"I think as a district we need to be concerned about the number of children going into special education. I think that the population is quite high," she said.

Nelson said she believed the district should be sure that each child who needs special education is in the program, while others who are borderline cases should be re-evaluated.

The district's use of IQ tests as a basis for placement was one of the biggest problems, Nelson said.

"There are a lot of factors other than an IQ test to base our decisions on. . . . The motivation of the child, the competence of the teacher, how hard the child works, the support of a family are all variables that come into play in a child's performance in school," she said.

Nelson asked that the district gather more information about the issue instead of just continuing to approve placements in special education.

A motion to send special-education placements back to the Committee for Special Education was defeated, 3-2. The board then adopted the special-education placements for the next semester. Nelson cast the lone no vote.

Board President Joseph Pawelski said school attorney Michael Foley and the head of special education, Sheryl Johnson, will review the process by which students are selected for the program.

Nelson said the district needs to comply with state law regarding appropriate special-education services for individual students.

"As a board, we need to make sure that we're getting all the information needed (on which) to base our approval. That's my opinion, and that's the law," she said.

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