, and the Student requires a residential placement, were the SUWS of the Carolinas and/or Shortridge Academy appropriate?
4. If not, and the Student requires a residential placement and if the SUWS of the Carolinas and/or Shortridge Academy were appropriate, should the Student be reimbursed for the expense of the SUWS of the Carolinas between 10/26/16 and 1/14/17 and/or Shortridge Academy from 1/6/17 through the 2016/2017 School Year and extended school year and/or be placed at the Shortridge Academy for one additional year?
5. If not, but the Student does not require a residential placement or SUWS of the Carolinas and/or Shortridge Academy are not appropriate, should the Student receive compensatory education services, including: a) continued placement at Shortridge Academy for an additional year; b) reimbursement for the expense of Dr. Schoall’s reports, services and attendance at PPT meetings; c) reimbursement for the expense of therapies not covered by insurance; and/or d) reimbursement for the expense of travel for the Student and parent to and from the SUWS of the Carolinas and/or Shortridge Academy?
PROCEDURAL HISTORY:
The Student requested a special education due process hearing in the above-captioned matter on March 22, 2017. This Impartial Hearing Officer was appointed to hear the case on March 27, 2017. A telephonic pre-hearing conference was convened on April 4, 2017. Attorney Philip Cohn appeared on behalf of the Student and Attorney Linda Yoder appeared on behalf of the Board of Education. The initial deadline for filing the final decision was June 5, 2017. An evidentiary hearing was scheduled for June 7, 2017.
On May 15, 2017, the parties reported that the parties scheduled mediation for May 30, 2017, and requested that the hearing of June 7, 2017 be postponed. An alternative hearing date of June 23, 2017 was scheduled and the June 7, 2017 date was cancelled. In addition, the parties requested an extension of the deadline for filing the final decision to allow the parties time to participate in mediation before expending the expense of preparation for the hearing. The request was granted.
On June 21, 2017 the Student reported that the parties had resolved the dispute and requested that the matter be withdrawn or dismissed with prejudice.
FINAL DECISION AND ORDER:
It is ordered that the Student’s request is granted and the matter is dismissed with prejudice.