The following is the second of six questions we asked the 10 at-Large candidates who are running against each other in a primary on Sept. 20.

All Councilor-at-Large candidates were provided the same questions either via email or by hand. All acknowledged receipt of the questions.

Answers have not been modified except where minor typographical errors were made. There have been no alterations that affect meaning.

Candidate answers are presented in alphabetical order by last name.

The presence of an asterisk (*) indicates a candidate is an incumbent.

3. Special Education program in the school — What are your thoughts on the state of the program? Is this being done to the best advantage for the student? What about the taxpayer?

Darek Barcikowski

"A quarter of our student population is enrolled in special education programs which is one of the highest ratios state-wide (6 percent more than Boston, for comparison). While special education programs are necessary to allow pupils with special needs to complete required curriculum which they might not be able to complete in traditional classroom settings, they do come at a hefty price tag. Special education requires a disproportionate share of resources, higher paid educators and a special education coordinator with a salary surpassing $100,000 annually. I believe there are two sides to the problem: a percentage of students are misdiagnosed as requiring special education and a percentage of students who, after a period of time could be transferred to a traditional learning environment, are being retained in special programs. This does not only impact the tax burden but is disadvantageous to that particular group of special education students. In May, the director of the pupil personnel services was quoted as saying that she “does not know why there are more special needs students in Salem schools than in other districts.” I believe it’s time we find out. The Salem Education Foundation is in the process of shifting its strategy from solely providing grants to teachers to expanding its focus to include research and providing school officials with concrete data. Perhaps some of that data will allow our school administrators to answer the above question. The fact that we have a new superintendent on board should also create an opportunity to identify issues within our school system and find better solutions. Although besides budgetary appropriations the council’s involvement in the school system is limited, I believe the problems facing our school system should be of much concern to the council as well as all residents. Almost half of every dollar we pay in taxes to the city funds our school system, a system which for the past decade has not shown any significant improvements. As tax payers and funders of the school system, we need to see progress not only in the area of special education, but across the board."

Kevin Carr Jr.

"Providing services to the neediest of children in a cost effective manner is one of the biggest fiscal challenges Salem, and many other school districts face. When I joined the School Committee in 2006, the district’s strategy was to routinely send children out of the district for services, which resulted in exorbitant costs.  Since 2006, Salem has aggressively developed and instituted “in-district” Special Education services. These initiatives were developed to meet the needs of the children as called out in their Individualized Education Programs (IEP) in a cost effective manner. Due to the support of the School Committee and collaboration among the Special Education Director, Principals, and the Superintendent the initiative has been a success.  While I am proud of the improvements Salem has made in Special Education since I joined the School Committee, there is still room for improvement. Limiting the number of Special Education IEP authors and providing Special Education staff with increased professional development are two initiatives currently underway that will result in consistency in the way children are screened and IEP’s are designed.  These efforts will likely reduce the percentage of students with IEP’s in the district, which is currently approximately 25 percent, and will also reduce overall Special Education costs in the district. Long term, I believe there is an opportunity to reduce Special Education costs by partnering with neighboring cities and towns to share resources and access to programs in an effort to combat exorbitant private school tuitions."

Matthew Fraser

"Having been a teacher for 15 years, including two years in special education and one year as a Title 1 grant recipient in the Salem schools, I have only one point. That is, that greater utilization of vocational education can help many both inside and outside of special education programs. In my experience and in the opinion of CommonWealth Magazine, 30 to 40 percent of high school students would be better off in vocational programs, and as many as 50 percent would be better off doing a combination of classical and vocational studies. For many students...the agitation and frustration of book learning can be replaced by the satisfaction of using their hands and acquiring marketable skills. Assuring that there are enough opportunities for Salem students in local and regional vocational programs can help keep otherwise disinterested or struggling students focused, motivated and acquiring skills that they need."

