Retired MAAPS Exec. Dir. Jim Major and White Oak Headmaster David Drake listen to Rep. John Velis address the students. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – White Oak School staff and students hosted a legislative breakfast on Friday for the Massachusetts Assoc. of Approved Private Schools (MAAPS). David Drake, White Oak headmaster thanked Karim Kibodya, legislative aide to U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Michele Moriarty, aide to State Sen. Donald F. Humason, Jr., Sen. Jim Welch and Rep. John Velis for attending, prior to inviting Rep. Velis to say a few words to the students.
Velis started by saying he himself struggled in school due to learning disabilities. He said 15 to 20 years later, he considers them the best thing that happened to him, because he had to work harder. “This is a place I would have thrived in,” he said about White Oak.
“At no point in your life, just because you have a different learning style, that you can’t end up on top. Use it to your advantage. Work harder. Be better. There is absolutely not a limitation that you have that you can’t achieve what you want,” Velis said.
Also speaking were several White Oak students. Seventh grader Nate Ruth of Ashfield spoke about the one-on-one help he receives at White Oak, which helps him to complete his work. He said fewer students and more help from teachers, teach him in a way he can understand. “Being with kids with similar learning disabilities has helped me a lot. It makes me feel like I’m not the only one struggling,” Ruth said. In a school wide motto contest this year, Ruth’s came in second place, “Supporting acorn seeds as they grow into great Oak trees.”
White Oak students Allison Casten, Evan Forte and Nate Ruth shared their experiences at White Oak School to legislators. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Eleventh grader Allison Casten of Westborough said in her seven years at White Oak School she learned so much more than she would have at public school, thanks to the accommodations and visual support she has received. She also credited small class sizes and one-on-one tutorials with teachers who understand.
Casten said she plays basketball, is vice president of the student council and is also a mentor to three younger students, who she has enjoyed seeing “grow into amazing young ladies,” she said. Casten said White Oak has given her confidence to set a goal of becoming a physical therapeutic assistant, and said she has already started the process of getting into a PTA program.
Senior Evan Forte of Wilbraham said before he came to White Oak as a sophomore, he struggled in every subject. He said he was always that shy kid, who wasn’t getting the help he needed. When he was diagnosed with dyslexia, he said he still didn’t get the help he needed until he came to White Oak. He said it was clear to him that the teachers here were interested in his academic success, and he excelled in all of his classes. He also joined the ultimate Frisbee team and the student council. Forte said he has been accepted into his first choice school of Western New England University to study biomedical engineering.
“White Oak has prepared me for the real world and all the challenges that will come my way,” Forte said.
“Our loss is Western New England University’s gain,” Headmaster Drake said about Forte.
MAAPS Retired Exec. Director Jim Major, Exec. Dir. Elizabeth Dello Russo Becker and White Oak Headmaster David Drake. (Photo submitted)
Also speaking were new MAAPS Executive Director Elizabeth Dello Russo Becker and retired Exec. Dir. Jim Major. Dello Russo Becker, who took over the leadership one month ago, said she was that kid in third grade who couldn’t read. She recalled the day she was diagnosed as dyslexic, “one of the happiest days of my life,” because she realized it wasn’t her fault.
Dello Russo Becker said she attended the Landmark School on the North Shore – one of the 80 MAAPS sister schools. Addressing the students, she said, “You are the future. You are the hope we all have. You also have a voice, and I hope you will use it to advocate for kids like you. We all deserve an education. I’m so happy you found your way to White Oak.”
After the students were dismissed, Major asked the legislators to gather. He talked about the increase of students with special needs, and the cost of special education.
Major said MAAPS member schools are asked to meet the demand, but are struggling with finances. Tuition is set by the state below cost, and the majority of schools are operating at a deficit, totaling $15 million in 2017. Majors said the deficit has to be made up by fundraising or out of state tuition.
Teachers on average make $25,000 less than in public schools and work a month longer, according to Major, causing a higher turnover of 25% statewide. The student ratio at MAAPS schools is 1 to 4, compared to 1 to 12 in public schools. “It would cost public schools 35% more to provide the same services,” Major said.
Major said MAAPS had three requests from the state budget this year. The first, to increase out of state tuition by $8.6 million by adopting the outside budget section, something he said they do for colleges. He said since 2004, the legislature has always put this in the budget, but last year it did not come out of Ways and Means in the Senate.
His second request was to fully fund the Circuit Breaker at $353,600,351. He said the Governor has proposed $323 million, $30 million below the need.
The third request is to support Chapter 70 reform, which he said is underfunded in the two main areas of special education and health care costs. Velis, who serves on the House and Joint Committees on Ways and Means, asked about the Governor’s Chapter 70 proposal. Major called it “a step in the right direction, but not enough.”
Major said their concern is that the House and Senate versions have other issues they are trying to address. “Our concern is the highest amount available for special education,” Major told the legislators.
White Oak School, located at 533 North Road in Westfield, is a non-profit school which serves students in grades 1 to 12 with language-based learning disabilities. Current enrollment is 65. More information may be found at www.whiteoakschool.org.
