Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! We look forward to working with our students and families as the Barnstable school system continues to review student needs and programs so we can improve our offerings of a free, appropriate continuum of special education services to meet the needs of your child as they grow and change each year.
Email, school webpages, and phone calls are our primary methods of communication. To receive updates from your child’s school, our offices, and the district, please be sure you have updated your contact information to start the year and if changes occur during the school year. Individual schools can assist you with updating your information.
The district office consists of Co-Directors of Special Education, rather than just one person. This Co-Director model allows us to frequently be in schools for a first-hand look at services and classrooms. Catherine Zinni focuses on grades PreK-5. Dr. Eric Bruinooge focuses on grades 6-12+. Additionally, each school has a designated person available to address your special education questions and concerns at the individual school level. The Special Education Coordinators at Cobb, Barnstable United, Barnstable Intermediate, and Barnstable High School are the people most familiar with your school’s staff, programs, schedules, and services. The Special Education Team Chairpersons at West Villages, Barnstable West Barnstable, Community Innovation, Hyannis West, and Centerville can assist you at the K-3 level.
Our office phone number is 508 862 4953. When calling, listen carefully to the menu of options. Because we work in our offices and visit the schools, you most likely will leave a message so we can return your call at a later time. Please save the flyer about the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) meetings. These will be held in English, Portuguese, and Spanish via a virtual Zoom link. Dates and links can be accessed on the district webpage. This is a great way to connect with other families of students with disabilities and learn more about special education. For more information about staff contacts, explanations about special education regulations, and our SEPAC, please visit the special education department webpage here.
This winter, Massachusetts will be conducting an audit of our special education dept. We will share information about this process, and how you can provide input, when we receive the details. Also, grade K-5 families are invited to contribute to the process of improving our literacy instruction through the GLEAM grant links below.
Click ctrl and the link at the same time.
Sincerely,
Eric Bruinooge and Catherine Zinni
Co-Directors of Special Education