Thomas H. Furey*

"As a foster and adoptive parent to five teenager boys and as a single parent, I have a truly human face and investment into special education. As a member of the school committee for 12 years and as an elementary school teacher for 38 years, I see it with even a more keen and deep experience than many with a human perspective and as a taxpayer. I share great concern over the rising costs and state mandates, so I write with compassion and concern over the question. Students cannot vote so we need to be their advocates as I have tried to be. We are very fortunate to have a diverse and multicultural student body that enriches all to the real global world of life, work and leisure. It is win win education for all of us to learn from each other. Graduates from our schools know after going into the work world, military, or high school they befitted from our diverse public schools. Fortunately, the staff, superintendents and school committee (I served for 12 years), are working to address out of school district expenses which are prohibitively expensive to trying to meet the needs of our students in our own schools. We have parent advisory councils who actively engage for better services yet try to be realistic and cost effective in trying to keep costs down. The future generation of Salem is in our school and we need to be active advocates for all our students."

Teasie Riley Goggin

"Special education programs in the schools were started with the Willis/Harrington Report (yes, Kevin Harrington, Speaker of the House (Boston) in 1960s. State mandated, state paid, etc — but over the years (like all other state and federal mandates), it falls on or becomes the tax burden of local cities and towns. SPED programs can be very costly especially when students need to be outsourced to out of city programs at times up to $100,000 to $200,000 for one student. But the school budget comes before the City Councilors in June of each fiscal year. They may ask questions, but they cannot mandate how the money will be spent. This is the School Committee and School Superintendent job. The educational professionals, along with the parent, parents or guardian decide what is best for each student. This at times can be an extremely demanding task. Many times parents are looking for private school education in a public school system. Tax payers should call their School Committee members or attend meetings or TV Channel 15 for additional information."

Joan B. Lovely*

"Having had a child benefit from special education interventional services when in kindergarten and first grade, I can attest to the level of commitment that Salem Public Schools goes to educate our children with needs. I am however very concerned that currently almost 24 percent of our school age children qualify for special education, well above the state average of approximately 16 percent. I understand that the school department has recently developed a set of qualifying standards to be used by all Salem schools to qualify students for special education services. Hopefully this method will reduce the number of students requiring services and the associated costs. Special education services are not inexpensive, however, those children with documented special education needs deserve the very best education we can afford to give them."

Steven A. Pinto*

"I think that the School Committee does a great job with our special education program. As a city councilor, we do no adopt the budget for special education we only confirm it at the end of the budget year. This question could be better answered by the school committee."

Matthew Richard

Did not participate. Will share thoughts in another forum.

Arthur C. Sargent III*

"We have an elected School Committee that is in charge of all school related matters and I am not able to attend many of their meetings so I don't think it would be fair of me to comment in any detail on any of our school programs. I do believe strongly that we as a City and a Nation have to do everything we can to allow every one of our children to reach their full potential. Our School System does an excellent job of running our Special Education program. Such a good job that I have heard of families with children who need the program moving to Salem because of it. I believe in the program and I can't blame any parent for trying to find the best opportunity they can to help their children.   My only concern with the Special Education Program is the way that it is funded. I believe that because it's a State mandated program it should be totally funded by the State. The State should not be passing laws without providing the funding to pay for them. Unfunded State mandates like Special Ed, School Choice and The Charter School Programs put too much of a financial burder on the homeowners and Taxpayers in Salem and in Massachusetts and again I feel the State should be fully funding these programs."

Kenneth Sawicki

"Education, education, education — [it] enriches our lives. Knowledge is power. The more you know the more you can do. With that said we need to help everyone we can the best that we can. Whether it be special needs children, children in the new to open charter school, all those in the public school system or those enrolled in advanced education classes. Our kids are the future and tomorrow's leaders. They need our support. How we can best provide that is the great challenge. Having suitable classrooms, class materials, the best teachers and the latest technologies so our children will have all the tools to be successful in life, so they can be the best at whatever they choose to be and do in life. Remember every day is a learning experience Let's start today."